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Get a quoteIn-Bond Shipments Explained: IT, IE and T&E
How imported cargo moves inside the U.S. before customs release, legally and on time, under 19 CFR Part 18.
What in-bond shipments are
In-bond shipments are imported goods that move from one place to another inside the United States before U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) releases them for entry. The goods travel under a customs bond, with duties unpaid and the container sealed, to a destination CBP has authorized. The rules are in 19 CFR Part 18.
In-bond movements exist because the port where cargo lands is often not where it should be entered, or entered at all. A shipment may need to clear customs at an inland port near the consignee, cross the U.S. on its way to Mexico or Canada, go into a bonded warehouse, or leave the country again from the same port. In each case, an in-bond lets the cargo move without paying duty at the first port.
CBP rewrote Part 18 in a rule published in 2017, made electronic in-bond filing mandatory in 2018, and scheduled enforcement of the remaining provisions for July 2019. Many older descriptions of in-bond rules, including references to paper CBP Form 7512, are out of date. For where in-bonds fit in the wider import process, see our guide to importing through Los Angeles and Long Beach.
The three in-bond types
Every in-bond is one of three types, each with its own entry type code in CBP's Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).
| Code | Type | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | Immediate Transportation (IT) | Moves goods from the port of arrival to another U.S. port, where they are entered | Cargo discharged in Long Beach moves in bond to an inland port near the importer's DC and is entered there |
| 62 | Transportation and Exportation (T&E) | Moves goods through the U.S. to a different U.S. port, where they are exported without entry | Cargo from Asia discharged in California travels under bond to the Mexican border and is exported |
| 63 | Immediate Exportation (IE) | Exports goods from the same port where they arrived, without entry | A shipment refused by its buyer is reloaded and sent to another country from the arrival port |
Immediate transportation entry, T&E and IE in practice
The immediate transportation entry is by far the most common type for importers. It is the in-bond used to move cargo from a seaport to a bonded warehouse, a container freight station or an inland port. At a seaport, the first leg is usually drayage by a bonded carrier. After the IT arrives, the importer still has to file an entry: a consumption entry, a warehouse entry, or an admission into a foreign-trade zone.
Transportation and exportation is used for goods that are only passing through. The goods are never entered, so no U.S. duty is paid, but the shipment must physically leave the U.S. from the named export port. Immediate exportation is the same idea without the domestic leg.
Who files and who carries in-bond shipments
- Who may file (19 CFR 18.1(c)): the carrier that brought the goods to the origin port, the bonded carrier that will accept them, or any party with a sufficient interest in the goods as shown by the bill of lading, manifest or other documents. In practice, customs brokers file most in-bonds for importers.
- Using someone else's bond: a filer naming another party's bond needs written authorization from that party.
- Who may carry (19 CFR 18.2): in-bond goods moving between ports must be delivered to a common carrier, contract carrier, freight forwarder or private carrier that is bonded for that purpose.
- Liability: the bonded carrier named on the in-bond is the party liable to CBP for the movement. Diverting the shipment does not transfer that liability.
- How it is filed: electronically through a CBP-approved EDI system (19 CFR 18.1(d)), with limited exceptions such as pipeline and some carnet movements.
In-bond time limits at a glance
Most in-bond penalties come from missed clocks, not lost cargo. These are the deadlines under 19 CFR Part 18.
| Deadline | Rule | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Deliver to the destination or export port | Within 30 days of the conveyance's arrival at the origin port or CBP's movement authorization, whichever is later; 60 days for barge | 19 CFR 18.1(i) |
| Diversion | Diverting to another port or filing a new in-bond does not extend the 30 days | 19 CFR 18.1(i) |
| Report arrival at destination | Within two business days after any portion arrives, with the FIRMS code of the location | 19 CFR 18.1(j) |
| Update seal number if unknown at filing | Within two business days after the initial carrier takes possession | 19 CFR 18.1(d) |
| Update or amend the record | Within two business days of the triggering event | 19 CFR 18.1(h) |
| Enter, export or admit to FTZ after arrival | Within 15 calendar days after the entire shipment arrives; general order applies after that | 19 CFR 18.1(k) |
| Export a T&E shipment | Within 15 calendar days after the last portion arrives at the export port | 19 CFR 18.7(a) |
| Report exportation | Within two business days after exportation | 19 CFR 18.7(a) |
The life of an in-bond shipment
- 01Decide the destination and type
The importer and broker decide where the cargo must go and why, which determines IT, T&E or IE, the destination port and the receiving facility. Starting before the container's last free day keeps terminal demurrage from building while paperwork is prepared.
