Rolling out SDP is a sequenced job. Each step depends on the one before, so order matters.
Check eligibility against HMRC's conditions and fix any compliance gaps first.
Set up a Duty Deferment Account if you do not already hold one.
Apply for the SDP authorisation through HMRC, with supporting details about your records and systems.
Arrange a Customs Comprehensive Guarantee, or a waiver, where required.
Once approved, configure your CDS software to file simplified entries.
The step-by-step SDP authorisation route covers the evidence HMRC expects at each stage.
Approval is not instant. Plan for several weeks, and use the wait to confirm your Duty Deferment Account has enough headroom, because HMRC checks both records and deferment capacity.
The teams that ship this cleanly treat step one as a hard gate. No compliance gaps get carried forward into the application. Everything after runs faster when the foundation is clean.
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