NES (New Export System) Customs

What is NES?

NES is an electronic based system that enables exporters/agents to send their export declarations to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) electronically. NES was implemented at all UK maritime ports on 27 October 2002 and at all UK airports by 31 July 2003.

NES has been introduced to:

• Replace the previous paper-based system, which was resource intensive and prone to human error.
• Improve the level of information available to HMRC. Leading to more effective risk targeting eg against arms and terrorism.
• Help combat VAT and excise diversion fraud.
• Facilitate legitimate trade by ensuring speed and predictability of movement for the ever-increasing volumes of international trade and
• Enable exporters or agents to lodge their declarations either inland at approved premises or at the frontier, receiving fast and certain clearance for the vast majority of export traffic.

The options for making export declarations

Exporters have a number of options for the route to use to make export declarations and a brief outline of each is provided below:

• email
• WEB form via HMRC website
• XML (Extensible Mark-Up Language)
• Community System Provider (CSP) and software houses eg Dover Harbour Board
• paper declaration input to NES by HMRC staff (CIE)