HMRC’s AES project team invites BIFA members to participate in user research shaping the design of future indirect export processes involving Northern Ireland

HMRC is developing the Automated Export System (AES) to facilitate indirect export movements involving Northern Ireland.

Indirect exports are exports that start in Northern Ireland and leave via an EU country to a non-EU destination (including Great Britain), or start in an EU country and leave Northern Ireland for a non-EU destination (including Great Britain).

Phase 1 is expected to go live in early 2027 and focuses on indirect exports that start in an in an EU country.

HMRC is contacting traders transporting goods from Ireland through Northern Ireland to Great Britain or Rest of World. This makes your expertise directly relevant to how HMRC designs the new system. The team would like to understand how your current indirect export processes work in practice. Hauliers are invited to take part in research conversations to help HMRC map the current journey including, how goods move, what information is exchanged, and where friction or complexity tends to arise.

Participation in the sessions are voluntary. The sessions will be held remotely via video call and will typically last around 60 minutes. As a thank you for your participation in the research, you will receive a voucher worth £60 or €69.

Your feedback would directly inform the design of AES and help ensure the new system reflects real-world practice.

If you are interested in taking part, or would like more information, please contact the AES User Research Team at AESTeam@hmrc.gov.uk.

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