Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) – What It Is, When to Submit and Required Information

Overview

Every movement of goods from Great Britain into Northern Ireland needs an ENS. This guide explains what the ENS is, when it's due, who is responsible, what you'll need to complete it in iTSS, and how it relates to your customs declarations.

What Is an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS)?

An ENS is a safety and security declaration. It gives authorities the information they need to risk-assess goods before they arrive. It is not a customs declaration. A customs declaration is about duty and compliance, while the ENS is about risk: who is sending what, to whom and by which route.

In iTSS, an ENS is made up of one or more consignments, each with its own goods items. iTSS sends it to TSS, which lodges it with HMRC.

When Do I Need to Submit an ENS?

You need an ENS whenever you move goods into Northern Ireland from Great Britain. It must be complete, accurate and submitted before you arrive at the border. The minimum time limits are:

In practice, submit it well before the vehicle checks in at the GB port. The ENS MRNs are needed for the GMR, so a late ENS also holds up the GMR. You can amend the ENS at any time before the goods arrive.

Who Is Responsible for Submitting the ENS?

Legally, the carrier is responsible: the person operating the means of transport that brings the goods into NI. For RoRo accompanied goods, that's the haulage company; for unaccompanied goods, it's the ferry operator.

The ENS can also be prepared and submitted on the carrier's behalf, for example by an agent using Act as Agent in iTSS. A carrier can use iTSS for the ENS even when the importer is making the customs declaration outside TSS. In that case, choose the reason no SFD is needed on the consignment.

What Information Do I Need to Complete an ENS?

In iTSS the ENS has three tabs.

General (the movement):

• Movement type, transport type and transport identifier, such as the vehicle registration
• Nationality of transport and conveyance reference
• Arrival port and date/time, route, and transport charges
• Carrier and haulier
• Places of loading and unloading, and seal numbers
  
  

Consignment:

• Trader reference and transport document number
• Controlled goods, container indicator and goods domestic status
• The parties: consignor, consignee, importer and exporter, plus buyer and seller if they're different. Use XI EORIs.
  
  

Items:

• A clear goods description
• The commodity code: at least the first 6 digits for sea and RoRo movements, with extra information for controlled goods
• Number and type of packages, gross and net mass, and container numbers
  
  

IDP can fill much of this from your invoices, and templates speed up repeat movements.

Do I Need Both an ENS and a Customs Declaration?

Usually, yes. The ENS covers safety and security and is the carrier's obligation. The customs declarations cover duty and compliance and are the importer's.

On the Simplified Procedure you don't enter everything twice. TSS uses your ENS data to create the SFD before the move, then the SD after arrival.

There are two exceptions:

• If the importer declares the goods outside TSS, the carrier submits the ENS only, with a reason no SFD is needed.
• Some goods need no written customs declaration, such as an empty container or goods declared orally or by conduct. These may still need a safety and security declaration in some cases.
  
  

Important

• Use XI EORIs for consignor, consignee and carrier. TSS doesn't accept GB EORIs there.
• Describe goods specifically. TSS rejects vague goods descriptions.
• iTSS checks your ENS against TSS validations before it's sent. Fix anything marked Validation Error before you sync.
• Check carefully before you submit. You can amend the ENS before the goods arrive, but customs corrections are made on the SFD or SD, which are separate records.
• If the goods won't be imported into NI after all, the submitted ENS needs to be revoked. Contact support@icustoms.ai if you need help with this.

Need Help?

If you need help with an ENS declaration or are unsure what information you need to provide, please Contact Support Team.