HMRC TRE is Live.
Here is What It Means
for Your Business.
The Trade Reporting and Extracting Service gives UK importers and exporters free, on-demand access to their customs declaration data. MyCustomsInfo\u00ae turns that raw data into compliance action, duty recovery and audit evidence.
API access is on the roadmap for 2026. TRE currently requires manual data download via Government Gateway. MyCustomsInfo\u00ae is monitoring HMRC's integration roadmap and will connect automatically when the API launches. All platform clients will be notified the moment this goes live.
What is HMRC TRE?
The Trade Reporting and Extracting Service (TRE) is HMRC's new online platform, launched in 2025. It gives UK importers and exporters direct access to their own customs declaration data, free of charge and on demand, without needing to submit a formal data request or pay a third-party provider for reports.
TRE replaces the old Management Support System (MSS) and the manual CDS data request process. You log in via Government Gateway and download your declaration data whenever you need it.
What TRE replaces
Management Support System (MSS)
The legacy system required formal written requests and often involved third-party subscription costs. Reports were not real-time. TRE supersedes this entirely.
What TRE delivers
On-Demand Declaration Data
Access your imports, exports, CHIEF and CDS records directly. No forms, no fees, no waiting for a scheduled monthly report.
TRE vs MSS: What Has Changed?
If your business previously used the Management Support System or paid a customs agent for monthly data reports, the change is significant. TRE removes cost and removes delay from a process that was previously a barrier to good compliance practice.
| Feature | Old MSS | New TRE |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Subscription fees or third-party charges | Free via Government Gateway |
| Access method | Formal written request to HMRC | Self-service online portal |
| Report timing | Fixed monthly schedule, not on demand | On demand, ready within 48 hours |
| Data systems covered | CDS only | Both CHIEF and CDS combined |
| Third-party access | Managed via HMRC process | Self-managed directly in the portal |
| API availability | \u2715 | Planned 2026 |
| Download formats | Limited | CSV and Excel |
What Data Can You Access Through TRE?
Reports are generated on request and are typically ready within 48 hours. Coverage spans both legacy CHIEF declarations and current CDS activity, giving you a unified view of your import and export history.
| Report Type | What It Contains | Format | Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Import Header Report | Full declaration summary per import entry, including EORI, port, date and procedure codes | CSV / Excel | \u2713 |
| Import Item Report | Line-level commodity code, quantity, country of origin and statistical value data | CSV / Excel | \u2713 |
| Tax Lines Report | Duty, VAT and other charges paid per entry, broken down by tax type | CSV / Excel | \u2713 |
| Export Report | Export declarations from both CHIEF and CDS, including commodity and destination data | CSV / Excel | \u2713 |
| Monthly Declaration Summary | Aggregated monthly totals across all EORI-linked activity | CSV / Excel | \u2713 |
MyCustomsInfo\u00ae context: Once you have downloaded your TRE data and uploaded it into the platform, MCI analyses every line automatically for classification errors, missed duty relief, FTA eligibility and overpayments. What HMRC gives you as a spreadsheet, MCI converts into a prioritised action list.
Five Reasons TRE Matters for Your Business
TRE is not just an administrative change. It removes the practical barriers that prevented many SMEs from reviewing their own declaration data with any regularity. These are the five changes that have a direct commercial impact.
Zero Cost
No subscription, no per-report charge. If you have a valid EORI and a CDS registration, TRE costs nothing to use.
On Your Schedule
Request reports when you need them, not when HMRC schedules them. Monthly, quarterly or ad-hoc review is now within your control.
CHIEF and CDS in One Place
A single view of your declaration history across both legacy and current systems. No more gaps in older data.
You Control Access
Authorise your agent, broker or MyCustomsInfo® as a third party directly in the portal. Remove access at any time.
Audit Readiness
Regular access to your own declaration data means you can identify and resolve errors before HMRC does it for you.
How to Register and Access TRE
Access requires three things: a valid EORI number, an active CDS registration and a Government Gateway login. If your business is already submitting declarations through CDS, you likely have all three in place already.
Confirm your EORI number is active and linked
Your Economic Operator Registration and Identification number must be linked to your Government Gateway account. Use the HMRC EORI checker if you are unsure of your current status.
