Electronic In-Bond Filing Requirements & CBP In-Bond Compliance Guide

What Is an In-Bond Shipment?

An in-bond shipment is cargo that moves through the United States under the control of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) without formal customs entry being made at the port of arrival. In-bond procedures allow imported goods to be transported between ports, bonded facilities, and export locations while customs duties and taxes remain unpaid until the appropriate customs transaction occurs.

In-bond movements are a critical part of the U.S. transportation and logistics system, allowing cargo to move efficiently through ports, rail terminals, warehouses, and border crossings before final customs clearance or export.

Today, importers, customs brokers, freight forwarders, carriers, NVOCCs, and logistics providers rely on electronic in-bond filing to manage the movement of cargo throughout the United States.

What Is Electronic In-Bond Filing?

Electronic In-Bond filing is the process of submitting in-bond transportation information electronically to CBP through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).

CBP has modernized in-bond processing to improve shipment visibility, strengthen cargo security, and eliminate many paper-based procedures previously associated with in-bond transportation.

Electronic filing allows authorized parties to:

Create in-bond transactions
Manage shipment movements
Report arrivals and exports
Request diversions
Track shipment status
Maintain compliance records

The transition to electronic processing has significantly improved visibility throughout the supply chain while helping CBP monitor cargo movements more effectively.

Why Are In-Bond Procedures Used?

In-bond transportation provides flexibility for importers and logistics providers managing international cargo movements.

Common reasons for using in-bond shipments include:

Inland Customs Clearance - Cargo arriving at one U.S. port may be transported to another location where customs entry will occur.
Cargo Distribution - Importers may move cargo to inland distribution centers or bonded facilities before customs processing.
Export Operations - Certain shipments entering the United States may ultimately be exported without entering U.S. commerce.
Intermodal Transportation - Cargo frequently moves between ports, rail terminals, warehouses, and border crossings under in-bond procedures.

These capabilities help improve supply chain efficiency while maintaining customs oversight.

Types of In-Bond Transactions

CBP recognizes several primary in-bond movement types.

Immediate Transportation (IT) – Type 61 - An Immediate Transportation (IT) in-bond allows imported cargo arriving at one U.S. port to move to another U.S. port where customs entry will be filed.

Common Example: A container arrives at the Port of Los Angeles but will clear customs in Chicago after moving by rail.

Benefits include:

Inland customs clearance
Improved cargo flexibility
Reduced port congestion
Simplified logistics planning

Transportation and Exportation (T&E) – Type 62 - A Transportation and Exportation (T&E) in-bond allows cargo to move through the United States and subsequently be exported without entering U.S. commerce.

Common Example: Cargo arrives in Los Angeles and is transported by rail to a U.S.-Mexico border crossing for export into Mexico.

T&E transactions are frequently used for international cargo transiting through the United States.

Immediate Exportation (IE) – Type 63 - An Immediate Exportation (IE) in-bond applies to cargo arriving in the United States that will be exported directly from the port of arrival without entering U.S. commerce.

Common Example: A shipment arrives at a U.S. seaport and is immediately loaded onto another vessel destined for a foreign country.

IE transactions help facilitate international transshipment activity.

Who Uses Electronic In-Bond Filing?

Electronic in-bond processing impacts a wide range of transportation and logistics organizations.

Customs Brokers - Customs brokers frequently create and manage in-bond transactions on behalf of importers and logistics providers.
Freight Forwarders - Freight forwarders coordinate cargo movement and monitor in-bond shipment activity.
NVOCCs - NVOCCs often utilize in-bond procedures when managing international containerized cargo.
Motor Carriers - Trucking companies transport cargo under bond between ports, terminals, warehouses, and border crossings.
Rail Carriers - Railroads play a major role in inland in-bond cargo movements.
Importers and Exporters - Many importers and exporters rely on in-bond procedures to improve supply chain flexibility and customs processing options.

What Information Is Required for In-Bond Filing?

Electronic in-bond submissions generally require shipment information such as:

Bill of Lading information
Carrier identification
Port information
Container numbers
Commodity descriptions
Bond information
Destination details
Transportation routing

The accuracy of this information is essential for maintaining compliance and ensuring efficient cargo movement.

Understanding In-Bond Arrival, Export, and Diversion Reporting

Modern electronic in-bond procedures require participants to report key shipment events throughout the transportation process.

