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CBP Form 5106 is the Create/Update Importer Identity Form. It provides U.S. Customs and Border Protection with the identifying information needed to establish or update an importer’s customs record, including its name, identification number, address, and contact details.
For a business preparing its first commercial import, this is part of getting ready to file a customs entry. Existing importers may also need to update their records when company information changes.
A1 Worldwide Logistics provides US customs brokerage for first-time importers and businesses receiving regular shipments. Tell us what you are importing and whether you already have an importer number. Our team can review the shipment and explain the account setup and customs work it needs.
Under 19 CFR 24.5, Form 5106 must be filed with a party’s first formal customs entry or its first request for services that will result in a CBP bill or refund. The regulation also requires a record for the entry’s ultimate consignee.
The form establishes identity information and updates an existing record. You do not need a new importer number for every shipment. Before requesting a new record, tell your broker whether your business has imported before, including through another broker or carrier.
The importer of record and ultimate consignee have different roles. Confirm which party the form identifies, rather than assuming a delivery address determines who is responsible for the import.
For a US business, the importer number is generally based on its IRS Employer Identification Number, or EIN. An individual without an EIN may use a Social Security Number. A party without either identifier can request a CBP-assigned number through Form 5106.
Having an EIN does not, by itself, confirm that your business has an importer identity record with CBP. Your broker must confirm whether the number is already on file and whether the associated information is correct.
Use the identification number belonging to the party being registered. Do not substitute another company’s EIN because it shares an owner, office, or warehouse with your business.
A foreign business without a US tax identifier can request a CBP-assigned number. That number alone does not establish that it meets every requirement to act as importer of record.
For example, a nonresident corporation making a consumption entry must meet the relevant resident-agent and customs-bond requirements. Discuss the proposed arrangement with your broker before shipping, including which entity will buy the goods and take responsibility for the entry.
Use the current form and instructions from CBP’s Form 5106 download page.
Start with the current official version rather than a supplier’s old attachment. Read the instructions alongside the form, particularly when requesting a CBP-assigned number or updating an existing record.
Because the form contains identification and contact information, confirm who requested it and how to return it. Arrange an appropriate way to share sensitive documents with your broker. There is no need to put a Social Security Number into a general website enquiry.
The core identifying details are:
| Information | What to check |
|---|---|
| Importer or business name | Identify the actual person or legal entity being registered. Do not rely only on a brand name. |
| Identification number | Use the appropriate EIN, SSN, or existing CBP-assigned number, or request an assigned number when eligible. |
| Mailing address | Provide the address where the importing party receives correspondence. |
| Physical location | Identify the business’s actual location when it differs from the mailing address. |
| Phone number | Use a valid number belonging to the importer. |
| Email address | Use a valid email address belonging to the importer. |
The form also asks for other company information. Follow the current instructions for the fields that apply to your circumstances, and have the certifying person review the completed information before you submit it.
If the supplier’s invoice identifies one company but the proposed importer record identifies another, resolve the difference before the entry is prepared. There may be a legitimate reason, but the broker needs to understand the transaction rather than guess which party is importing.
Keep a copy of the completed form and any confirmation with your import records. This gives you something to refer to when your company moves, changes its name, or appoints another broker.
CBP’s August 19, 2026 notice on importer data accuracy announced enhanced enforcement beginning September 18, 2026, covering new and existing importers.
If CBP determines that Form 5106 information is inaccurate or incomplete, it will immediately void the associated importer-of-record number. The number then cannot be used to enter merchandise.
The notice specifically addresses the importer’s own contact details. The physical address must be its actual location, not a broker’s, forwarder’s, registered agent’s, P.O. box, or business service center. The email address and phone number must also belong to the importer.
Existing importers should review their records rather than assume that previous clearances prove the details remain correct.
CBP sends a notice to the email address on file explaining the reason and the information needed to request reestablishment. Follow those instructions and share the notice with your broker.
Questions and requests can be sent to IORProgram@cbp.dhs.gov, using “Enforcing IOR Accuracy” as the subject. Confirm that CBP has restored the number before relying on it for an entry.
Form 5106 information can be submitted through the Automated Broker Interface, or ABI, or by email to the appropriate CBP Center of Excellence and Expertise. Your broker can confirm the route for your account.
An importer can transact customs business solely on its own behalf without holding a broker’s license. Businesses that appoint a customs broker should confirm who is handling the identity submission and whether it is included in the agreed services.
The customs power of attorney must be executed directly between the broker and the importer of record. Booking transportation with a freight forwarder does not, by itself, establish that authorization.
If a supplier or shipping company says that importer setup is already complete, ask which broker handled it and what confirmation is available. Establish what has actually been submitted before arranging further work.
Review the record when your legal name, location, or contact details change. Updating your website, supplier account, or freight booking does not necessarily update the information CBP holds.
Tell the broker precisely what changed. A business moving premises needs a different review from a transaction involving a new legal entity. Do not assume you can transfer an old importer number simply by changing the name on the form.
Suppose your company has moved warehouses but kept the same legal entity. Start by comparing the old record with the current business information and determine which addresses need changing. The broker can then identify the appropriate update and any related documents that need attention.
If you are told that the number is inactive, rejected, or voided, obtain the actual message. Do not assume those descriptions refer to the same issue or that submitting a duplicate form will resolve it.
Your identity record allows CBP to identify the importing party. It does not replace the customs entry, a required bond, or product-specific import requirements.
The broker still needs the documents for customs clearance, usually starting with the commercial invoice, packing list, and transport information. The goods must be classified, their customs value established, and any additional agency requirements addressed.
For example, a business importing machinery can have its importer record in order while the broker still needs specifications to classify the equipment. Importer registration does not determine the machine’s duty treatment.
Consider a customs bond and any advance filings separately. For applicable ocean shipments, Importer Security Filing has its own requirements and deadlines. Do not wait until the cargo arrives to discuss these preparations.
No. The importer identity record and access to the Automated Commercial Environment, or ACE, Portal are separate matters.
A business may already have an importer record because a broker has filed entries for it, even if its staff doesn’t have their own portal access. Conversely, access to an online account does not mean a particular shipment has been cleared.
When asking for help, explain whether you need importer registration, a correction to existing details, access to customs records, or shipment clearance. This helps the team address the right task.
A1 Worldwide Logistics offers first-time importer setup and customs brokerage for commercial cargo. Our process starts with a discussion of the shipment and a quote. After approval, we complete account opening and the customs power of attorney, and an assigned broker handles the entry.
Send a description of the products and the supplier’s invoice or quote. Include the country of origin, expected arrival point, and whether the goods have already shipped. Mention whether your business has imported before or has received a request concerning Form 5106.
Our office is in North Miami. We assist with Miami customs clearance and provide customs brokerage for New York and New Jersey imports, among other US service areas. Tell us the actual port or airport and whether you need delivery after clearance.
Call 305-821-8995 to discuss your commercial shipment with A1’s customs brokerage team.
Regulatory note: Reviewed October 21, 2026, against CBP guidance, the August 2026 importer-data notice, and relevant federal customs regulations. This is general information, not legal advice. The importing entity and shipment determine the additional requirements.
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