Definition
What Is ISF 10+2? The Importer Security Filing Every US Importer Must File
ISF 10+2 is a CBP filing requirement under the SAFE Port Act of 2006 (19 CFR § 149) that obligates the importer of record (or their authorized agent) to submit 10 advance data elements about each ocean shipment, plus 2 additional elements from the ocean carrier, to CBP at least 24 hours before the foreign vessel begins loading bound for the United States. The filing is mandatory for ocean freight only; air, truck, and rail are exempt.
The 10 importer elements
1. Seller (name and address of last entity selling the goods). 2. Buyer (name and address of last entity buying the goods). 3. Importer of record number (CBP-assigned number or IRS EIN). 4. Consignee number(s) (the entity in the US to whom the goods are delivered). 5. Manufacturer (or supplier) (entity supplying the finished goods). 6. Ship to party (first deliver-to party in the US after release). 7. Country of origin (country of manufacture, production, or growth). 8. Commodity HTSUS number (at least the 6-digit subheading; 10-digit is permitted). 9. Container stuffing location (physical address where the container was stuffed). 10. Consolidator (the entity that stuffed the container or arranged for it to be stuffed).
The 2 carrier elements
11. Vessel stow plan (filed by the carrier no later than 48 hours after departure from the last foreign port). 12. Container status messages (CSMs, filed by the carrier within 24 hours of each container status event). These two elements are the carrier's responsibility, not the importer's, but importers should confirm their carriers are filing correctly.
Timing and the 24-hour rule
The 10 importer elements must be submitted no later than 24 hours before the foreign vessel begins loading cargo bound for the US. For shipments from nearby ports (Canada, Mexico, Caribbean), CBP allows the filing to be submitted any time before the cargo arrives at the first US port. Late filings, missing filings, and inaccurate filings are all subject to penalties.
Penalties and enforcement
CBP can issue penalties of $5,000 per violation, capped at $10,000 per ISF. Violations include late filing, missing filing, inaccurate data, or failure to update when data changes before arrival. CBP also tracks importer ISF compliance scores; persistent non-compliance can trigger more intensive cargo examinations, increased holds, and adverse C-TPAT or Trusted Trader treatment.
Updates and bulk shipping
If any of the 10 importer elements changes after filing (different stuffing location, different consignee, revised HTS subheading), the importer must file an amendment before the vessel arrives at the first US port. Bulk and breakbulk shipments have somewhat different element requirements (5 instead of 10 in some cases). LCL (less than container load) consolidations require ISF filings keyed to the underlying house bill of lading, not the master bill.
Frequently asked questions
- Does ISF 10+2 apply to air freight?
- No. ISF 10+2 is for ocean freight only. Air freight has its own advance-data requirement (Air Cargo Advance Screening, ACAS) with different timing and content. Truck and rail shipments from Canada and Mexico use eManifest filings (ACE Truck Manifest and ACE Rail Manifest), not ISF.
- Who is liable for ISF penalties — the importer or the broker?
- The importer of record is legally liable. Customs brokers and ISF agents file on behalf of importers under a power of attorney, but liability for inaccurate or late filings rests with the importer. Many brokers carry errors-and-omissions insurance, but commercial recovery from a broker for a $5,000 ISF penalty is uncertain and rarely full.
- What is the difference between ISF 5 and ISF 10+2?
- ISF 5 is the abbreviated filing for bulk and breakbulk shipments where some of the 10 elements don't apply (e.g., no container, no stuffing location). The 5 required elements are booking party, foreign port of unlading, place of delivery, ship-to party, and commodity HTSUS number. Most non-bulk shipments use ISF 10+2.
- What HTS detail does ISF require?
- The HTSUS subheading at the **6-digit level** is the minimum. CBP accepts and prefers more detail (8 or 10 digits) when known. For products with multiple components or that may classify in multiple subheadings, file at the level you're confident is accurate at the time of ISF — you'll update through the entry filing if classification changes.
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