Relation, authorisation and sequence errorsRelation & missing element

CDS12073Relation error: Data Element must be supplied at header or item level

HMRC explanation

Relation error

A value is missing or has been entered at the wrong level.

Check these data elements:

2/1, (31 or 3/2), and 8/5 must be declared at least once at either header or item level. 7/10 must be declared at least once at header or item level if 7/2 is coded 1. 3/15 or 3/16 must be declared at header level.

Source: HMRC, Customs Declaration Service error codes, Open Government Licence v3.0. GOV.UK publication · Licence

What to check across the Relation, authorisation and sequence errors

Two elements, or a value and a rule, disagree. Read both elements together: completing one element with a particular code often requires another value, and the fault is frequently in the element you did not change. The family also covers parties and authorisations that are not recognised, references that must be unique, and messages sent out of sequence.

A declaration that clears CDS can still be wrong

The free eligibility checker confirms your import activity and whether a free post-clearance audit applies. No data upload, no commitment.

Source: HMRC, Customs Declaration Service error codes, Open Government Licence v3.0. GOV.UK publication · Licence