Electronic Export Information filing requirements
Helping you stay in the know
and how to meet your electronic
export information filing requirements.
Helping you stay in the know and how
to meet your electronic export information
filing requirements.
Helping you stay in the know
and how to meet your electronic
export information filing requirements.
Helping you stay in the know and how
to meet your electronic export information
filing requirements.
Helping you stay in the know
and how to meet your electronic
export information filing requirements.
Helping you stay in the know and how
to meet your electronic export information
filing requirements.
What is Electronic Export Information (EEI)?
EEI is the data that must be filed through the Automated Export System (AES) for goods shipped from the U.S. to a foreign country. The filing includes information about the sender and receiver of the goods, and about the goods being exported. The Census Bureau uses these filings to calculate U.S. trade statistics, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) use the data to help ensure compliance with U.S. export regulations.
There are various nuances regarding EEI filings. So it is important that you understand how EEI filing requirements apply to your shipments—when you need to file and when your shipment is exempt from these requirements.
Does your shipment require an EEI filing?
You must file an EEI for shipments:
- From the U.S., Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands to foreign destinations,
- Between the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and
- From the U.S. or Puerto Rico to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
IF your shipment includes items:
- Under the same Schedule B or harmonized tariff number valued at more than US $2,500 and are sent from the same exporter to the same recipient on the same day (Note: Shipments to Canada from the U.S. may be exempt from this requirement. See list of exemptions below.),
- That are rough diamonds classified under harmonized tariff schedule 7102.10, 7102.21 and 7102.31.
- Requiring an U.S. government export license or permit,
- Subject to the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or
- Subject to commodity, end user or destination requirements listed in the U.S. Foreign Trade Regulations.
What shipments are exempt or excluded from EEI filing requirements?
You won’t need to file an EEI for shipments:
- From the U.S. to Canada unless the merchandise:
- Is subject to the Department of State’s International Traffic In Arms Regulations (ITAR),
- Requires an export license or permit, or
- Includes rough diamonds or is transiting Canada.
- From the U.S. or Puerto Rico to other U.S. territories (American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Howland Islands, and Wake Island).
- From the U.S. Virgin Islands to the U.S., U.S. territories, or Puerto Rico.
Please note, FedEx currently serves these U.S. territories: American Samoa (AS), Guam (GU), and Northern Mariana Islands (MP).
Additional exemptions for any shipment:
- Eligible for License Exception GOV*.
- Eligible for license exceptions* in the Export Administration Regulations and EEI filing exemptions in the Foreign Trade Regulations.
- Exported under license exception Baggage (BAG) under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), which authorizes travelers to export, re-export, and transfer certain items, technology, and software for personal use abroad.
For information regarding FedEx shipping processes and filing services, please call customer support.
EEI Agent filing options
FedEx Export AgentFile® online application
Get a streamlined Electronic Export Information (EEI) filing and shipping label preparation process that meets regulatory compliance when you ship via FedEx Express.
The user-friendly tool guides you through all the important steps of filing, it stores all of your filings and creates a record you can easily access online anytime, within 45 days of its submission. To access the tool, go to FedEx® Global Trade Manager and click File an EEI before preparing your shipping label. Note that all EEI records must be retained for five years from the date of export, as required by law.
Authorize FedEx to file EEI on your behalf.
Complete the below form, sign and email to eeioperations@fedex.com or fax to 1.866.879.9037.
- FedEx Export Agent File [PDF] — FedEx Express
Note: EEI filing for international air cargo shipments (IATA 023) is not supported by the automated FedEx Export AgentFile solution. You must submit these requests via fax.
For more information or to get help completing the forms, call FedEx International Customer Service at 1.800.GoFedEx (1.800.463.3339) and say "international services."
EEI self-filing options
ACE AESDirect portal
Get training for the ACE AESDirect Portal and step-by-step instructional guides at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection site.
FedEx Agent File®
Get access to the FedEx Agent File tool via FedEx Ship Manager® at fedex.com.
FedEx Export AgentFile®
You can authorize FedEx as your agent to file your Electronic Export Information (EEI) to the Automated Export System (AES) when processing FedEx Express® shipments on fedex.com. FedEx Export AgentFile provides exporters with a streamlined EEI filing and shipping label preparation process for regulatory compliance. The tool stores all of your filings, creating a record you can access online anytime within 45 days of its submission.* The user interface is easy to use and guides you through all of the important steps. To access this tool, go to FedEx® Global Trade Manager and click File an EEI before preparing your shipping label.
*Recordkeeping requirements may mandate that you retain such records for up to five years, as required by law.