Arrival Reporting - Authorized parties must report when cargo arrives at its bonded destination.
Export Reporting - Exported in-bond cargo must be properly reported to CBP.
Diversion Requests - If shipment routing changes, electronic diversion requests may be required.

Failure to properly report shipment activity can result in compliance issues and increased customs scrutiny.

Common In-Bond Compliance Challenges

Many organizations face operational challenges when managing in-bond movements manually.

Shipment Visibility - Tracking cargo across multiple transportation modes and facilities can be difficult.
Manual Data Entry - Paper-based or spreadsheet-driven processes increase the risk of errors.
Reporting Requirements - Arrival, export, and diversion reporting requirements require careful monitoring.
Multi-Party Coordination - Carriers, brokers, forwarders, and customers must often coordinate shipment activity across multiple locations.
Regulatory Compliance - Organizations must remain current with evolving CBP regulations and ACE filing requirements.
High Shipment Volumes - Growing cargo volumes can place significant pressure on compliance teams.

What Happens If In-Bond Requirements Are Not Met?

Failure to comply with in-bond regulations may result in:

Shipment delays
Customs examinations
Increased CBP scrutiny
Compliance penalties
Bond liability issues
Administrative enforcement actions

Maintaining accurate filing procedures and shipment reporting processes is essential for minimizing compliance risks.

Benefits of Electronic In-Bond Filing

Organizations using electronic filing solutions often realize significant operational advantages.

Improved Shipment Visibility - Monitor cargo movement throughout the transportation process.

Faster Processing - Reduce delays associated with manual paperwork.

Better Compliance Management - Maintain more accurate reporting and filing procedures.

Reduced Administrative Burden - Automate repetitive filing and tracking activities.

Increased Operational Efficiency - Streamline workflows and improve supply chain performance.

How eCLEAR Simplifies Electronic In-Bond Filing

Managing in-bond movements manually can be time-consuming and resource intensive. eCLEAR helps Customs Brokers, Freight Forwarders, NVOCCs, carriers, and logistics providers streamline electronic in-bond operations through one centralized cloud-based platform.

Electronic In-Bond Creation - Submit IT, T&E, and IE transactions electronically through a secure web-based environment.
Shipment Status Visibility - Track filing activity, shipment movements, and transaction status in real time.
Centralized Compliance Management - Manage in-bond transactions alongside other customs filing programs through one platform.
Reduced Manual Processing - Automate filing workflows and improve operational efficiency.
Improved Data Accuracy - Maintain consistent shipment information across filing activities.
Scalable Operations - Support growing shipment volumes without increasing administrative complexity.

Why Choose eCLEAR Customs Filing Software?

For nearly 50 years, Vilden has provided software solutions designed specifically for transportation, logistics, customs compliance, and international trade professionals.

eCLEAR helps organizations manage multiple customs filing programs through one integrated cloud-based platform.

Supported Filing Programs Include:

Electronic In-Bond
AMS
ISF 10+2
AES / EEI
ICS2 ENS
Canada eManifest
Japan AFR / JP24
Many more!

By centralizing customs compliance operations, organizations can improve visibility, reduce manual processing, and simplify international trade requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an in-bond shipment?

An in-bond shipment is cargo that moves through the United States under CBP supervision without formal customs entry at the port of arrival.

What is Electronic In-Bond filing?

Electronic In-Bond filing is the electronic submission and management of in-bond transportation transactions through CBP's ACE system.

What are the three types of in-bond transactions?

The three primary transaction types are:

Immediate Transportation (IT / Type 61)
Transportation and Exportation (T&E / Type 62)
Immediate Exportation (IE / Type 63)

Who can file an in-bond transaction?

Authorized parties may include customs brokers, carriers, freight forwarders, NVOCCs, and other approved trade participants.

What happens if an in-bond shipment is not properly reported?

Failure to comply with reporting requirements may result in delays, examinations, penalties, bond liability, and other compliance actions.

Does eCLEAR support electronic in-bond filing?

Yes. eCLEAR supports electronic in-bond filing and management along with a broad range of domestic and international customs compliance programs.

Ready to Simplify Electronic In-Bond Compliance?

Whether you're managing port-to-port cargo movements, inland customs clearance, export transits, or high-volume logistics operations, eCLEAR helps streamline electronic in-bond processing through one secure cloud-based compliance platform.

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