CSV03 Technical Specification: Dispatches
This section is Guidance
This guide explains the technical specification of the CSV03 template.
Technical specification for Dispatches declarations
This guide provides the technical specification for Dispatches declarations by Comma Separated Values (CSV); as has been required for Northern Ireland to EU export trade movements since January 2022. This is known as CSV03 format.
Note: this format cannot be used for Arrivals, which uses CSV02 format.
Definition of a ‘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.
Header
If the data is being submitted by an agent the first record will be an agent header record, and the second record will be the trader header.
Data submitted by the trader will have only one header record – the trader header.
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 click 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 |
CSV03 |
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 |
D |
Dispatches flag |
|
6 |
|
Date of completion, ddmmyy |
|
4 |
|
Period, mmyy |
|
5 |
CSV03 |
Version/Identification |
Commodity record - dispatches only
|
Length |
Value |
Description |
|
8 |
|
Commodity code |
|
1 – 14 |
Pounds only |
Invoice value |
|
3 or left blank |
|
Delivery terms |
|
2 |
|
Nature of Transaction |
|
0 to 11 |
|
Net mass |
|
0 to 11 |
|
Supplementary units |
|
2 |
|
Country of ‘Goods to’ |
|
4 to 14 First two characters always relate to a country code |
|
Partner VAT ID |
|
2 |
|
Country of origin |
|
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.