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CBP 3461 vs. ISF vs. Simplified Entry Data Listed "Side-by-Side"

December 5, 2011 by Marie Rapport|Top News

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is taking steps to conduct a test of Simplified Entry (SE) in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). This test will initially be for the air mode and will require 12 data elements, with three data elements being optional, and will be filed in lieu of the CBP Form 3461 electronic information. The current CBP Form 3461 consists of 27 data elements, while the Importer Security Filing (ocean) normally requires ten data elements. When the three lists of data elements are compared to one another, it appears that the SE data omits a number of CBP Form 3461 data elements (such as the description of merchandise), while borrowing heavily from the ISF data list.

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(In September 2011, CBP indicated that the SE list would be a subset of those found on the ISF (which is only required for ocean shipments, and is not expected to be required for other modes of transportation), plus some additional data elements.1 See ITT's Online Archives 11092805 for summary.) Note that CBP is planning test phases of SE in the ocean and rail environments for early to mid-2012. )

Side-by-Side of 3461, ISF and SE Data Lists

A comparative listing of these data elements is as followed (some emphasis added):

3461
  1. Arrival Date
  1. Elected Entry Date
  1. Entry Type Code/Name
  1. Entry Number
  1. Port
  1. Single Transaction Bond
  1. Broker/Importer File Number
  1. Consignee Number
  1. Importer Number
  1. Ultimate Consignee Name
  1. Importer of Record Name
  1. Carrier Code
  1. Voyage/Flight/Trip
  1. Location of Goods-Code(s)/Name(s)
  1. Vessel Code/Name
  1. U.S. Port of Unlading
  1. Manifest Number
  1. General Order Number
  1. Total Value
  1. Description of Merchandise
  1. IT/Bill of Lading/Air Waybill Code
  1. IT/Bill of Lading/Air Waybill Number
  1. Manifest Quantity
  1. HTS Number
  1. Country of Origin
  1. Manufacturer Number
  1. Certification

1An ISF is not an entry, but there can be a unified entry filing (i.e., a combined entry and ISF filing).

(Note that in a news release, CBP stated that during the test, the filer will enter a Simplified Entry consisting of 13 data elements and 4 optional data elements, instead of the 27 currently required. The November 9 Federal Register Notice, however, states that there will be 12 required and three optional data elements (air mode) as part of the air mode Simplified Entry test phase.

See ITT's Online Archives 11111801 for summary stating that SE would use best available data (and update the data later as needed), exclude other government agency entries for now, etc.

See ITT's Online Archives 11111016 for initial side-by-side of the 3461 and SE data lists; notice of the plans for SE tests for ocean and rail in 2012; and recap of the SE test for the air mode. See 11110815 for summary of initial CBP notice on its SE test.)

CBP Form 3461 is available here.