Free self-check · CBP rule checked 6 November 2026

Will CBP void your importer number?

Since 18 September 2026, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can void an importer of record number straight away if the data on its Form 5106 is wrong or incomplete. A voided number can't be used to clear goods, so shipments sit at the port. Answer eight questions about your 5106 to find the problems before CBP does.

What physical address is on your Form 5106?Our own office, warehouse or shop (where we actually operate)The owner's home (we run the business from there)A registered agent's address (from LLC formation)Our freight forwarder's or 3PL's addressOur customs broker's addressA PO box, mailbox store or mail-forwarding addressA virtual office or coworking mail addressI don't know

Whose email address is on it?Ours (an address our business controls)Our broker's, forwarder's or formation service'sI don't know

Whose phone number is on it?OursOur broker's, forwarder's or someone else'sI don't know

Does the EIN (or SSN) and legal name match your IRS records exactly?Yes, same as on our IRS EIN letterNo, or the name has changed sinceI don't know

Did you sign the power of attorney directly with your customs broker?Yes, we signed it with the broker ourselvesNo, a forwarder or platform signed or arranged it for usI don't know

Has your address, phone or email changed since the 5106 was filed?NoYesI don't know

Who filed the 5106 for you?Our customs brokerA freight forwarder, courier or sourcing agentA formation service or e-commerce platformWe did it ourselvesI don't know

Where is the business based?In the USOutside the US (non-resident importer)

What changed on 18 September 2026

• Executive Order 14411 ("Strengthening Customs Enforcement", 3 June 2026) told CBP to check importer data.
• CBP's Federal Register notice of 19 August 2026 ("Accuracy of Importer of Record Data Submitted to CBP", document 2026-16911) said that from 18 September 2026 it will void importer numbers where accurate or complete information hasn't been provided.
• Addresses that don't count as your physical address: a registered agent, customs broker, freight forwarder, PO box, business service centre or mail drop, or any address belonging to another person or business.
• Email and phone must belong to the importer itself, not to a broker, forwarder or other third party.
• Your broker must hold a valid power of attorney signed directly with you.

Who's most at risk: small importers and Amazon, Etsy or Shopify sellers who formed an LLC through a formation service, or let a forwarder or sourcing agent set up their importer number. Those filings often carry the agent's address and contact details.

How to fix your Form 5106

1. Get a copy of what's on file. Ask your customs broker; they can see your importer record in ACE.
2. Collect proof: your IRS EIN confirmation letter (CP 575 or 147C), and a document showing your real business address.
3. Send a corrected Form 5106 through your broker, with your own address, email and phone. If a forwarder arranged your broker, sign a new power of attorney directly with the broker.
4. Keep it current. Update the 5106 whenever you move or change phone or email.

Lost your EIN letter? How to get an IRS 147C letter.

If your number has already been voided

According to compliance guides citing CBP's voided importer record FAQs, CBP asks for a completed Form 5106, proof of a valid importer record, and a power of attorney less than a year old if someone signs for you. Proof of an EIN must be IRS-issued and dated within the last 12 months; W-9s, SS-4 applications and state documents aren't accepted. Allow about five business days. Ask your broker to send it, or confirm the current address and subject line on CBP's website first, because guides quote different ones.

While you wait, shipments can't clear under the voided number. Talk to your broker and your carrier about storage charges straight away.

Penalties for false information

Knowingly giving false information to CBP can lead to fines or prosecution, and brokers face their own penalties. Fixing honest mistakes now is far cheaper than a voided number in peak season.

Related: tariff calculator · how US customs duty is calculated · CPSC eFiling checker.

Sources: Federal Register 2026-16911 (19 August 2026); STR Trade Report (19 August 2026); C.H. Robinson client advisory (25 August 2026); Clark Hill (20 August 2026); Beancount guide (18 September 2026). Read 6 November 2026.