ISF filing (10+2): who files, deadline and penalties
An ISF filing (Importer Security Filing, also called 10+2) is the advance cargo data that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requires for ocean shipments bound for the U.S. The ISF filing 10+2 deadline is 24 hours before the cargo is loaded onto the vessel abroad. The importer or its customs broker files it, and ExperShip LCL shippers need one per shipment. Penalties start at $5,000 per violation.
Key takeaways
- Deadline: the ISF must be transmitted to CBP no later than 24 hours before the cargo is laden (loaded) on the vessel at the foreign port, not 24 hours before arrival.
- Who files: the "ISF importer," usually the importer of record (IOR) or a licensed customs broker acting for it. The ocean carrier files the other 2 elements.
- Penalty: CBP can assess liquidated damages of $5,000 per violation for late, missing or inaccurate filings, and can order cargo not to be loaded.
- Scope: ocean cargo only, both FCL and LCL. Air, truck, rail and express parcels do not need an ISF.
What does "10+2" actually mean?
The name counts data elements. The importer supplies 10 elements about the goods and the parties. The ocean carrier supplies 2 more: the vessel stow plan and container status messages. The program comes from the SAFE Port Act and is codified in 19 CFR Part 149. The rule took effect on January 26, 2009, and CBP used a phased enforcement period before liquidated damages became routine. CBP's own overview is on its Importer Security Filing page.
The purpose is risk screening. CBP wants to target a container before it sails, not after it docks. That is why the clock runs from loading, and why the ISF is separate from the customs entry that actually clears the goods and pays duty. For the entry side, see our guide to U.S. customs entry types.
Who has to file an ISF?
Under 19 CFR Part 149, the filer is the ISF importer: the party causing the goods to enter the U.S., generally the owner, purchaser, consignee or an agent such as a licensed customs broker. In practice:
- You are the importer of record: you are responsible for the ISF, even if a broker transmits it. If you are an overseas brand acting as IOR, you need a U.S. customs bond and almost always a licensed broker to transmit. See importer of record and customs bond: who needs what.
- Your buyer is the importer of record: they (or their broker) file, and you supply the data.
- You ship LCL through a forwarder or consolidator: each consignee's cargo travels on its own house bill of lading, and each needs its own ISF. Ask in writing who is filing yours.
Filing is electronic, through CBP's Automated Broker Interface or the vessel manifest system. You cannot submit it on paper, which is why most small importers file through a broker or forwarder.
Which shipments are exempt?
The ISF applies to cargo arriving by vessel. Air freight, truck and rail crossings, and express or postal parcels are out of scope. A few categories are also excluded, such as bulk cargo and certain government shipments. Goods moving in-bond, into a foreign trade zone, or as in-transit cargo use a shorter ISF-5 with 5 elements. Confirm edge cases with your broker rather than assuming an exemption.
What is the ISF filing 10+2 deadline?
The ISF must be accepted by CBP no later than 24 hours before the cargo is loaded onto the vessel at the foreign port. Treat that as a hard stop, because a late ISF is a violation even if the cargo sails fine.
Worked example: your LCL container is scheduled to load at 6:00 p.m. local time on Thursday. The ISF is due by 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Forwarders usually set an internal document cutoff well before that, often 48 to 72 hours before the cargo cutoff, so they have time to fix rejections. Your real deadline is your forwarder's cutoff, not CBP's.
Two timing details matter:
- Updates are allowed. If some data (booking party, ship-to party, manufacturer, country of origin, HTS-6) is truly unknown at the 24-hour mark, CBP allows the filer to update it until 24 hours before arrival at the first U.S. port. Do not rely on this as a plan. It is a safety valve.
- Weekly sailings leave little slack. With weekly container departures, such as on ExperShip's Turkey to U.S. LCL lane, missing a cutoff can mean waiting a full week for the next sailing.
What are the 10 importer data elements?
| # | Element | Where the data usually comes from |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seller (owner) name and address | Commercial invoice |
| 2 | Buyer (owner) name and address | Purchase order, invoice |
| 3 | Importer of record number or FTZ applicant ID | IOR's EIN, CBP-assigned number or CBP Form 5106 |
| 4 | Consignee number(s) | Same sources as the IOR number |
| 5 | Manufacturer (or supplier) name and address | Factory or supplier records, invoice |
| 6 | Ship-to party name and address | Delivery address (for Amazon FBA, the fulfillment center) |
| 7 | Country of origin | Where goods were made, not where they shipped from |
| 8 | Commodity HTS number (6-digit minimum) | Your classification, matched to the entry |
| 9 | Container stuffing location | The warehouse or CFS where the container was loaded |
| 10 | Consolidator (stuffer) name and address | Forwarder or consolidator |
If you need to classify products, start with the HTS code definition. The ISF requires six digits, but the entry later needs the full 10-digit HTS number, so classify once and carry it through.
