Customs Declaration Service Support for TDR declarations
HMRC has published the following guidance on resolving CDS-related issues when testing in TDR. TDR (or Trader Dress Rehearsal) is a live-test environment for CDS declarants to make trial declarations before live submissions to CDS. Technical issues with TDR should be submitted to tdrcommunications@hmrc.gov.uk.
To be able to investigate queries, please complete and return Form A or Form B (below).
If you are contacting HMRC with a general query, please complete Form A.
If you are contacting HMRC regarding a declaration that has been submitted in TDR, please complete Form B.
If your enquiry is in relation to an issue submitting a declaration in CDS Live, please contact CDS Ops: cds.operations@hmrc.gov.uk
The guidance you are seeking may be available online. Have you considered using the following HMRC guidance sources which could help you resolve your query? 
Have you reviewed HMRC Procedure Code guidance on the Gov.uk site containing specific guidance for declaration procedure codes?
Have you reviewed HMRC CDS customs guidance on the Gov.uk site, which contains specific guidance on completing import and export declarations
Click here to review the CDS error codes on the Gov.uk site, which provides a list of the error codes and their descriptions and why they may be showing on your declaration.
Click here to access the HMRC Imports and Exports webchat to talk to advisors on hand that can assist with Government Gateway, EORI and general CDS declaration and tariff queries.
The webchat service can only provide general declaration and tariff guidance and cannot assist with queries related to specific rejected declarations in TDR.
Please type ‘adviser’ in the webchat to be transferred to an adviser.
To talk to an advisor, call the helpline on 0300 322 9434.
Click here to access the HMRC Digital Assistant to find general guidance on commodity codes, duty and VAT rates, and trading with Northern Ireland.
Form A: General Query
Please fill in as much information as possible to help aid with our investigations:
Questions | Answers |
​What is your query? (Please provide as much detail as possible) | ​ |
​Is this an import or export related query? | ​ |
Have you contacted your Software Provider for support? (If no, please contact your Software Provider in the first instance) | ​ |
Please provide details of any previous advice that has been provided to you: | ​ |
​Do you have any screenshots related to the query that could help with our investigation? (Please include/attach them to this submission) | ​ |
Name of the Software Developer: | ​ |
Name of the declarant the query relates to: | ​ |
Form B: TDR Declaration Details:
Please note that for the TDR team to investigate a declaration, an MRN or LRN (including date and time) of the associated declaration is required.
Questions | Answers |
​Has the declaration been submitted in the Trader Dress Rehearsal (TDR) environment? | ​ |
What is the issue/your query? (Please provide as much detail as possible) | ​ |
Have you contacted your Software Provider for support? (If no, please contact your Software Provider in the first instance) | ​ |
Is this an import or export declaration? | ​ |
​If export, have you submitted a declaration via the HMRC Exports UI? | ​ |
Are these goods being imported/ exported to Northern Ireland? | ​ |
Have you received any error message(s)? [If yes, please provide details of the error code(s)] | ​ |
Can you provide the Commodity Code(s), or a brief description of the goods concerned? | ​ |
Is this the first time that you are experiencing this issue? (If no, please provide details of any previous advice that has been provided to you/ previous ticket references where applicable) ​ | ​ |
​Do you have any screenshots related to the issue that could help with our investigation? (Please include/attach them to this submission) | ​ |
LRN (Local Reference Number): | ​ |
​Date and time of submission: | ​ |
MRN (Movement Reference Number): | ​ |
Name of the declarant the query/issue relates to: | ​ |
EORI of declarant: ​ | ​ |
​Name of the Software Developer: | ​ |
Please send the completed form to tdrcommunications@hmrc.gov.uk.