New to Importing? A 10-Step Customs Checklist to Start With
Bringing goods into the US for the first time can feel like a lot — unfamiliar acronyms, multiple government agencies, and paperwork at every turn. This checklist condenses the process into 10 manageable steps, so you'll know exactly what needs to happen before your first shipment ever leaves the factory.
1. Get an Importer of Record (IOR) Number
For businesses, your IOR number is usually your IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN); individuals typically use their Social Security Number instead. CBP relies on this number to track your import activity and build a compliance history over time.
2. Choose a Licensed Customs Broker
Self-filing entries is technically possible, but nearly every importer works with a licensed broker instead. Our brokers are CBP-tested and licensed, hold continuous bonds, and carry legal responsibility for the accuracy of any filing made on your behalf.
3. Determine If You Need a Customs Bond
A continuous bond — usually $50,000 at minimum — guarantees that duties, taxes, and fees owed to CBP get paid. Anyone importing more than a handful of times a year will typically find a continuous bond cheaper than paying for a single-entry bond on every shipment.
4. Confirm Your HTS Classification
Nail down your product's correct 10-digit HTS code before placing your first order. That code drives your duty rate and determines whether extra tariffs, quotas, or PGA requirements come into play.
5. Check for PGA Requirements
A lot of products need sign-off from agencies outside CBP — the FDA for food and cosmetics, USDA for agricultural goods, CPSC for consumer products, and more. Check this early so a hold at the border doesn't catch you off guard.
6. Negotiate the Right Incoterm
The Incoterm you agree to (FOB, CIF, DDP, and so on) decides who's on the hook for freight, insurance, and customs clearance at each stage of the journey. New importers often just go along with whatever the supplier proposes — make sure you actually understand what that commits you to.
7. Gather Required Documents
You'll need, at a minimum, a commercial invoice, packing list, and either a Bill of Lading or Air Waybill. Depending on the product, additional documents like a Certificate of Origin or FDA Prior Notice may also be required.
8. File ISF (For Ocean Shipments)
For ocean shipments, your broker needs to submit the Importer Security Filing at least 24 hours before the vessel leaves the foreign port. Our dedicated ISF guide covers this in full.
9. Understand Exam Risk
CBP pulls roughly 3-5% of shipments for examination. That's not automatically a bad sign — selection is often random. Still, it's wise to build a few extra days of cushion into your timeline in case your shipment gets picked.
10. Set Up Recordkeeping
Federal law requires import records to be kept for 5 years. Put a simple system in place — paper or digital, doesn't matter — starting with your first shipment, so you're not scrambling later if CBP asks to see them.
Your first shipment shouldn't be a stressful one. Advante works with first-time importers all the time and personally guides you through each of these steps, from setting up a bond to filing your first entry. Contact us before your goods ship and we'll have everything squared away on our end.