U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

CBP Will Void Importer of Record Numbers Beginning September 18, 2026

What Every Importer and Customs Broker Must Verify on CBP Form 5106 in the Next 30 Days

CBP published a federal register notice on August 19, 2026 announcing that, beginning September 18, 2026, it will immediately void importer of record numbers when the information on CBP Form 5106 is inaccurate or incomplete. A voided IOR number is invalid for every purpose, including making entry, which means cargo stops at the port with no advance warning. This article explains what CBP is verifying, why several long-accepted industry practices are now defects, and the corrective steps importers and brokers should take before the enforcement date. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

  • Effective September 18, 2026, CBP will void importer of record (IOR) numbers where the information on CBP Form 5106 is inaccurate or incomplete. A voided number cannot be used for any purpose, including making entry. 
  • The physical address on file must be the actual location of the business or individual. A registered agent, customs broker, freight forwarder, P.O. box, business service center, or any other party’s address is now a defect. 
  • The email address and phone number must belong to the IOR. Broker or forwarder contact information in those fields no longer passes. 
  • Customs brokers must hold a power of attorney executed directly with the […]

FinCEN Permanently Ends BOI Reporting for U.S. Companies and U.S. Persons Under the Corporate Transparency Act 

On August 11, 2026, the Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a final rule permanently removing the requirement for U.S. companies and U.S. persons to report beneficial ownership information (BOI) under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). FinCEN states that U.S. companies are now exempt from BOI reporting requirements and no longer need to file BOI reports. The final rule also relieves U.S. persons from providing BOI to reporting companies and from updating or correcting information previously submitted to obtain a FinCEN identifier. For many domestic businesses, this marks a significant compliance shift—but foreign entities registered to do business in the United States may still have BOI obligations.

What Changed? 

FinCEN’s final rule makes permanent the relief first announced in the March 2025 interim final rule. Under the final rule, U.S. companies are exempt from BOI reporting requirements and therefore are no longer required to file BOI reports. Reporting companies also do not need to report BOI for U.S. person beneficial owners or U.S. person company applicants, and U.S. persons do not need to provide BOI to reporting companies. 

FinCEN also announced that U.S. persons with FinCEN identifiers are not required to update or correct the information they previously submitted to FinCEN. This is important for individuals who filed BOI information before the rule changed and who otherwise may have expected ongoing update obligations.

Who Still Has BOI Reporting Obligations? 

The final rule does not eliminate […]

$5.15 Million Settlement Highlights Growing Customs Enforcement Under the False Claims Act

Short summary: A Taiwanese manufacturer has agreed to pay $5.15 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by underpaying customs duties on imported goods. According to the Department of Justice, the company used improper customs practices to reduce duties owed to CBP, resulting in significant lost tariff revenue. The settlement underscores the federal government’s continued focus on customs enforcement and the growing use of the False Claims Act to pursue alleged duty evasion. 


The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced that a Taiwan-led manufacturer agreed to pay $5.15 million to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act and related administrative claims involving customs duties owed on imported goods. While the company did not admit liability, the settlement serves as another reminder that customs compliance remains a significant enforcement priority for the federal government. 

The Case – What Happened 

According to the DOJ, the alleged conduct went well beyond a simple classification error. The government alleged that the company used multiple methods over several years to reduce the customs duties it owed on imports. Specifically: 

  • Country of Origin Misrepresentations: From July 2018 through January 2022, Everlight allegedly knowingly misrepresented the country of origin on Chinese-manufactured LEDs. Everlight knew these products were manufactured in China, and then transshipped to Taiwan, before shipping them to the U.S.  Everlight allegedly misrepresented to CBP that the products originated in Taiwan rather […]

USTR Announces Section 301 Action Imposing New Tariffs on 60 Trading Partners 

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has announced a new Section 301 action imposing additional tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 economies that fail to prohibit or effectively enforce bans on goods produced with forced labor. The action covers the top 60 U.S. trading partners, representing 99.4% of U.S. imports, and took effect July 24, 2026. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued entry filing guidance in CSMS #69326983, including the applicable Chapter 99 tariff headings. 

Key Takeaways 

  • Effective July 24, 2026, USTR imposed additional Section 301 duties of 10% or 12.5% on imports from 60 economies covering 99.4% of U.S. imports, based on findings that these economies failed to adopt or effectively enforce forced labor import prohibitions. 
  • CBP issued entry filing instructions in CSMS #69326983, including the Chapter 99 headings (9903.05.20 through 9903.06.21), reporting sequence, and Foreign Trade Zone admission requirements. 
  • Goods entered duty free under USMCA (Canada and Mexico) are exempt, as are CAFTA-DR textiles and apparel, Section 232 articles, civil aircraft, pharmaceutical articles, informational materials, and donations. There is also a list of miscellaneous products exempt no matter what their country of origin. 
  • An in-transit exception applies to goods loaded and in transit on the final mode before 12:01 a.m. ET on July 24, 2026, and entered before 12:01 a.m. ET on July 28, 2026. 

Why USTR Took […]

DOJ and DHS Publish Comprehensive Trade Fraud Enforcement Guide: What Importers Need to Know 

Short summary: The DOJ and DHS have jointly published a new Resource Guide to Trade Fraud Enforcement, highlighting the government’s coordinated approach to combating customs fraud and strengthening import compliance. The guide explains key enforcement authorities, common trade fraud schemes, and the government’s expectations for importers, customs brokers, and others participating in global supply chains.


The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have released a new 31-page Resource Guide to Trade Fraud Enforcement, providing one of the clearest public statements yet on how the federal government views customs fraud, enforcement priorities, and importer compliance obligations. The guide was developed by the Trade Fraud Task Force, a partnership that includes DOJ’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and other federal agencies. 

While much of the guide summarizes existing laws and enforcement authorities, its significance lies in the government’s messaging. It makes clear that customs violations are no longer viewed as merely technical or administrative issues. Instead, DOJ and DHS repeatedly characterize trade fraud as a threat to economic security, national security, public safety, and human rights, signaling that aggressive enforcement will continue across multiple agencies. 

Combatting Trade Fraud Is a Priority for the Federal Government 

One of the report’s primary themes is that trade fraud extends far beyond the underpayment of duties. According to the guide, fraudulent import practices undermine domestic manufacturers, deprive the government of […]

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