U.S. Shipper's Export Declaration (SED)

SED is the acronym for U.S. Shipper's Export Declarations.

According to U.S. customs regulations, all export shipments must be declared to the U.S. Census Bureau by filing SED in AES at www.aesdirect.gov

In order to comply with the U.S. Customs export regulation, international shipping companies enforce the condition on all export from the USA: NO DOCS-NO LOAD. I.e. presentation of required shipping documents, INCLUDING Proof of AES Filing (ITN#) or AES Exemption Legend, must be submitted to international shipping company (international ocean freight carrier: NVOCC or VOCC) used for an international shipping no later than in 72 hour before the seafreight shipment departs from the USA.

Sea freight shipments without SED (if not an exempt) cannot be released to the export, subject to withhold and penalties related to lack of providing of proper export documentation.

Typical Exempts from filing SED (in general):

• International shipments containing Household Goods or Personal effects not for sale of total declared value less than US$2500.
• Domestic shipments (to Hawaii for example). However, SEDs are required for shipments between the USA and Puerto Rico as well as between the USA and Virgin Islands of the United States.

How to file SED?

Our online booking form provides options on filing SED:

1. Shippers may file SED online in www.aesdirect.gov by yourself. Then we must receive SED's AES ITN BEFORE cargo will be delivered to the international ocean freight carrier's shipping terminal.
2. Otherwise we may file SED on international shippers behalf based on the commodity description provided in international shipping documents for the fee $35 up to two Harmonized Tariff numbers. $15 per Harmonized Tariff number thereafter.

If you are requesting us to file SED on your behalf, then in order to do so we must have from you at least:

1. A valued packing list or commercial invoice, which contain: commodity description (1), value of your international shipment in USD (2), estimated weight (3) and volume (4). Note: With us, shippers may submit these international shipping documents online via link in our email with international shipping instructions. You may try this simple form online in order to submit your valued packing list or proforma commercial invoice.
2. U.S. federal tax ID (EIN) or, for not U.S. residents, a copy of foreign passport.

How to obtain EIN for SED filing?

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM U.S. CUSTOMS: Social Security Numbers (SSN) will not be accepted as a valid USPPI ID as of December 3, 2009:

According to the U.S. Census Bureau / U.S. Customs and Border Protection regulation and per the Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) Social Security Numbers (SSN) will not be accepted as a valid USPPI ID as of December 3, 2009. Any Authorized Agent that files on behalf of customers using an SSN as the USPPI ID need to notify their customers that they need to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN). USPPIs can obtain an EIN by visiting www.irs.gov/businesses/small and selecting "Employer ID Numbers (EIN)".

We found that some of our customers that do not have an EIN obtain EIN for theirs international shipping online at http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/ by requesting EIN as for Sole Proprietors in purpose …to satisfy banking requirements or local law. Then you may consider following these steps as in this PDF file.

For more information refer to copy of U.S. Federal Code 15 CFR Part 30 in this link