First-Time Importer Guide: Step-by-Step US Customs Clearance

Do You Even Need a License? (Usually No)

The most common first-timer myth is that you need an 'import license' from the US government. For the vast majority of goods, you do not. There is no general import license. What you need is to be identified to CBP as the importer of record and to meet the requirements for your specific product.

Some goods are regulated by a 'partner government agency' — the FDA (food, cosmetics, supplements, medical devices), USDA (agricultural products, some wood and plant material), EPA, FCC (electronics that emit radio frequency), CPSC (consumer product safety), and others. Those may require registrations, prior notice, or testing, but that is product-specific, not a blanket license. Your first job is to identify whether your product touches one of those agencies. Everything below applies to standard commercial goods.

Step 1: Get Your Importer of Record (IOR) Number

Every US import is filed under an importer of record — the party legally responsible for the entry, the duties, and the accuracy of the paperwork. To be one, you need an importer number, which CBP assigns using CBP Form 5106 (the Importer Identity Form).

For a business, your importer number is normally your IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN) with a two-digit CBP suffix. For an individual importing under a Social Security number, or a foreign entity with neither an EIN nor an SSN, CBP assigns a number via the same form. Your customs broker typically files the 5106 for you as part of onboarding. This is Step 1; the bond is Step 2. Full walkthrough: how to get an importer of record number.

Step 2: Post a Customs Bond

A customs bond is a financial guarantee to CBP that you will pay all duties, taxes, and fees. Any commercial import valued over $2,500 requires a bond (as do all shipments of goods subject to other federal agencies' requirements, regardless of value).

You choose between two types:

• Single Entry Bond — covers one shipment. The bond amount equals the value of the goods plus all estimated duties, taxes, and fees for that entry. Good for a one-off import.
• Continuous Bond — covers all your entries at all US ports for a year. The minimum amount is $50,000, or 10% of the total duties, taxes, and fees you paid in the prior 12 months, whichever is greater. If you'll import more than a few times a year, a continuous bond is almost always cheaper per shipment.

Bonds are purchased through a surety, usually arranged by your customs broker. See continuous vs. single entry bonds for the cost math.

Step 3: Classify Your Goods (HTS Code)

Every product gets a 10-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code that determines its duty rate. This is the single most important number in your import — it sets what you owe, and getting it wrong is the most common (and expensive) first-timer mistake.

Use the HTS code finder to search the full US schedule for your product. Read the category definitions carefully; small differences (material, function, how it's packaged) can change the rate by double digits. If you're unsure — and especially if the duty swing is large — request a binding ruling from CBP so you have a written, reliable classification before you import. Getting this right up front is also the foundation of any tariff engineering savings later.

Step 4: File the Entry and Pay

When your goods arrive, an entry must be filed with CBP — typically within 15 calendar days of arrival — declaring what the goods are, their value, origin, and classification. Most first-timers hire a licensed customs broker to file the entry electronically through CBP's ACE system. A broker is not legally required (you can self-file), but for a first import the broker's fee is usually money well spent. Compare the tradeoffs in customs broker vs. self-filing or find a customs broker.

Once the entry is filed and duties are paid, CBP releases the goods. Keep every document — commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, entry summary (CBP Form 7501) — for at least five years. That recordkeeping window is also what makes future duty drawback refunds possible.

Every Fee You'll Actually Owe

Your landed cost is more than the duty. Budget for all of these:

• Import duty — set by your HTS code and country of origin, plus any additional tariff layers (Section 232, Section 301, and the current reciprocal/Section 301 regime — check the live tariff changes).
• Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) — on formal entries (over $2,500), 0.3464% of goods value, minimum $33.58 and maximum $651.50 in FY2026. On informal entries, a flat $2.69, $8.06, or $12.09. Details: what is the MPF.
• Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF) — 0.125% of cargo value, ocean shipments only, no minimum or maximum.
• Customs bond premium — the surety's charge for your bond.
• Broker fee — the broker's charge to prepare and file the entry.
• Freight, insurance, and any carrier brokerage fees.

Model the whole stack in the landed cost calculator before you order — the fees and freight often rival the duty itself.