Export Declaration

If you export goods from the UK, every shipment leaving the country needs an export declaration submitted to HMRC. For most businesses, that job has always gone to a customs broker or freight forwarder, and it has quietly become one of those overheads nobody questions.

It doesn’t have to work that way. ExportDocuments lets you file your own declaration through a simple four-step form that connects directly to HMRC. The information you need is the information you already have about your shipment. There’s no subscription and no licence fee, and the export declaration cost is a flat £29.50 per submission.

This page explains what an export declaration is, when you need one, what information it requires, and how filing it yourself compares to paying someone else. If you already know the ground and just want to begin, you can create a free account and start whenever you’re ready.

What is an export declaration?

An export declaration is the formal notice you give HMRC that goods are leaving the UK. It tells customs what’s being shipped, where it’s going, its value, and how it’s classified, so the export can be cleared legally. Any commercial shipment leaving Great Britain generally needs one, whether it’s going to the EU or further afield.

The reputation for complexity is largely unearned. Most of the difficulty comes from unfamiliarity, not genuine regulatory depth. If you’d like the full grounding before you file, our guide to what is an export declaration walks through the essentials in plain terms.

When do you need an export declaration?

You need a declaration whenever you’re exporting commercial goods out of the UK. The specifics depend on what you’re sending, its value, and its destination, and there are a few situations where the requirement changes or an additional document comes into play. The detail of when you need an export declaration is set out in full in our dedicated guide, so you can check your own case rather than guess at it.

What information you need to file

The declaration asks for the details you already hold about the shipment. Nothing here requires customs training, and the form guides you through each field as you go.

Your EORI number
Description of the goods
Destination country

Business address
Commodity code
Value of the goods

Contact details
Quantity and weight
Delivery terms

The one item worth sorting before you start is your EORI number, the identifier HMRC uses to track businesses trading internationally. If you’re not sure whether you have one or how to find it, our guide takes you through it.

How to submit online

Filing with ExportDocuments is a four-step form. You enter your business and shipment details, the platform checks the entries as you go, and the declaration is sent through a direct digital link to HMRC. You get confirmation back, and the record stays in your account. The first time takes a little longer while you find your feet. After that, it’s routine admin.

If you’re about to do this for the first time, the walkthrough on submit your first export declaration takes you through it step by step, so nothing on the form comes as a surprise.

After you’ve submitted

Once your declaration is in, you don’t have to wonder what happened to it. You can track your declaration status from your account at any time, and every declaration you file is stored in one place. That’s the part that outsourcing takes away: when a broker files on your behalf, the record lives with them, and if HMRC ever asks a question, you have to go back to them to ask for it. Filing yourself means you hold your own compliance history and can pull it up whenever you need it.

Filing yourself or using a broker

The trade-off is time against cost and control. A broker does the work for you, and for that convenience you pay more, often £35 to £60 per declaration, on top of losing sight of your own records. Filing yourself takes a few minutes once you’re familiar with the form, costs a flat £29.50, and keeps everything in your hands.

For a business that exports regularly, the maths tends to make the decision. If you’re weighing it up properly, our guide on choosing to do it yourself or outsource lays out the case on both sides so you can decide on the facts rather than habit.

Who files with ExportDocuments

The platform is built for two groups. The first is exporters filing for their own goods: manufacturers, B2B e-commerce businesses, and product-led companies who’d rather control their own declarations than route them through a third party. You can see how it works for export declarations for UK exporters on our dedicated page.

The second is logistics providers filing on behalf of clients, who need a fast, reliable, repeatable way to submit at volume. The detail on export declarations for logistics providers covers how the platform fits that workflow.

The tools that make repeat filing quicker

Once you’re filing regularly, the small things save the most time. A saved address book, reusable product details, and stored shipment templates mean you’re not re-entering the same information every time. The full set of useful webshop features is worth a look if you expect to file more than occasionally.

Support when you want a second opinion

You file the declaration yourself, but you’re not on your own. The form guides you through each field, and if you’d like a second pair of eyes before you submit, you can ask us to review your declaration for a flat £10. It’s entirely optional and only ever at your request. What’s covered is set out under service levels.

Do I legally need an export declaration?

For commercial goods leaving the UK, generally yes. The exact requirement depends on what you’re sending and where, which is covered in full in our guide on when a declaration is required.

Do I need to be a customs expert to file one myself?

No. The form asks for the shipment details you already have and checks your entries as you go. If you’d like reassurance before submitting, the optional £10 review gives you a second opinion.

How much does it cost to file?

A flat £29.50 per declaration, with no subscription and no licence fee. You create an account for free and only pay when you submit.

How long does it take?

The first declaration takes a little longer while you get familiar with the form. After that, most take only a few minutes, especially with your details saved.

More questions are answered on our export declaration FAQs, which covers the common queries in one place.

Creating an account is free, and you only pay the £29.50 when you file. If you’re ready to take your export declarations in-house, you can start now and have your first one filed today.