Save time and money with the Trader Support Service upload API

News article

Use the Trader Support Service upload API to automate the process of creating and submitting declarations

Changes have been made to the way goods move in and out of Northern Ireland since the Northern Ireland Protocol was introduced on 1 January 2021.

The Trader Support Service (TSS) can help your business adapt to the changes. 

What is the TSS?

The Trader Support Service is free to use and:

  • offers education, training and advice about the changes to the way your goods move under the Northern Ireland Protocol
  • can complete customs and safety and security declarations on your behalf, where these are required for movements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, so you do not have to access HMRC systems directly

What is the TSS upload API?

The TSS upload API automates the uploading of information that is required to update and submit several customs declarations at the same time, saving traders time by replacing the need to manually key data into the system.

The system allows you to automate the process of creating and submitting Entry Safety & Security (ENS) declarations, and the associated simplified frontier (SFD) and supplementary declarations (SD).

Businesses that need to create larger volumes of declarations at any given time can use the TSS upload API to ensure they can complete these declarations in a compliant and cost-effective way.

If you are an importer with many supplementary declarations waiting to be closed, then the TSS upload API could help you get these closed faster and more reliably.

The API can benefit users by providing a cost-effective way to create and clear a large volume of declarations, ensuring that the declarations are compliant and completed efficiently.

How does the TSS API work?

An API allows different computer systems from two organisations to communicate and exchange data with each other in an automated way. 


In the case of TSS, the API allows the data and functionality of the TSS portal to be accessed by a trader through an approved interface, providing traders with the ability to give their computer systems automated access to similar functionality as a human operator could achieve via the TSS portal. 

Using the TSS API

The API facility may not be suitable for all businesses. TSS provides support and guidance, but they do not supply tools to access the API functionality. TSS recommends those wanting to use the system can design, develop and customise their existing computer system to use the API.

Request API Access

Organisations interested in using the API can raise an enquiry on the TSS portal.

Further Information

The Northern Ireland Customs & Trade Academy (NICTA) provides information on the TSS API. See the following guidance:

Read the API Functional Guide - guidance on the capabilities and implementation of the API.

Read the API Reference Guide - detailed technical information on how to design and customise your systems to use the API.

First published 17 August 2021