CBP Guidance: When to File Separate Informal Entries for One Consignee
Trade Update • May 6, 2025
.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued guidance clarifying when separate informal entries may be filed for merchandise consigned to a single consignee.
The clarification addresses longstanding questions from customs brokers and filers about when exceptions apply under CBP regulations and how electronic submission requirements must be fulfilled.
CBP emphasized that filers must electronically transmit all line-level data when submitting informal entries, including harmonized tariff schedule (HTS) classifications, in accordance with CBP’s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) standards.
General Rule
One Entry per Consignee per Conveyance
Under 19 C.F.R. § 141.51, “[a]ll merchandise arriving on one conveyance and consigned to one consignee must be included on one entry,” unless an exception under 19 C.F.R. § 141.52 applies.
When the total value of shipments to a single consignee on one conveyance does not exceed $2,500, the merchandise may typically be entered as a type 11 informal entry. If the total value exceeds $2,500, a type 01 formal entry is generally required, unless a valid exception is applicable.
Exceptions Permitting Separate Entries
CBP reiterated that certain exceptions under 19 C.F.R. § 141.52 allow for separate entries, even when merchandise is consigned to the same consignee. These include:
- Multiple Ultimate Consignees: When a consolidated shipment is addressed to one consignee or nominal consignee, but intended for multiple ultimate consignees. In such cases, 19 C.F.R. § 141.54 procedures must be followed. [§ 141.52(a)]
- Separate Bills of Lading: When separate portions of the consignment are covered by individual bills of lading. [§ 141.52(e)]
- Different Commodity Specialist Teams: When the shipment contains different classes of merchandise processed by different CBP commodity teams. [§ 141.52(f)]
If one or more of these exceptions apply, filers may submit separate type 11 informal entries, provided all regulatory requirements are met.
Entry Summary Requirements and Limitations
CBP has clarified that each separate informal entry must be accompanied by its own entry summary. Consolidating multiple informal entries into a single summary is not permitted under 19 C.F.R. Part 143, Subpart C.
Furthermore, under 19 C.F.R. § 143.22, CBP reserves the right to require a formal consumption or appraisement entry for any shipment, regardless of value, when deemed necessary for purposes such as admissibility enforcement, revenue protection, or efficient customs processing. However, individual low-value shipments ($2,500 or less) for the same consignee may be consolidated into a single formal entry if required.
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