Printable Version Ultimate Consignee ID Numbers Required for U.S. bound shipments

Effective October 1, 2004, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will require the Ultimate Consignee ID number for all shipments. The Ultimate Consignee ID number CBP requires is the Internal Revenue Service Employer Identification Number (EIN) issued to most business entities, or the Social Security Number (SSN) issued to individuals. We recommend that the shipper include the Ultimate Consignee ID number on the customs invoice that accompanies each shipment. Missing Ultimate Consignee ID numbers will result in shipment delays and possible return to Canada.

The Ultimate Consignee at the time of entry or release is defined as the party in the United States to whom the foreign shipper sold the imported merchandise. If at the time of entry or release the imported merchandise has not been sold, then the Ultimate Consignee is defined as the party in the United States to whom the overseas shipper consigned the imported merchandise. If the merchandise has not been sold or consigned to a U.S. party at the time of entry or release, then the Ultimate Consignee is defined as the proprietor of the U.S. premises to which the merchandise is to be delivered.

Shippers that consolidate multiple orders into one export shipment must provide the Ultimate Consignee ID number for each item in a consolidated entry that equals or exceeds $2,000 USD. If the Ultimate Consignee ID number is not provided at the time of entry or release, entry of the merchandise will be denied.

When the Ultimate Consignee ID number is not known for shipments valued less than $2,000 USD, the shipment may be eligible for an informal entry and may be released with the Ultimate Consignees' names and addresses.

To avoid shipment delays, please provide the Ultimate Consignee ID number (EIN or SSN) for all U.S. bound shipments.

For additional information, visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.