Beginning July 16, 2026, Importer of Record accounts with no entry activity for 366 days may be automatically deactivated in ACE.
An Importer of Record number that has gone unused for more than a year could become an unexpected obstacle when the next shipment arrives.
Effective July 16, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection introduced a new “Inactive for Entry Purposes” status in the Automated Commercial Environment. Under the new process, ACE will automatically deactivate Importer of Record—or IOR—accounts that have not been used to file an entry within the previous 366 days, pursuant to 19 CFR 24.5(e).
CBP is implementing the change incrementally. IOR accounts with the longest periods of inactivity will be addressed first, followed by additional accounts until those exceeding the 366-day threshold have been updated.
What Does “Inactive for Entry Purposes” Mean?
Once an IOR number receives the new inactive status, it cannot be used to transmit an ACE Cargo Release or ACE Entry Summary transaction. This could prevent an entry from being accepted and may delay cargo processing until the importer number is reactivated.
ACE will generate specific error codes when an inactive IOR number is used:
- F875 for an Entry Summary transaction
- 333 for a Cargo Release transaction
The new status is limited to entry-related activity. It does not prevent the IOR from being used for certain other ACE functions, including acting as a consignee, filing drawback claims or reconciliations, securing bonds, transmitting Importer Security Filing information, and conducting other non-entry business activities.
Who Should Pay Particular Attention?
The change is especially important for companies that import infrequently, operate seasonally, use multiple legal entities, or are preparing to resume U.S. imports after an extended period without entry activity.
Importers should not assume that an IOR number remains active simply because the company is still operating, has a valid customs bond, has filed an Importer Security Filing, or has used ACE for another purpose. The inactivity calculation is based on the time since the last successfully filed entry.
A company may therefore discover that its IOR number is inactive only after a broker attempts to submit a cargo release or entry summary. Verifying the account’s status before goods are shipped—or at least before the entry process begins—can help avoid preventable disruptions.
How Can an IOR Number Be Reactivated?
CBP recommends that importers coordinate with their customs brokers to complete the reactivation process through the Automated Broker Interface.
An ABI customs broker should submit an Importer/Consignee Create/Update Transaction Processing message with Action Code A, changing the IOR status from “20-Inactive” to “10-Active.” The submission must include all mandatory CBP Form 5106 data elements.
Importers that cannot complete the reactivation through ABI may submit a revised CBP Form 5106 containing all required information to the appropriate Center Entry Specialist Team for manual processing. The email should:
- Use “IOR reactivation request” as the subject line.
- Explain that the form is being submitted to reactivate an existing IOR number.
- State that the IOR is currently in “20-Inactive” status.
CBP advises importers to verify the current IOR status in the ACE Portal before requesting assistance. Manual reactivation timing will depend on the responsible Center’s workload, making advance planning particularly important.
What Importers Should Do Now
Companies that may have inactive or infrequently used IOR numbers should take the following steps:
- Identify all IOR numbers used by the organization. Include numbers associated with subsidiaries, divisions, acquired entities, and special-purpose importing companies.
- Review recent entry activity. Determine whether each IOR has been used to file an entry within the past 366 days.
- Confirm the account status. Work with your customs broker to query the IOR in ACE before an upcoming entry is transmitted.
- Review CBP Form 5106 information. Confirm that the importer’s legal name, address, tax identification information, contact details, and other required data are accurate and current.
- Reactivate affected numbers in advance. Do not wait until cargo is at the border or an entry transaction has already been rejected.
- Add IOR verification to shipment planning. Companies with seasonal or infrequent import activity should incorporate an account-status review into their pre-shipment procedures.
How Buckland Can Help
Buckland can support importers with the IOR reactivation process, including:
- Verifying an IOR’s current status in ACE
- Reviewing required importer information and CBP Form 5106 data
- Coordinating an ABI reactivation submission, where applicable
- Assisting with manual reactivation requests to the appropriate CBP Center Entry Team
- Addressing ACE error messages F875 and 333
- Confirming entry readiness before an upcoming shipment
Importers planning to resume activity after a prolonged period without U.S. entries should contact their Buckland representative before the next shipment is filed. Early verification and reactivation can help reduce the risk of rejected entry transactions, cargo delays, and other avoidable disruptions.
Regular service fees may apply for reactivation support and related services.
Buckland Global Trade Services will continue to monitor CBP’s implementation of the new status and provide updates as additional ACE or reactivation guidance becomes available.
Sources: Inactive for Entry Purposes Trade User Information Notice, CBP-253
CSMS #69241265 — New “Inactive for Entry Purposes” Status Will Deploy in ACE on July 16
CSMS #69056621 — Process to Reactivate a Deactivated Importer of Record in ACE