What does a customs compliance check cover?
A customs compliance check covers six dimensions of post-clearance risk: preference evidence, tariff classification, customs valuation, special procedures, declaration data accuracy and agent concentration. They are the same dimensions BorderAudit's Audit Readiness product scores from your actual declaration data — the self-check above asks the one question per dimension that predicts most of the risk.
Compliance checks, answered.
What is a customs compliance check?
A customs compliance check is a structured review of how well your import declarations would stand up to scrutiny from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) after clearance. It covers six dimensions: preference evidence, tariff classification, customs valuation, special procedures, declaration data accuracy, and agent concentration. This free version is a six-question self-assessment; the full version scores the same dimensions from your actual declaration data.
Which six dimensions does the check cover?
Preference evidence (can you produce proof of origin for every preference claim), classification (are commodity codes reviewed by anyone other than your customs agent), valuation (do declared values reconcile to what you actually paid, including assists and royalties), special procedures (are inward processing, outward processing and Returned Goods Relief reconciled and discharged on time), declaration data (do you check your declarations against HMRC's record of what was filed), and agent concentration (would a recurring error by a dominant agent be visible to you).
Is this the same as an HMRC compliance check?
No. An HMRC compliance check is a formal review carried out by HMRC after your goods have cleared, and it can end in duty demands, interest and penalties. This tool is a self-assessment across the same dimensions HMRC examines — so you can find and close the gaps before HMRC opens the file.
How accurate is a self-assessment?
It's directional, not definitive. Your answers show where risk is likely to sit, but the only reliable measure is the declaration data itself — 17% of UK declarations contain errors, and most importers don't know which of theirs do. BorderAudit's Audit Readiness score is calculated from your actual declarations, not a questionnaire.
Do I need to upload any data?
No. The self-check is six questions and takes about two minutes. If you go on to run the full audit, BorderAudit works from HMRC declaration data accessed via Government Gateway — there is still nothing to upload and nothing changes in your operations.
What happens if the check flags problems?
Each flagged dimension tells you exactly what to verify in your declarations. Where errors are confirmed, overpaid duty is generally reclaimable up to three years from the date of entry, and correcting course reduces your exposure in any future HMRC review. BorderAudit's free tier runs that analysis automatically — no card required.