Mandatory AES filing for all commodities that require an EEI
Here’s a brief overview of filing EEI to an AES. For more information, see the FAQs section.
- See the Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) chart for details on exemptions and exclusions.
- Shipper’s Export Declaration (SED) information filed to AES is now known as Electronic Export Information (EEI). Exporters must self-file in ACE AESDirect Portal or authorize an agent to file for them through AES.
- Filing deadlines for EEI transmission is no later than two hours for non-International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) shipments and no later than eight hours for ITAR shipments prior to exportation.
- The U.S. Principal Party in Interest (USPPI) or their authorized agent is responsible for providing the proper AES proof of filing citation or FTR exemption legend on the international air waybill or entering it into the electronic shipping label device when the shipment is tendered to the carrier.
- The Postdeparture Filing Program allows companies reporting their electronic export information (EEI) through the AES to transmit their EEI within 10 calendar days after the date of export. Postdeparture filers must be preapproved. Currently, the government is not accepting applications for postdeparture filing.
- Civil penalties for late filed EEI or failure to file increased from $100 to $1,100 for each day delinquent; the maximum penalty increased from $1,000 to $10,000 for each violation.
- Criminal penalties for filing false and/or misleading information is up to $10,000, or imprisonment for no more than five years, or both, for each violation.
- These regulations will affect all exporters required to file an EEI.
*The FTR was formerly named Foreign Trade Statistics Regulations (FTSR).
Ensure EEI compliance with the mandatory AES filing rule
- If you use FedEx® electronic shipping solutions, upgrade to the newest version of the software.
- Ensure that you file your EEI predeparture and provide FedEx the appropriate AES proof of filing citation when an EEI is required. If an EEI is not required, provide the appropriate FTR exemption legend.
- You can also apply for an ACE Export Account. You’ll receive a user ID and password to access the portal.
For more information, contact the AES Call Center at 1.800.549.0595.
If you have questions about EEI and your FedEx shipments, call FedEx International Customer Service 1.800.GoFedEx (1.800.463.3339) and say "international services."
Frequently asked questions
The EEI is used for compiling the official U.S. export statistics and for export control purposes. The U.S. Census Bureau is responsible for collecting, compiling and publishing export trade statistics for the United States. The Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) authorize the secretary of commerce, along with the secretary of state and the secretary of homeland security, to publish regulations mandating that anyone required to report export information, file such information through the Automated Export System (AES).
Refer to the About EEI section and the information on FTR Exemptions for more details.
Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) Section 3.1(a): Public Law 107-228 authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to publish regulation mandating that all persons required to file export information under Chapter 9 of Title 13, U.S. Code file such information through the Automated Export System (AES). The information collected is necessary to compile the official U.S. export statistics, enforcing U.S. export laws and regulations, and other purposes authorized by the secretary of commerce as listed in FTR 30.60.
The U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) require that items of domestic or foreign origin under the same commodity classification number be reported separately and listed if any item is valued at more than US$2,500.
Authorized federal agencies may use EEI for official purposes only. Information may not be disclosed to anyone by any officer, employee, contractor or agent of the federal government, or other parties with access to the EEI, other than to the USPPI or the authorized agent of the USPPI. The EEI is confidential and used solely for official purposes.
You may select one of the following EEI filing options based on your needs:
- For FedEx Express® shipments, the exporter or U.S. Principal Party in Interest (USPPI) can self-file directly with ACE AESDirect portal (at no charge).
- For FedEx Express shipments, the exporter or USPPI can enter the required data using FedEx Export AgentFile at fedex.com. Please see Service Guide for current charge per filing.
- For FedEx Express, the exporter or USPPI can complete, sign and email or fax the FedEx Export AgentFile form that authorizes FedEx as their agent. Contact FedEx International Customer Service at 1.800.463.3339 (1.800.463.3339) say "international services." Please see Service Guide for current charge per filing.
The Automated Export System (AES)/ACE AESDirect Portal is a Department of Homeland Security computer system used by U.S. exporters to electronically declare international exports (known as Electronic Export Information — EEI) to the U.S. Census Bureau. The U.S. Census Bureau collects the export trade data for statistical purposes only.
Yes. You will need to get the carrier data elements, which include:
- Port of export
- Port of unlading*
- Carrier identification code
- Conveyance name
*Only required for by-air shipments between the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
You can obtain FedEx Express carrier data elements by accessing the EEI Tools and Information page.
The U.S. Principal Party in Interest (USPPI) or the U.S. authorized agent can file EEI through the Automated Export System (AES)/ACE AESDirect portal.
