What is CBP Form 5106?

CBP Form 5106 is the Create/Update Importer Identity Form: the form U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) uses to set up or update your importer record and importer number before you import commercial goods. Download the official PDF from cbp.gov, then submit it through a licensed customs broker, the ACE portal or by email to CBP.

CBP Form 5106, officially known as the Importer Identity Form, is a document required by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) before importing commercial goods into the US. Once submitted and approved, the importer receives an active CBP account and is officially registered as an Importer of Record (IOR), with the authority to import goods commercially into the United States.

Detail Information
Form Name Importer Identity Form
Form Number CBP Form 5106
Issued By US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Who Needs It Any business or individual importing commercial goods into the US
Where to Submit ACE Secure Data Portal, licensed customs broker, or email to CBP Centers
Processing Time 5 business days on average for updates to existing IOR records
Document Length 3 pages

Why do I need to fill out a 5106 form?

CBP Form 5106 is required before any commercial import activity can take place in the US. The form serves three specific purposes:

  • Verifying the identity of the importer
  • Tracking the import history of the importer
  • Ensuring that the importer abides by all import-related laws applicable in the US

Once this form is submitted, the importer is officially registered as an Importer of Record (IOR) with CBP. Registration is required for any entity acting as an importer, consignee, or ultimate consignee on a formal or informal customs entry. The only exception applies to individuals importing shipments valued at $800 or less for personal use.

How do I file a CBP Form 5106?

For those filing for the first time, CBP Form 5106 is a three page document that requires detailed business and identification information. Since many of the required details may not be immediately available, it is advisable to gather all necessary information before beginning to fill out the form.

CBP 5106 Form Instructions

The instructions for completing CBP Form 5106 are provided on the third and fourth pages of the document. Read them carefully, detach, and keep them for future reference. Detailed step by step instructions are provided below.

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How to fill out CBP Form 5106

The following information must be provided in CBP Form 5106. All sections are mandatory unless specifically marked otherwise. The form will be automatically rejected if any required section is left blank.

Section Required Information
Business Identity Owner name, company name, year of establishment, brief business description
Tax Identification Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Social Security Number (SSN)
Import Activity Number of times the company intends to import annually
CBP Information CBP Assigned Number, CBP Partnership Program code if applicable
Classification Codes NAICS code, D-U-N-S number
Contact Information Business address, phone number, email address
Financial Information Business bank details
Key Personnel Names, SSNs, and contact details of individuals with financial authority over the business
Broker Information Name of the firm's customs broker or agency
Authorization Name, date, and signature of the owner or authorized representative

If you are unsure about any section, do not guess. An error or omission can result in automatic rejection of the form.

CBP Form 5106 Filled Example

Below is a completed CBP Form 5106 for a fictional importer, Acme Imports LLC, showing the kind of entry each field expects. Use it as a reference and replace every value with your own verified business details.

Form FieldSample Entry
Action requestedNew 5106 Add
Importer typeBusiness — Corporation (LLC)
Tax identification typeEIN
EIN47-1234567
Importer of Record (IOR) number47-1234567-00
Legal company nameAcme Imports LLC
Doing business as (DBA)Acme Trading
Year established2018
Business descriptionWholesale importer of home & kitchen goods
Physical address1450 Harbor Blvd, Suite 200, Long Beach, CA 90802 (type: Business)
Mailing addressSame as physical address (type: Business)
Company officer / contactJane Carter, Operations Director
Phone number+1 562-555-0142
Email addressimports@acmeimports.com
NAICS code423220 — Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
D-U-N-S number07-123-4567
Estimated imports per year24
Customs brokerPacific Customs Brokers Inc.
Related business entitiesNone
AuthorizationJane Carter · 14-Mar-2026 · (authorized signature)

Sample for illustration only — EIN, DUNS, and addresses are fictional. Enter your own verified details.

How to submit CBP Form 5106?

There are three ways to submit CBP Form 5106:

1. ACE Secure Data Portal (Self-Filing) For those self-filing the form, it can be submitted through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Secure Data Portal. The ACE portal requires some prior experience and can be confusing for first time users.

2. Licensed Customs Broker The quickest and easiest way to submit the form is through an experienced and qualified customs broker. Licensed customs brokers with access to the ACE Automated Broker Interface (ABI) can create an IOR entity within the ACE portal quickly and accurately.

3. Email Submission The completed and signed form can be emailed to the appropriate CBP Centers of Excellence and Expertise. The subject line must include 'New 5106 Add' or '5106 Update' along with the team assignment of the account so it can be routed to the correct division. If the importer has not been assigned to a Center, select one based on the tariff number with the highest value.

Also Read ACE CBP | Functions, Registration and Customs Filing

CBP Form 5106 Sample

CBP Form 5106 Sample

The CBP is in the process of revising the form and incorporating the changes into the ACE portal. Once complete, they will post information about the updates on their official webpage. You can download the current CBP Form 5106 sample from this link.

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CBP Form 5106 FAQs

What is CBP Form 5106 used for?

CBP Form 5106 is the Importer Identity Form required by US Customs and Border Protection before any business or individual can import commercial goods into the United States. It registers the filer as an official Importer of Record (IOR) with an active CBP account.

Who needs to file CBP Form 5106?

Any business or individual that intends to act as an importer, consignee, or ultimate consignee on a formal or informal US customs entry must file CBP Form 5106. The only exception applies to individuals importing shipments valued at $800 or less for personal use.

How long does it take for the CBP to update the information for an existing importer who has correctly submitted the 'change of name' or 'change of address' request?

It takes the CBP five business days on average to update an existing IOR record.

If the shipment is for personal use only and not imported for commercial purposes, is it still required to fill out the Form 5106?

It is necessary to register as an IOR with CBP if an entity intends to be involved as an importer, consignee, or ultimate consignee on an informal or formal entry. However, individuals and organizations do not need to be registered as an IOR with CBP for shipments valued at $800 or less imported by one person for personal use.

What are the new mandatory data elements required for the revised CBP Form 5106?

Entities submitting the revised form must provide the type of address for their mailing address and physical location address. An email address is also now required. A phone number was already required on the previous version under block 19, so that is not a new requirement.

Do individuals who have already filled the old CBP Form 5106 need to update their filing?

No. Entities that filed the old CBP Form 5106 before the ACE deployment of the revised form do not need to update their information as the new data elements are grandfathered in. However, those grandfathered importers that update their CBP Form 5106 information after the ACE deployment must provide the new mandatory data elements required by the revised form.

What happens if I leave a section of CBP Form 5106 blank?

The form will be automatically rejected if any mandatory section is left blank. All sections are considered mandatory unless specifically marked otherwise.

Can CBP Form 5106 be submitted by email?

Yes. The completed and signed form can be emailed to the appropriate CBP Centers of Excellence and Expertise. The subject line must include 'New 5106 Add' or '5106 Update' along with the team assignment of the account.

Learn More

After Filing: Managing Your Customs Duty Payment

Once your CBP Form 5106 is filed and your importer identity is established, the next financial decision is how to handle duty payments on each shipment. For many US importers - especially those sourcing from countries subject to Section 301 tariffs - duty payments represent a significant cash outflow that arrives before inventory has sold and before customers have paid.

The decision of whether to pay customs duties upfront from operating cash or to finance them can have a significant impact on your working capital cycle.

Read more: Customs Duty Payment: Should You Pay Upfront or Finance It?

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