Is my C88 printout a CDS declaration?
Treat “C88” as the broker's label until they identify the underlying record. Request the CDS declaration, its MRN, current status and latest amendments, then match legacy labels through HMRC's declaration-category tables. Cambridge China Bridge can help organise the factory paperwork for this check.
Identify the record behind the printout
Ask the broker: “Was this submitted to CDS, which shipment does it cover, and does this copy show the latest declared data?” Request the complete declaration, including every goods item, rather than a summary of charges. Match its importer, invoice references and goods to your shipment.
HMRC defines the MRN as a declaration identifier assigned by CDS once a declaration is submitted. Ask for the matching acceptance and release or clearance messages separately. Do not treat the presence of an MRN, the printout's title or a broker's invoice as sufficient confirmation that your goods have cleared.
Use the legacy box as a lookup clue
HMRC's declaration-category data tables correlate legacy C88 boxes with CDS data elements where appropriate. Ask your broker to identify the declaration category and show the relevant table. Find the old box label, then read across to the data element number and name. Use that name to locate the current import completion instructions.
Translate the meaning of the field, not just its position on the page. Ask for a CDS-labelled export if the printout hides separate fields beneath a familiar heading. For the wider document handoff, see UK customs clearance documents.
Translate common headings
Use these starting points when discussing a legacy-labelled printout. They are a lookup aid, not a complete crosswalk or a list of fields required on every declaration. Ask the broker to explain any combined heading and provide its underlying fields.
| Legacy heading or label | Current lookup point | What to ask the broker |
|---|---|---|
| Consignee or importer identification | DE 3/16: Importer Identification Number | Show whose importer identifier was declared; distinguish it from the broker's identifier. |
| Commodity code | DE 6/14 to 6/17: commodity-code fields | Show the separate commodity-code components and explain which additional codes apply. |
| Procedure, including additional procedure | DE 1/11: Additional Procedure Code | Show the additional procedure codes separately from the requested and previous procedure. |
Check the category before judging blanks
HMRC's category data tables state whether a data element is mandatory, optional or dependent on the circumstances. A blank on the printout therefore needs an explanation against the actual category, rather than comparison with another shipment's form.
Request header and goods-item details separately, and check each product against the invoice, specification and packing list. Record discrepancies by field name and product. Continue with checking your broker's declaration for the broader accuracy review.
Keep an actionable reconciliation
Send the broker a short discrepancy list: printed label, corresponding CDS field, declared value, your supporting document and the question to resolve. Request written confirmation of whether the printout is a draft, an earlier version or the latest record, and keep any replacement copy alongside the explanation.
Keep declaration checks separate from VAT evidence. The nearby guide explains the relevant certificates and statements: VAT on imports from China. Cambridge China Bridge's staff in China can help assemble factory invoices, packing lists and product descriptions so your broker has consistent source documents.
Frequently asked questions
Does a C88 heading prove my entry is on CDS?
Ask the broker to identify the system and provide the matching CDS record, MRN, status messages and latest version. The heading alone does not establish those facts.
Does an MRN mean my goods have cleared?
HMRC says CDS assigns an MRN once a declaration is submitted. Request the matching release or clearance confirmation separately.
How do I convert C88 boxes to CDS fields?
Use HMRC's table for the actual declaration category. Match the legacy box to its data element number and name, then consult that element's current import instructions.
Should every field on my printout be filled?
Check the category first. HMRC's tables distinguish mandatory, optional and circumstance-dependent fields. Ask the broker to explain blanks against the applicable instructions.