ISF FILINGS
The ISF Filing, also known as the Importer Security Filing 10+2 is a declaration to US Customs of the shipment data and and type goods that is being imported into the United States. The ISF declaration is vital to US Homeland Security for sceening of potential dangerous cargo or terrorist threats to the United States. Late filing may result in $5,000 - $10,000 penalty.
What Information is required to file an ISF?
ISF requires 10 separate data elements. They are listed as follows:
- Supplier (or manufacturer) name & address– the company or person that manufactured the goods or the last company/person that modified it
- Vendor name & address– The company/person which purchased the goods.
- Buyer (importer of record) name & address– The person or company purchasing the goods.
- Ship-to name & address– the physical location / final destination of the goods.
- Container stuffing location– The name and address of the location where the goods were placed into the container. If placed into the container in more than one location, all locations must be listed.
- Consolidator name & address– the party who physically stuffed the container or arranged for it. If the vendor or manufacturer of the goods stuffed the container, then they would be considered the consolidator
- ISF importer (importer assigned) number– The IRS number, employee identification number, social security number, or CBP assigned number of the party responsible for the goods entering the United States. This may or may not be the importer of record; it can be the owner, consignee, or agent.
- Consignee identification number– The IRS number, employee identification number, social security number, or CBP assigned number of the U.S consignee. This party must be located in the United States.
- Country of origin– The country where the goods were produced or grown
- HTS codes– Harmonized Tarif Schedule numbers with a minimum of 6 digits
- Bill of lading number– Either the house or straight bill of lading number, whichever is lowest.