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We can only reiterate what Robert says and would urge you to switch to the harmonised format as soon as you possibly can. We are very grateful to those customers of ours who have already done this and are now processing every entry type in the harmonised format and for the help they have given us in ironing out the inevitable minor software issues during the earlier part of the dual running period.
HMRC is still adamant that the period of dual running will end at midnight on the 20th January and so it is imperative that everyone is up to speed on the new harmonised system prior to this date.
HMRC introduced some licensing requirements, particularly regarding prohibitions and restrictions, on the back of SAD-H. This has caused some misunderstandings and concern from the trade. It is hoped that changes on CHIEF will be implemented by 7th January to overcome these difficulties.
We held a total of ten SAD-H workshops around the country, attended by over four hundred people in total, during October and November. In addition we have secured the services of Bernard O’Connor. Bernard spent six years seconded to HMRC and was latterly on the SAD-H project team. He is proving an invaluable source of knowledge to us and our customers and we are very grateful to have him on board during this somewhat difficult transition.
We have twenty-two example entries which can be downloaded from our website under the “support” section. These examples are categorised into import, export and CFSP and so it should be easy enough to find examples to help you.
Good luck – PLEASE get started now if you have not already!
“If you have not switched over to the new data format for Customs declarations by 20th January 2008 you risk your ‘entries’ being rejected. H. M. Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is unlikely to accept entries to its central declaration processing system, CHIEF, in the ‘old’, current data format after this date, at which time dual-running of the old and new data formats is scheduled to cease.
It is important to achieve realistic volume testing of the new data format while the dual-running of fall-back arrangements are in place and to migrate to the new SAD-H data format in good time. Failure to do so could prove costly to your company and your clients.
For import or general enquiries of HMRC on SAD H, use the following e-mail address:
import.enquiries@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
There is no telephone access to this office. For export enquiries on SAD H, use the following e-mail address:
Export.enquiries@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
Or telephone on 029 20 386 254/255, or visit the HMRC website: www.hmrc.gov.uk”
The new MCP system, Destin8, went live yesterday and has naturally generated a number of calls to our support desk on various issues.
Earlier today, we identified an issue with transmitting entries to more than one badge code which was requiring users to stop and re-start their communications software between transmission of entries to different badge/company codes. We have been able to develop a fix for this which is now available from our web site.
Please call the help desk for details.
We understand this problem to be wide-spread over a number of different software suppliers. Fortunately, owing to the way our communications software is structured, we were able to develop a fix very rapidly for this problem. Put in a nutshell, DataFreight users are using the right supplier !
HMRC have recently released JCCC (07) 22 which simply states that the live implementation of SAD-H from 1st July is delayed until further notice.
The three month dual running will still occur once SAD-H eventually goes live. We will update this site with further news once it is available.P>
Whilst SAD-H is still scheduled to commence on 1st July 2007, HMRC has now agreed that current and harmonised entries can be submitted between the period 1st July and 30 September 2007. From 1st October all messages must be harmonised.
The Customs HMUT computer (test system), now has increased data to test against and we have been able to transmit a variety of import and export entries and receive back entry numbers from harmonised messages.
Our next general release of Customs software will cater for both current and harmonised entries. We have already installed the beta system into a number of our customer sites for evaluation. It is our intention to get as many sites as possible upgraded by 1st July 2007.
Various workshops are planned for around the country not only by HMRC but also by BIFA and the Community Service Providers, and it is our intention to attend these workshops with a view to running through our new modules with our customers. When exact dates are known, we shall publish these on this site.
As soon as we have any further news we shall publish it here.
The forthcoming SAD Harmonisation project comes as a result of an EC regulation which changes the rules for completing many of the boxes on the single administrative document, affecting all SAD declarations. The changes are due to come into effect from 1st July 2007.
Originally, HMRC planned a phased implementation in that the new ‘harmonised’ messages could be sent from 31st March 2007 (M day), but due to a number of technical difficulties, the HMRC project board has decided to withdraw plans for a phased approach in favour of a single implementation across the UK on 1st July 2007 (H day).
We have had to re-write all of our Customs modules and at the moment we are working with a very limited trade test system which was introduced for the first time on 24th January 2007. We have been able to transmit very simple import entries and have received entry numbers back, but that is as far as we can take it for now. HMRC say that they will have a full dataset for testing against by 31st March 2007.
The timescales are very tight, considering that we shall have to visit and update all of our customers (some 400) in a timescale of three months. We are not alone in hoping that HMRC will reconsider these timescales and come up with a realistic implementation plan, with either a testing period as originally planned, or a period of parallel running. We are hoping to hear of a decision from HMRC very soon.
HMRC intends to run some workshops around the country in order to highlight the changes in the requirements for the completion of the SAD. We have suggested that we should also be present at these workshops so that we can spend some time with our customers going through our new software. As a result of the current implementation plans, we will not have much time for on-site training, so we would urge our customers to attend the training workshops wherever possible. Details of the dates and venues will be published on this website.
Please visit www.hmrc.gov.uk under the import and export section for further information on SAD-H.