CBP Form 5106 Explained: Establishing Your Importer Identity

If you are getting set up to import or to file a refund claim, you will run into CBP Form 5106. It is a foundational document, and understanding it removes one of the small mysteries of working with Customs.

What Form 5106 is

Form 5106, the Importer Identity Form, establishes or updates your identity as an importer of record with CBP. It tells Customs who you are, ties your business to your entries, and is a prerequisite for those entries to be processed under your account.

When you need it

You need Form 5106 when you first establish yourself as an importer of record, and you should update it when your business details change. For refund purposes, it is required so that your entries are correctly associated with your account before a claim is filed.

How it fits into filing

Think of the setup sequence as three steps: create an ACE Portal account, file Form 5106 to establish your identity, and enroll in ACH for electronic payments. Form 5106 is the middle link that connects your account to your entries.

Getting it right

Getting your 5106 in order is part of being ready to recover overpaid duty. If you are not sure whether your identity is properly established with CBP, that is one of the things a specialist review checks. Start with a free eligibility check and we will help you get set up.