UKIMS Changes from 31st March 2025 - Trade to NI

As you will be aware, new arrangements are being introduced for moving goods via freight and parcels from Great Britain (GB) into Northern Ireland (NI) as part of the Windsor Framework.

You will need to be fully prepared by 31 March 2025 for these new arrangements.

UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS) authorisation will allow your members to benefit from simplified processes for Internal Market Movements. This means they can use the Internal Market Movement Information (IMMI) instead of a full declaration for eligible goods they move from GB to NI that are ‘not at risk’ of entering the European Union. They will be able to provide less information for each movement, while ensuring that no customs duty is charged.

As part of these simplified processes, and to help with their preparations, HMRC are inviting traders to access their new Trader Goods Profile (TGP) as part of a public beta programme.

What is the Trader Goods Profile (TGP)?

The TGP is an online service that stores information about goods traders commonly move from GB to NI. Every UKIMS-authorised trader has a unique TGP, and once it’s set up, you will be able to save time when the new processes come into effect. This is because you can use it to complete certain IMMI data fields on either the Trader Support Service portal or the software you use to manage GB-NI movements.

The TGP can be managed directly on GOV.UK and the Trader Support Service portal. Each record in a trader’s TGP will contain a goods description, commodity code, product reference, country of origin, category of goods and supplementary units if required. If you were UKIMS-authorised on or before 19 June 2024, HMRC have pre-populated their TGP with goods moved from GB to NI in the twelve months up to this date.

If you are a TSS user, you will be able to access their TGP on the TSS portal from early February 2025. TSS will provide information to traders in due course. Additionally, the TSS portal will allow you to grant access to a third party (e.g. a haulier, intermediary, agent) to manage their TGP on their behalf.

HMRC has created an API for software developers to integrate the TGP into their products. You are encouraged to share the TGP API GOV.UK page with their developer if they would like to see this functionality included in the software they use to manage GB-NI movements.’

Please note that if you use a parcel carrier, the carrier may complete the IMMI on their behalf as part of their service. You will only need to provide your parcel carrier with a plain English goods description and standard commercial information. You will not be able to use the TGP for goods moved by most carriers. HMRC recommend that traders moving business-to-business (B2B) parcels from GB to NI speak to their parcel carriers about their arrangements.

What is the TGP public beta?

The TGP public beta gives traders an opportunity to access their TGP and ensure it contains accurate data about the goods they move from GB to NI. This will allow them to use their TGP as soon as the new processes come into effect.

When they’re using the TGP public beta, they’ll have access to comprehensive guidance and be able to provide feedback directly on GOV.UK to inform development of the service.

How do traders access the TGP public beta?

The TGP public beta can be accessed now on GOV.UK.

• Traders need to log in with your Government Gateway account using the EORI number associated with their UKIMS authorisation.

• If necessary, they’ll be asked to register their EORI number with the Customs Declaration Service (CDS)

• They will need to have their Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS) number and Northern Ireland Plant Health Label (NIPHL) authorisation number to hand, if they have them.

If your member is not UKIMS-authorised they will need:

• A Government Gateway account

• An EORI number

• UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS) authorisation associated with their EORI number

• Customs Declaration Service (CDS) subscription associated with their EORI number

• Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS) number or Northern Ireland Plant Health Label (NIPHL) authorisation number, if they move goods that require these.

Note for TSS users – from early 2025 they will be able to access their TGP on the TSS portal. Since their TGP is a live service, hosted by HMRC, any updates they make on GOV.UK will be reflected on the TSS portal, and vice versa.

More information and support

Please contact HMRC imports and exports general enquiries. For TSS portal queries please contact the Trader Support Service.