Filing Electronic Export Information for the Census Bureau

If you have reviewed “Do the Special Requirements Apply to Me?”and have identified a need to file your electronic export information with the Census Bureau before shipping your package, use the following steps to file your information.

1. First time only: In order to register with the Census Bureau’s website, you will first need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), if you do not already have one. You can apply for an EIN at https://sa2.www4.irs.gov/modiein/individual or by using the IRS’s Form SS-4 (available at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fss4.pdf).

Note: You do not have to be an employer to apply for an EIN.

2. First time only: Set up an AES filer account with the Census Bureau’s AES Direct website at www.aesdirect.gov and complete the AES Certification Quiz.
3. Every applicable shipment: Submit all required information about your shipment via the Census Bureau’s AES Direct website.
1. For the “Port of Export” code for shipping through the Postal Service, enter “8000.”
2. For the “Mode of Transport,” enter “Mail.”
3. Leave the carrier as “SCAC/IATA,” and leave the conveyance name fields blank.

After you have successfully filed your electronic export information, you will receive an Internal Transaction Number (ITN) as confirmation of your filing. The ITN starts with an “X” and has 14 digits.

Note: In rare cases, the Census Bureau’s AES Direct filing system may be out of service. In such case, mailers are required to file an appropriate AES Downtime Citation on the customs declaration’s AES/ITN/Exemption block. For additional information, see IMM 525.

Clearly enter this ITN or AES Downtime Citation in block 8 of PS Form 2976, Customs Declaration CN 22 — Sender’s Declaration, or block 10 of PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note — CP 72. Please see the images below for the applicable blocks of PS Forms 2976 and 2976-A.

PS Form 2976, Block 8

PS Form 2976-A, Block 10

If you have to file electronic export information, please note that you can only ship via a service that uses PS Form 2976-A (Express Mail International service or certain Priority Mail International mailing services).