WHAT’S THE LATEST

Beginning September 18, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will begin enhanced enforcement of Importer of Record (IOR) information, including the immediate voiding of IOR numbers if the information maintained by CBP is determined inaccurate or no longer current.

The action follows Executive Order 14411, “Strengthening Customs Enforcement,” signed June 3, 2026, which directs CBP to strengthen importer identification and compliance requirements.

Importers should review their information on file with CBP before September 18 to help avoid disruptions to future entry filings.

WHAT WE KNOW

CBP is reviewing information submitted by importers, including:

  • Physical address — the company's actual business location, not a P.O. Box, mail drop or third-party address.
  • Mailing address — an address where the company actively monitors and receives mail.
  • Phone number — a valid, working number for the company.
  • Email address — an email address owned and actively monitored by the company, not a broker or other third party.

If CBP determines that an IOR's information is inaccurate or incomplete, the IOR number may be voided and cannot be used for any purpose, including making entry. This could result in shipment delays, additional CBP inquiries or other disruptions to cargo clearance.

SEKO'S GUIDANCE

SEKO recommends that importers:

1.  Review the information associated with each IOR in the ACE Secure Data Portal and confirm all information is accurate, complete and directly associated with the IOR. If information needs to be updated:

    • Log in to your ACE account.
    • Navigate to the "Addresses" tab to review both your physical and mailing addresses.
    • Update both addresses as needed.
    • The physical address section includes the option to update contact information.
  2.  
  3. Importers should review all information directly in ACE, including phone numbers and email addresses, as SEKO doesn’t have visibility into these fields. SEKO can submit a CBP Form 5106 update on an importer’s behalf when appropriate; however, CBP may require additional validation of contact information, business address or business registration as part of the verification process.

2.  Establish an ACE account if you do not already have one to review your CBP information directly. Instructions for applying for an ACE account are available through CBP here.

3.  Notify your SEKO representative immediately if an IOR undergoes a legal entity name change or receives a new EIN/IRS number. These changes require a new organization to be established within SEKO’s systems, along with a new Power of Attorney (POA). Address changes alone do not require a new POA.

SEKO continues to monitor CBP’s implementation of these enhanced enforcement measures. If you have questions or need assistance reviewing the potential impact on your imports, please reach out to your SEKO representative or email us at hello@sekologistics.com.