U.S. Customs and Border Protection will begin immediately voiding Importer of Record numbers over incomplete or inaccurate Form 5106 information on September 18, 2026. A voided number becomes invalid for entering merchandise into the United States, according to an August 19 Federal Register notice.

For Amazon sellers importing holiday inventory, the practical concern is shipment timing. Before approving your next freight booking, ask your customs broker to review the importer information supporting your shipments. An old address deserves attention before your products leave the factory.

What Changes for Importers on September 18

EcomCrew previously covered the broader customs enforcement overhaul following Amazon’s August notice to sellers. The September 18 action adds a specific enforcement date for importer identity data. Your immediate task is to review the information CBP already holds for your business.

CBP’s review covers new and existing importers. Treat September 18 as the enforcement start, rather than a requirement for every importer to register again.

CBP Form 5106 Address and Contact Requirements

Use Form 5106 as your starting point. Compare the importer name, identification number, mailing address, physical location, email, and phone details with your current business records.

Use Your Actual Physical Business Address

The physical address must identify your actual location. CBP rejects addresses belonging to registered agents, brokers, freight forwarders, P.O. boxes, business service centers, or other third parties used in place of the importer’s physical location.

The Form 5106 instructions permit a principal’s home address. A P.O. box used for mailing requires a separate physical address. Keep the mailing and physical-location fields distinct when reviewing your registration.

For example, if you run your ecommerce business from home and receive correspondence through a mail service, ask your broker to review both fields. Moving your mail does not necessarily change where you operate. Moving your business should prompt another records review.

Keep Email and Phone Details With the Importer

The email address and phone number must belong directly to the importer. Your broker must not substitute their own contact details.

Test the listed inbox and phone number. Give a current employee responsibility for monitoring customs correspondence, and arrange coverage during absences. An address nobody checks creates a separate communication problem even when the address belongs to your business.

How Amazon Sellers Should Check Their Importer Records

Ask your broker for the latest importer identity information on file. Review the underlying records together, then agree who will submit any corrections.

• Compare the importer’s legal name and identification number with your entity and tax documents. Flag differences for your broker to investigate.
• Review address changes since registration. Include office moves, changes to mailing services, and any previous reliance on a registered agent’s location.
• Confirm which importing entity appears on each upcoming shipment. Ask your forwarder to identify the importer when your shipping arrangement includes customs clearance.
• Keep a copy of the corrected information and submission confirmation. Assign a follow-up date to check whether CBP accepted the update.

Pay attention to shipments involving more than one business. Suppose you sell under one company, purchase through another, and book transport through a forwarder. Start by identifying the importer named on the shipment. Updating the selling company’s records would not resolve errors belonging to a different importing entity.

For your holiday inventory plan, list shipments already in transit alongside pending departures. Ask your broker which entries need attention first. Give your inventory manager the same list so purchasing and promotions reflect any unresolved customs issue.

How to Restore a Voided Importer of Record Number

CBP will email the importer its reason for voiding the number and instructions for requesting reestablishment. Follow the document request. Direct questions to IORProgram@cbp.dhs.gov with the subject line “Enforcing IOR Accuracy.”

Work with your broker to identify affected shipments and track the response. Ask for confirmation of restored status before relying on the number for another entry. Keep the correspondence with your importer records for future reviews.

Complete the records check before September 18, then add another review whenever your company changes addresses, contact details, or importing arrangements. Your freight booking, inventory forecast, and customs records should describe the same planned shipment and responsible business.