TSS Bulletin 218th Edition

Published: 7 May 2026|

Contents

This fortnight’s bulletin begins with several key updates, followed by our themed focus: Navigating TSS with confidence

TSS Portal outage notification

The TSS Portal will be updated on Sunday 10 May 2026. This will require a short period of downtime between 5pm to 10pm.

The following NICTA guides will also be updated:

  • ENS Step-by-step guide: Standard Process and Consignment First Process
  • Pre-movement Internal Market Movement Information (IMMI): Step-by-Step Guide

Further guides and resources are available in the Guide Directory on NICTA.

Identity Number of Transport

As part of ongoing updates to the TSS Portal, from Sunday 10 May 2026 you will be able to amend the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) component of the Identity Number of Transport field on the Entry Summary Declaration for Roll on Roll off (RoRo) Accompanied movements. This will allow more flexibility for RoRo Accompanied movements where vessel details (that is, the IMO number) may change.

NI Online Tariff to include Excise Code X399

New excise code for use with cooking alcohols

The Customs Declaration Service (CDS) will introduce a new excise code on 11 May 2026, X399, which will be available for use with foodstuffs with no alcohol content or alcohol content not exceeding 5% Alcohol by volume (ABV) declared under commodity code 2103909089.

X399 can only be used for eligible commodities that have an ABV of 5% or less. If X399 is declared, there will be 0% excise duty payable.

If the ABV for your goods is 5.1% or higher, you must continue to use existing excise codes.

You should follow the completion instructions on the NI Online Tariff for your commodity code and declare the correct excise code according to the ABV of your goods.

Remember

CDS and the NI Online Tariff are updated regularly and so it is important to check that the information you use on your declarations, such as commodity codes, additional codes or document codes are up to date and still valid for your goods.

UKIMS movements incurring incorrect additional duties

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is aware that there is an ongoing issue concerning certain food/agricultural goods and fertilisers moving into Northern Ireland (NI), where ‘at risk’ tariffs are being calculated and applied on goods subject to Council Regulation (EU) 2025/1227.

This measure should only apply to goods when they are exported, directly or indirectly, from the Russian Federation or Belarus. However, even when this isn’t the case, the European Union (EU) measure is currently being triggered in CDS, resulting in an additional duty rate and an ‘at risk’ duty outcome.

If you think your goods movement has incurred incorrect duty calculations, or would incur incorrect duties on submission, please contact TSS immediately for advice and support on how best to proceed.

Now that you’re up to date, explore our themed articles below to help you navigate TSS with greater confidence

Finding the right support on NICTA

The Northern Ireland Customs & Trade Academy (NICTA) is a free online learning platform that will help you navigate the complexities of customs and trade. NICTA focuses on the movement of goods to and from NI using the TSS Portal.

NICTA guides can help you navigate the requirements and processes for your NI movements, whether you are exporting goods to NI or importing goods from Great Britain (GB). Together with many webinars and educational videos, NICTA is a valuable tool for businesses of all sizes.

Which NICTA guides can help my business?

Many guides can be found on NICTA that will help your business navigate a variety of journeys including:

This guide will help you navigate the requirements for moving goods to NI.

How to complete an Entry Summary Declaration for maritime movements within the TSS Portal.

A checklist to ensure you have all documents and requirements for the movement of goods when creating an Entry Summary Declaration.

A step-by-step guide walking you through completing a Full Frontier Declaration on the TSS Portal.

An in-depth guide to help you navigate commodity codes that are used to identify your goods using the Northern Ireland Online Tariff on GOV.UK.

Details about the simplifications available for moving goods within the UK internal market under the Windsor Framework.

Educational videos

As well as guides, NICTA has a large collection of learning videos and webinars that covers a variety of topics which include:

Many more guides, educational videos and webinars can be found on the NICTA website. These guides and videos are continually updated to ensure the most up-to-date information is at hand. It is recommended that you regularly check the guides and videos for important updates to ensure your business stays up to date.

TSS Tip: How to find and export your records

Keeping and maintaining clear and accurate records of all your goods movements is essential for meeting customs regulations, facilitating effective movements and avoiding delays.

The TSS Portal can help with the record keeping process though the following methods, which enable you to access and view different movement types, download and save the information.

How to download goods movement information in the TSS Portal

If you need to download information from your goods movements for your own records, select View a Goods Movement from the Goods Movements tab.

Use the search function to enter either:

  • The goods movement number (for example, ‘SUP000000000085755’)

OR

  • A keyword in the goods movement (for example, ‘apple’)

This will provide you with a list of goods movements matching the criteria you entered. At the top of the list on the left side, you will find a burger menu icon (three horizontal lines). Clicking on it will allow you to download the information in three different formats: PDF, Excel or CSV file.

How to download a goods movement record or declaration

You will need the Local Reference Number (LRN), which can be found on the top left of your goods movement in the TSS Portal.

You can obtain a copy in PDF format by selecting the Goods Movements tab in the navigation bar and then the ‘Start a Goods Movement’ link in the drop-down menu.

Once the new page opens, scroll down to the bottom of the page and select the option Download a Goods Movement Record or Declaration.

Once you click the link, there will be a drop-down menu with all your goods movements and you can select the ‘Goods Movement’ you would like to export.

Each goods movement type will have an LRN number that starts with a prefix as follows:

  • IMMI starting with ‘GLR’
  • Supplementary Declarations start with ‘SUP’
  • Consignment (header) Level Declarations start ‘DEC’ for Entry Summary Declarations and Simplified Frontier Declarations
  • Simplified Frontier Declarations start with ‘SFD’
  • Full Frontier Declarations start with ‘FFD’

If you start typing ‘ENS’, for example, a list of all your Entry Summary Declarations will then be displayed. Once you have chosen your goods movement, select ‘Submit’ and a pop-up box will confirm your request has been successfully submitted.

The PDF will be sent to you by email – it will show the goods movement number, who requested the copy and the time stamp.

For further information, see the How to use the TSS Portal guide on NICTA.

Your bi-weekly jargon buster

International Maritime Organisation (IMO) reference

For maritime movements, the way the vessel is identified is through what is known as the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) reference. It is a unique identification reference of seven digits, prefixed by ‘IMO’, that is given to a vessel as a permanent number for identification purposes.

Vessel IMO numbers can be found on Ships List with Details and Live Maps.

Depending on how your goods are being transported, either within a container or in a vehicle, the IMO number in the Identity Number of Transport field is followed by either the vehicle registration number or the trailer registration number.

Goods Vehicle Movement System (GVMS)

The Goods Vehicle Movement System (GVMS) is an online platform that facilitates the process of linking together different declaration references (MRNs) for all goods being moved, so that only a single Goods Movement Reference (GMR) is presented to the port. The GVMS will also notify the haulier if any checks are required.

Once created, a GMR ID and barcode will be received which the haulier or carrier will present to the port in order for the vehicle to board the ferry.

The GMR confirms that all declarations have been pre-lodged and will allow continued travel at the port when shown to port authorities.

It is a unique reference that links all declarations to a vehicle or trailer using a reference number called a Movement Reference Number (MRN), which is received upon successfully completing a declaration.

The GMR can be created either through the TSS Portal using GMR Automation, or directly through the GVMS.

For further information see:

TSS Contact Centre hours of operation:

07:30 – 22:30, 7 days a week

Contact options:

Tel: 0800 060 8888

Welsh speakers Tel: 0800 060 8988

Recent Bulletins

All Bulletins
Scroll to Top