ISF filing (10+2): what to send, when to send it and how to avoid penalties

If you import goods by ocean into the United States, U.S. Customs requires an Importer Security Filing, known as ISF or 10+2, before the container is loaded on the ship. Many importers learn about it when it is already too late.

The problem

The ISF is due at least 24 hours before the cargo is loaded on the vessel at the foreign port. A late, incomplete or wrong filing can lead CBP to assess liquidated damages for each violation, and it can also mean holds and examinations when the container arrives.

The challenge is that most of the information comes from your supplier, who is often in another country and another time zone.

The 10 data elements you need

1. Seller (name and address)
2. Buyer (name and address)
3. Importer of record number
4. Consignee number
5. Manufacturer or supplier (name and address)
6. Ship-to party (name and address)
7. Country of origin
8. HTS number of each product (at least six digits)
9. Container stuffing location
10. Consolidator (stuffer)

The “+2” is information the ocean carrier sends: the vessel stow plan and the container status messages. You do not have to file those.

The solution, step by step

1. Ask your supplier for the data as soon as the order is confirmed. Do not wait for the booking.
2. Confirm the HTS codes for every product with your customs broker.
3. Send everything to your broker at least 72 hours before loading. That leaves time to fix errors.
4. Send the stuffing location and consolidator as soon as the container is packed.
5. Keep the filing confirmation with your shipment documents.

Tip: if you ship often, give your supplier a short ISF checklist so the data arrives on its own with every order.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Filing after the vessel has loaded.
• Using a different importer number than the one on the customs entry.
• Leaving the container stuffing location blank.
• Not updating the filing when the supplier changes the shipment.

How IEL can help

Our licensed brokers prepare, review and file your ISF before the deadline, and can contact your supplier for the missing data. You do not need to be an existing IEL client to file an ISF with us. Send the request online with what you have, and we will tell you exactly what is missing.