What is the ISF 5 filing?

Similar to the ISF 10+2 Filing which is required for U.S. Importers for goods into the United States. The ISF-5 filing is required for Foreign Importers which goods are either FROB (freight remaining on board) which makes a stop at the U.S. before their final destination of arrival to the foreign port of unlading. This also applies to both TE and IE shipments.

The ISF 5 is required to be filed 24 hours before loading of vessel destined to the United States. Failure to file ISF 5 timely, CBP have the right to issues fines and penalties from $5,000 per instance, and up to $10,000 in aggregate if multiple offenses within a shipment is found. Full enforcement of the CBP ISF 5 Rule is in effect from March 15,2019 in which liquidated damages (fines) may be issued.

The booking party is the entity responsible for filing the ISF 5 to U.S. Customs. The booking party is defined as the party who initiated the reservation of the cargo space for the booking. In many cases this would the be Foreign Importer of Record who makes a direct purchase from overseas, causing the seller or their freight forwarder to make a reservation for shipping the goods. In special cases the booking party may be other third party entities to the shipment such as the freight forwarder or consignee.

The 5 ISF elements required to be declared to CBP are listed below, in additional the the vessel sailing information such as the bill of lading numbers.

1. Booking Party

2. Ship to Party

3. Place of Delivery

4, Commodity HTS # (6 digit level)

5. Foreign Port of Unlading

For foreign importers which require ISF 5 filing for their shipments, please use the Live ISF-5 Online Filing Form.

For final destination USA shipments, refer to Live ISF 10+2 Filing Form.