There have been some recent press reports regarding extending the closure of CHIEF.  BIFA has been unable to comment until HMRC issued formal clarification which is reproduced below.

In fact as the statement makes clear it is HMRC's intention to replace CHIEF by CDS in March 2023. 

We trust that this statement clarifies the situation for our Members.

HMRC Statement

“We are writing to you to make you aware of an article that was published in the online supply chain publication The Loadstar on 2 February titled CHIEF customs system will continue running until 2025, admits HMRC.

HMRC has contacted the journalist around aspects of this article which are not accurately or fairly represented.

We have been clear that the Customs Declarations Service (CDS) will replace CHIEF by March 2023 and that all users will need to be ready to submit customs declarations on CDS by this point. Additionally, our plans to close CHIEF for import declarations on 30 September 2022 have not changed.

The five-year contract that HMRC has with Fujitsu relates to a range of IT services – not just CHIEF. It also takes into account the decommissioning of CHIEF, which as a substantial IT system can take at least 18 months once all users have migrated and CHIEF has closed.

As of this month, we will be significantly increasing our communications to remind traders of the above deadlines as well as the steps they will need to take to make their customs declarations on CDS. We will also outline the support available to them.”