CSV02 Technical Specification

This section is Guidance

This guide explains the technical specification of the CSV02 template, for all Arrivals declarations.

Definitions

Record

A record consists of one or more fields. A record is terminated by carriage return / line feed (cr / lf) characters. Except for the last field in a record, all fields end with the comma delimiter. One or more fields ending with cr / lf characters.

Zero-length field  

This is represented by just a comma without any preceding characters. All fields defined must be present even if zero length or defined not used.

Field – numeric  

Without leading spaces or leading zeroes, or trailing spaces.

Field – alpha

Without leading spaces or trailing spaces.

Commodity record

A ‘nil’ return consists of a trader’s header record and no lines of data. 

Inserting ‘N’ in the trader header will result in data entered in subsequent rows being ignored. 

Note: If you are an agent and need to submit a nil Supplementary Declaration for your trader, log in to Intrastat. At the Main Menu, choose the Dispatches or Arrivals Input Form, enter the relevant period and select the Submit button. 

Agent header row (if appropriate)

Length

Value

Description

1

A

Agent flag

9

 

Agent VAT number

3 or left blank

 

Agent branch ID

1 - 30

 

Agent name

0

empty

(not used)

0

empty

(not used)

0

empty

(not used)

0

empty

(not used)

5

CSV02

Version/Identification

Trader header row

Length

Value

Description

1

T

Trader flag

9

 

Trader VAT number

3 or left blank

 

Trader branch ID

1 - 30

 

Trader name

1

N or X

Return flag N = Nil Return X = Live data

1

A or D

Arrivals / Dispatches flag

6

 

Date of completion, ddmmyy

4

 

Period, mmyy

5

CSV02

Version/Identification

Commodity record - All Arrivals declarations

Length

Value

Description

8

 

Commodity code

1 – 14

Pounds only

Value

0 or 3

 

Delivery terms

2

 

Nature of Transaction

0 to 11

 

Net mass

0 to 11

 

Supplementary units

2

 

Country of ‘Goods from’ or ‘Goods to’

0 - 14 characters comprising of digits (0 to 9), letters (a-z or A-Z), spaces or the characters ().-/ only.

 

Trader’s reference

Please ensure you key all alpha characters in upper case.

The CSV file is uploaded into our online Intrastat system.

Testing files

Go through the upload process until the 'Confirmation Screen' then press the 'Cancel' button to abort the transmission.

Please note: test files should not be transmitted to HM Revenue and Customs.