An authorized agent prepares and files the EEI record on behalf of the USPPI. The USPPI appoints an authorized agent by giving a properly executed power of attorney or written authorization to an agent or forwarder certified for filing EEI to the AES.
A routed export transaction occurs when the Foreign Principal Party in Interest (FPPI) authorizes a U.S. agent to facilitate the export shipment from the U.S. and to prepare and file the EEI.
No. FedEx will not file routed export transactions as an authorized agent.
The USPPI is the person or legal entity in the U.S. that receives the primary benefit, monetary or otherwise, from the export transaction. Generally, that person or entity is the U.S. seller, manufacturer or order party, or is a foreign entity purchasing or obtaining goods for export while in the U.S.
Filing deadlines for EEIs transmitted predeparture are:
- Air (non-USML shipments): No later than two hours prior to the scheduled departure time of the aircraft.
- Air (USML shipments): No later than eight hours prior to the scheduled departure time of the aircraft.
Postdeparture is the privilege granted to approved USPPIs to file their EEI up to 10 calendar days after the date of export. Postdeparture filing is only available for approved USPPIs. The moratorium placed on new postdeparture filers in August 2003 will remain in effect pending further review of the program.
- Civil penalties for filing an EEI late or failure to file an EEI are $1,100 for each day delinquent with a maximum of $10,000 per violation.
- Civil penalties for filing false and/or misleading information and involvement of illegal activities are $10,000 per violation.
- Criminal penalties for filing false and/or misleading information may be up to $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than five years, or both, for each violation.
- If you self-file using ACE AESDirect Portal, you will need to retrieve the shipment record, correct the data and retransmit the EEI.
- If an authorized agent filed the EEI, you will need to contact the authorized agent with your corrections or cancellations.
- If you used FedEx Export AgentFile® at fedex.com, and if the shipment was exported, you can retrieve the shipment record, but it cannot be corrected after the date of export shipment was exported. Contact FedEx EEI Operations at 1.866.352.3252 to make your corrections.
- If you used the manual fax process for FedEx Export AgentFile, you may call FedEx EEI Operations at 1.866.352.3252 or fax corrections to 1.866.879.9037.
Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) Section 30.9: The USPPI or the authorized filing agent is responsible for electronically transmitting accurate EEI, as known at the time of filing, in the AES and must transmit changes to that information as soon as they are known.
Send an amendment email with the Shipper Reference Number (SRN) or Internal Transaction Number (ITN) to Memphis EEI Operations at mem-agentsed@mail.fedex.com.
The AES Proof of Filing Citation is a notation place on the air waybill or shipping label that will identify the export information has been accepted as transmitted to AES/ACE AESDirect Portal.
The valid AES Proof of Filing Citation formats are:
- AES Predeparture Citation — Internal Transaction Number (ITN). The ITN is issued when AES has received the data and has approved the shipment for export. Note: In August 2003, the Census Bureau, in agreement with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), placed a moratorium on accepting new applications for postdeparture filing.
- AES Postdeparture Citation — The privilege granted to an approved USPPI for the EEI to be filed up to 10 calendar days after the date of export.
AESPOST USPPI EIN mm/dd/yyyy (date of export)
Example: AESPOST 34523489700 03/26/18
- AES Downtime Citation — Used when the AES or a related system experiences a major failure due to unforeseen problems. This citation can be used only when AES or AESDirect is unavailable and AES has authorized its use.
AESDOWN Filer ID mm/dd/yyyy
Example: AESDOWN. 12345678912 03/27/2018
The USPPI or the authorized agent is responsible for annotating the air waybill or electronic shipping label with the proof of filing citations, downtime filing citation or FTR exemption legends. The USPPI or authorized agent must provide the proof of filing citation or FTR exemption legend to the exporting carrier. The carrier must note the proof of filing citation or FTR exemption legend on the carrier’s U.S. manifest when required.
The ITN is the AES-generated number assigned to a shipment confirming that an EEI transaction was accepted and is on file in the AES. The ITN must be provided on the air waybill or electronic shipping label so Customs Border Protection (CBP) is able to retrieve the shipment, if needed.
All parties to the export transaction (owners and operators of the exporting carriers, USPPIs and/or authorized agents) must retain documents or records pertaining to the shipment for five years from the date of export. In addition to the U.S. Census Bureau requirements, other government agencies may have a retention requirement beyond five years. All parties must also adhere to other agencies' requirements on retention.
- Find EEI information at FedEx® Global Trade Manager.
- Contact AES online or call the AES Call Center at 1.800.549.0595.
Learn to export from the experts
Check out our International Shipping Guide for details.