- Establish the entered value on a defensible basis. Use the Customs Value Calculator to see which additions belong in the customs value for the destination basis.
- Prepare the product facts and a candidate HTS line with the HS Code Finder, then verify the full line in the current official schedule.
- Confirm the country of origin from a production record. Do not substitute the ship-from location or a warehouse address.
- Decide the entry type with the broker. Ask which process is available for the value, the merchandise, and the admissibility profile of the goods.
- If a bond is required, size it before the shipment. Use the Import Duty Calculator to estimate duties, taxes, and fees, and keep them separate from merchandise value.
- Assemble the entry data set. The shipping documents guide lists the commercial records that usually need to agree.
- Reconcile the line items before filing. The invoice and packing list reconciliation workflow catches quantity, value, and missing-SKU conflicts.
- Store the entry record. Keep the classification candidate, the origin evidence, the entry summary, and the verification date together so a later review or a future shipment can reuse them.
Guide
Informal Entry vs Formal Entry: Choosing the Right US Customs Entry Type
Compare informal and formal entry for US imports, including the value-based informal entry framework, when a bond and formal entry summary apply, and the data an ecommerce seller should prepare before the entry is filed.
Answer Summary
Preparation checklist
Entry type is a procedural choice defined by CBP regulations, not a marketing choice. It decides the forms, the security, and the data the shipment needs.
Informal entry is a simplified process generally associated with eligible low-value shipments, while formal entry is the standard process and normally requires a customs bond and an entry summary.
A single value figure does not settle the question on its own. The merchandise, the entry type, admissibility requirements, and current regulations all participate in the decision.
The de minimis suspension changed the economics of low-value parcels, so more shipments than before may need a considered entry path rather than an automatic simplified one.
Use this workflow
Required fields or decision table
Fields to prepare before the document draft
| Field or decision | What to prepare |
|---|---|
| Entered value and currency | Record the entered value and the currency, and state the valuation basis. The value interacts with which entry process is available, so an unclear value blocks the decision. |
| Entry type and code | Identify the entry type the broker intends to use and the code that represents it. The entry type carries the requirements, so it should be written down rather than inferred. |
| Importer of record | Confirm the legal entity and customs number that will be the importer of record. See the <a href="/guides/importer-of-record-ecommerce/">importer of record guide for ecommerce</a> when the entity is not settled. |
| Merchandise facts | Record the plain description, material or composition, function, quantity, and candidate HTS line. A simplified process is not a licence to describe the goods loosely. |
| Country of origin | Fix the country of manufacture or substantial transformation. Origin can affect duty and admissibility independently of the entry type. |
| Security and bond | Determine whether a customs bond is required for the path you intend to use. The <a href="/guides/customs-bond-single-entry-vs-continuous/">bond guide</a> covers single-entry and continuous coverage. |
| Entry summary and records | Identify which summary document will be filed and which fields it will carry. The <a href="/guides/cbp-form-7501-entry-summary-review/">Form 7501 review guide</a> explains the line-by-line reconciliation. |
| Duty, fees, and taxes | Estimate duty, any additional trade-remedy measure, and user fees separately, and note whether the entry path changes how they are collected. |
Step-by-step preparation
How to prepare the draft
Ecommerce example
How this looks in a seller workflow
A seller moves from occasional one-off parcels to a regular replenishment flow. The first shipments were low in value and cleared through a simplified process, so the seller assumed the same path would always apply.
As the order value grows, the entry path may no longer be available on the same terms. A formal entry can bring a bond requirement, a different summary document, and a heavier data set. If the seller has not prepared the product facts, the origin evidence, and the valuation basis, the shipment stalls at the worst moment.
The durable approach is to decide the entry path deliberately rather than by default. The seller records the entered value and basis, prepares the candidate classification and origin, asks the broker which process applies, sizes any required bond from a full duty and fee estimate, and keeps the reconciliation record so the next shipment in the same flow starts from a known state.
- Fix the entered value and basis.
- Prepare classification and origin facts.
- Ask the broker which entry process applies.
- Size any required bond from a full estimate.
- Store the reconciled entry record.
Verification checklist
Review the record before it enters a shipment or filing workflow
- The entered value is stated with a valuation basis and a currency.
- The intended entry type and its code are recorded rather than assumed.
- The importer of record is a confirmed legal entity with a matching customs number.
- A candidate HTS line exists and has been verified in the current official schedule.
- The country of origin is supported by a production or supplier record.
- The bond or security requirement for the chosen path has been confirmed.
- The entry summary document and its required fields are identified.
- Duty, any additional measure, and user fees are estimated separately from merchandise value.