Takes 5 minutes if already registeredRegister for the Customs Declaration Service (CDS)
If you have not yet enrolled in CDS via Government Gateway, this must be completed first. CDS registration is a prerequisite for TRE access and typically takes 5 to 10 working days to process.
Allow 10 working days if not yet registeredLog in and navigate to Trade Reporting and Extracting Service
Inside your CDS account, locate the Trade Reporting and Extracting Service. From there you can request reports, set up email alerts for when reports are ready and manage third-party access permissions.
Authorise MyCustomsInfo® as a third party
Grant MyCustomsInfo® permission to retrieve TRE reports on your behalf. Once you have downloaded a report and uploaded it to the platform, MCI analyses it automatically for errors, missed reclaims and compliance gaps.
Recommended for platform clientsNo API yet. TRE currently requires manual download via the Government Gateway portal. HMRC has indicated API access is planned for 2026. MyCustomsInfo\u00ae will integrate automatically when this becomes available. All clients will be notified when the connection goes live.
Who Benefits Most from TRE?
TRE has practical value across every type of UK trading business. The level of benefit depends on import and export volumes and the regularity of declaration activity. Here is what it means by business type.
SME Importers and Exporters
- First-time access to your own declaration history without third-party cost
- Identify overpaid duty without a consultant review
- Evidence of compliance for supplier and lender due diligence
- Prepare for HMRC audit without external support
Customs Agents and Brokers
- Access client data directly with third-party authorisation
- Run compliance checks across multiple clients more efficiently
- Build audit evidence packs without manual data requests
- Identify duty reclaim opportunities as a value-add service
Finance and Compliance Teams
- Reconcile customs duty costs against accounts payable records
- Identify unexplained duty charges before period-end close
- Support internal audit and regulatory reporting requirements
- Build a documented compliance trail for board and auditors
Enterprise and Multinational
- Centralise UK declaration data across multiple EORI numbers
- Feed TRE data into existing ERP and compliance systems
- Monitor classification consistency across high-volume entries
- Support AEO and customs authorisation evidence requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from UK importers and exporters about the Trade Reporting and Extracting Service.
TRE Gives You the Data. MyCustomsInfo\u00ae Turns It Into Action.
Raw declaration data tells you what happened. The platform tells you what it cost you, what you can recover and what to fix before HMRC finds it first.
Error Detection
Flags classification errors, valuation discrepancies and procedural code mismatches across your TRE import history before they become HMRC audit findings.
Duty Recovery
Identifies overpaid duty, missed relief claims and VAT discrepancies. Surfaces reclaim opportunities with estimated recovery values attached to each finding.
FTA and Rules of Origin
Maps your commodity codes against Free Trade Agreement eligibility. Tells you where you paid full duty when preference was available to claim.
Audit Trail and Evidence
Builds a structured compliance audit trail from your TRE data. Ready for internal review, HMRC correspondence or AEO evidence pack requirements.
CBAM Monitoring
Cross-references import declarations against CBAM-covered commodity codes. Flags embedded carbon reporting obligations arising from your TRE data.
Continuous Monitoring
Rather than a one-off review, MCI monitors each new TRE upload against your historic baseline. Alerts you to changes in declaration patterns that indicate risk.
MyCustomsInfo\u00ae accepts TRE data uploads directly. Third-party authorisation via TRE means the data flow can be fully delegated. No manual reconciliation, no spreadsheet building.
See the PlatformRelated Guidance
Compliance
Post-Clearance Audit: Understanding HMRC Compliance Checks
The most common reasons HMRC initiates a compliance check and how proactive declaration review reduces your exposure.
Duty Recovery
Why Duty Drawback Goes Unclaimed by UK Importers
The barriers that prevent businesses from recovering overpaid duty and how automated analysis removes them.
CBAM
CBAM Compliance: What UK Importers Need to Know
The UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism timeline and what your declaration data tells you about your exposure.
Need Help Getting Started with TRE?
If you need assistance registering for CDS, accessing TRE for the first time or setting up third-party access so MyCustomsInfo\u00ae can work with your data automatically, the team is here to help.
We also offer a complimentary declaration health check for new clients using their first TRE data download. Contact us to find out what your data contains.