- 02File the in-bond in ACE
Required data includes the bonded carrier, origin and destination ports, bill of lading, container and seal numbers, consignee, description, quantity in the smallest external packaging unit, weight and value.
- 03Get movement authorization
CBP authorizes the movement, and the terminal or carrier releases the cargo to the bonded carrier once other holds are cleared.
- 04Move under seal
Containers carrying in-bond goods must be sealed until arrival (19 CFR 18.4). If a seal must be broken, a responsible carrier agent supervises, reseals the unit and transmits the new seal number.
- 05Arrive and report
The carrier delivers to the facility identified by FIRMS code (see our glossary for this and other terms) and reports arrival in ACE within two business days. A missing arrival report is an irregular delivery even if the cargo is safe.
- 06Next customs action
Within 15 calendar days, the goods are entered, warehoused, admitted to an FTZ or exported. For T&E and IE, exportation is reported within two business days after it happens.
Irregular delivery and liquidated damages
Late delivery, delivery to the wrong place, a missing arrival report or an unreported seal change are each treated as irregular delivery under Part 18. CBP can then assess liquidated damages against the custodial bond of the party responsible.
Under the basic custodial bond conditions in 19 CFR 113.63, claims for defaults involving merchandise are generally tied to the value of the merchandise, and can reach three times the value for restricted or prohibited goods. That is why experienced bonded carriers treat in-bond paperwork as seriously as the trucking.
Common in-bond mistakes
| Mistake | How to avoid it |
|---|---|
| Filing the in-bond to the wrong destination FIRMS code | Confirm the receiving facility's code with the facility before filing |
| Assuming a diversion buys more time | Plan moves to finish well inside 30 days; diversion never extends the limit |
| Forgetting the 15-day clock after arrival | Have the warehouse or consumption entry ready before the in-bond arrives |
| Leaving the seal number blank and never updating it | Transmit the seal number within two business days of pickup |
| Booking an unbonded trucker for the move | Confirm the carrier holds its own custodial bond and will be named on the in-bond |
| Splitting a shipment at destination without new in-bonds | Each portion of a divided shipment moving onward needs its own in-bond application |
In-bond moves at Los Angeles and Long Beach
We hold bonded carrier authority and operate a customs-bonded warehouse in Long Beach. If you need an in-bond container moved from either San Pedro Bay port, see bonded drayage, our Long Beach bonded drayage operation, in-bond pickups at the Port of Los Angeles, or bonded warehousing for storage after arrival.
Request a bonded moveFrequently asked questions
How long can an in-bond shipment take?
Delivery to the destination or export port is due within 30 days of the conveyance's arrival at the origin port or CBP's movement authorization, whichever is later. Barge moves have 60 days. CBP's port director can extend the time on a written request.
Who can carry in-bond freight?
A common carrier, contract carrier, freight forwarder or private carrier that is bonded for the purpose, as 19 CFR 18.2 requires. The bonded carrier named on the in-bond is liable to CBP for the movement.
Is CBP Form 7512 still used?
For ocean and truck movements, no. In-bond applications, arrivals and exports are transmitted electronically in ACE. Paper forms remain only for narrow exceptions such as some air shipments.
What is the difference between an IT and a T&E?
An IT moves goods to another U.S. port where they will be entered. A T&E moves goods through the U.S. to be exported from another port without being entered.
What happens when an in-bond shipment arrives and nobody files an entry?
After 15 calendar days from arrival of the full shipment, the goods become subject to general order rules and can be moved to a general order warehouse at the owner's risk and expense.
Can an in-bond shipment be diverted to a different port?
Yes, by an electronic diversion request in ACE. The original 30-day limit still applies, and bond liability stays with the original bonded carrier.
What is a FIRMS code and why does it matter for in-bonds?
A FIRMS code identifies a specific CBP-recognized facility. The arrival report must include the FIRMS code where the goods are located, and a missing or wrong code is treated as an irregular delivery.
Can non-bonded goods share a container with in-bond goods?
Yes, in limited cases. Under 19 CFR 18.4(b), non-bonded goods may travel in a sealed unit with in-bond goods if they are going to the same or a later port, and other conditions apply to unsealed units.