Source-backed checks
What external guidance supports this workflow?
- eCFR: 19 CFR 143.21, informal entryThe regulation that defines informal entry and the conditions under which it is available.
- eCFR: 19 CFR 143.23, formal entryThe regulation describing formal entry and the related filing expectations.
- CBP: basic import and exportCBP overview of the import process, including the entry step and the role of the importer.
- CBP: entry summaryCBP program page for the entry summary, the document that records the entry data and duty calculation.
- USITC Harmonized Tariff ScheduleThe official US tariff schedule used to verify the candidate line and any Chapter 99 measure that applies.
Internal workflow links
Use the same catalog data in the next review step
- Create a classification casePaid workspace: retain product facts, HTS candidates, evidence, risk notes, and exports in one review record.
- Run a catalog reviewPaid workspace: review repeated SKUs and platform CSV rows with source-separated credits and history.
- Open reviewed recordsPaid workspace: keep reviewed fields and mapped exports available for later shipment work.
- Compare plansCompare one-time and monthly credits for repeated customs-data workflows.
- Official sourcesVerify current CBP, USITC, agency, and carrier requirements before filing.
- MethodologySee how TariffCatalog separates facts, candidates, estimates, and final filing decisions.
- CorrectionsReport an outdated source or unclear workflow for editorial review.
Common mistakes
What to avoid
- Assuming the same entry path applies as the shipment value grows.
- Treating a simplified entry process as permission to describe the goods loosely.
- Leaving the importer of record entity unresolved until the shipment is ready to clear.
- Sizing a bond from merchandise value alone instead of from duties, taxes, and fees.
- Using the ship-from country as the country of origin.
- Filing without reconciling the invoice and packing list first.
- Discarding the entry summary after clearance instead of keeping it with the classification and origin evidence.
- Guessing which entry type applies instead of asking the broker to confirm it.
Editorial
Editorial review note
Written by the TariffCatalog Editorial Team for ecommerce document preparation workflows. The page is designed as a preparation checklist, not a filing outcome.
Maintained by Ryan Cole, with review focused on ecommerce catalog, document, and source-check workflow clarity.
Document requirements may be required differently by carrier, destination, shipment value, and product facts. Use the methodology, sources, and corrections pages to understand how the page is maintained.
Official source note
References to verify
Use official sources, carrier guidance, postal operator rules, and destination requirements to verify before filing or shipping.
USITC HTS
Use this official source when checking final classification, duty treatment, or customs requirements.
CBPUse this official source when checking final classification, duty treatment, or customs requirements.
EU TARICUse this official source when checking final classification, duty treatment, or customs requirements.
UK Trade TariffUse this official source when checking final classification, duty treatment, or customs requirements.
FAQ
Common questions
What is the difference between informal and formal entry?
Informal entry is a simplified US customs process generally used for eligible low-value shipments, while formal entry is the standard process for higher-value or otherwise non-qualifying shipments. The two paths differ in the forms, the security, and the data required, even when the duty outcome is similar.
At what value does an informal entry stop applying?
There is a value framework under which informal entry is generally available, and CBP guidance has described an informal entry article threshold in the low thousands of US dollars. Do not treat a single remembered figure as current, because the threshold and the conditions that accompany it should be confirmed in the current regulation and CBP guidance.
Does a formal entry require a customs bond?
A formal entry normally calls for a customs bond, alongside a formal entry summary and a fuller data set. Whether a specific shipment needs a single-entry or a continuous bond depends on its facts.
Can I choose the entry type myself?
The importer or its broker selects the process that is available and appropriate for the shipment, but the choice is constrained by CBP regulations and by the facts of the goods. Confirm the available process with the broker rather than deciding from value alone.
Does entry type change the duty I pay?
Entry type does not change the statutory duty rate that applies to a correctly classified good. It can, however, change how duty and fees are collected and which data must be supplied, so an incorrect entry assumption can still produce a costly outcome.
Do I need an HS code for an informal entry?
Yes. A candidate HS code should be prepared regardless of entry type. The classification describes the goods, and a missing code weakens the entry record and the ability to verify duty treatment later.
How does the de minimis suspension affect entry type?
The suspension of the de minimis exemption makes low-value shipments more likely to attract duty and import charges, which in turn makes the entry path more consequential. Review the <a href="/guides/de-minimis-suspension-low-value-imports/">de minimis suspension guide</a> alongside the entry-type decision.
Disclaimer
TariffCatalog provides informational tools and preparation workflows only. Verify final classification, rates, document requirements, and filing treatment with official sources or licensed professionals.