What are the penalties for a late or wrong ISF?
| Problem | What CBP can do |
|---|---|
| ISF filed late | Liquidated damages of $5,000 per violation |
| ISF inaccurate or incomplete | Same $5,000 per violation, and multiple violations can be assessed on one shipment |
| No ISF at all | "Do not load" message to the carrier before sailing, or cargo held for examination on arrival |
| Cargo held | Storage, demurrage and exam fees, plus delayed delivery to your customer or FBA slot |
The $5,000 figure is the liquidated damages amount CBP cites for ISF violations, and it is secured by the importer's customs bond. In practice the fine is often smaller than the knock-on cost of a held container, so accuracy matters more than the penalty headline. Always check the current text of 19 CFR Part 149 and CBP guidance before relying on any figure.
How do you file an ISF, step by step?
- Confirm the ISF importer. Decide who is the importer of record and make sure that party has an active customs bond (single-transaction or continuous). The ISF is secured by the bond.
- Appoint a filer. Give a licensed customs broker a power of attorney, or confirm your forwarder includes ISF filing.
- Collect the 10 elements early. Get the commercial invoice, packing list and supplier details as soon as the booking is made. Do not wait for the cargo to be ready.
- Classify each product to HTS-6 or better. If a container holds several products, each distinct HTS code is reported.
- Confirm the stuffing location and consolidator. For LCL, this is the consolidation warehouse or container freight station, not your factory.
- Submit at least 24 hours before loading. Aim for your forwarder's internal cutoff instead.
- Watch for acceptance or rejection. A rejected filing has not met the deadline until it is corrected and accepted.
- Amend if anything changes. Update the ISF if the vessel, container or any element changes, and keep the filing consistent with the later customs entry.
What are the most common ISF mistakes?
- Mixing up manufacturer and seller. A trading company is the seller, the factory is the manufacturer. Report both correctly.
- Using the wrong stuffing location. It is where the container was physically loaded.
- Country of shipment instead of country of origin. Goods made elsewhere but shipped from Turkey still carry their true origin.
- HTS mismatch. The ISF HTS-6 should match what you later declare on the entry.
- One ISF for several consignees. LCL cargo needs filings per house bill.
- Assuming de minimis helps. The U.S. de minimis exemption has been suspended since August 29, 2025, and it never removed the ISF requirement for ocean cargo. See what changed since August 29, 2025.
How does ISF apply to LCL freight?
LCL (less than container load) means your cargo shares a container with other shippers' goods. The ISF rules are the same as for a full container, but the roles are clearer: the consolidator stuffs the container, each shipper's goods ride on a separate house bill, and each importer files its own ISF. The 24-hour clock runs from the container loading, so a single late shipper does not excuse anyone else's filing.
ExperShip runs LCL ocean freight from Turkey to the U.S. with weekly container departures, and cargo insurance is included on every LCL shipment. Ask your quote contact how ISF filing is handled for your booking and what document cutoff applies to your sailing. You can start with the LCL ocean freight explainer, the Amazon FBA by sea walkthrough, or request a freight quote. For the wider picture of importing, see our pillar on cross-border ecommerce shipping into the U.S..
Frequently asked questions
When is the ISF due?
No later than 24 hours before the cargo is loaded onto the vessel at the foreign port. Some data elements can be updated until 24 hours before arrival at the first U.S. port, but the initial filing cannot be late.
Do I need an ISF for air freight or express parcels?
No. The ISF applies only to cargo arriving in the U.S. by ocean vessel. Air, truck, rail and express parcel shipments use other advance data requirements.
Does an ISF replace the customs entry?
No. The ISF is advance security data. You still need a customs entry to clear the goods and pay duties, and the two should match.
Do I need a customs bond to file an ISF?
Yes, in practice. The ISF importer needs a customs bond, either a single-transaction bond or a continuous bond, because ISF liquidated damages are secured by it. Your broker can arrange one.
Can ExperShip's shipping software file an ISF?
No. ExperShip's app and API handle parcel labels, tracking and automation with customs documents on international labels. The ISF is an ocean cargo filing handled by the importer or its broker, so confirm that process when you book LCL freight.
Shipping parcels as well as freight? ExperShip lets you buy, print and track labels across carriers, with a 30-day free trial on Starter and Growth and no card needed to sign up. Create your ExperShip account.