Documentation

Electronic Export Information

Also known as: EEI · SED · Shipper's Export Declaration

EEI is the electronic export filing required for most US exports valued over $2,500 per Schedule B line. It is filed in AES, produces an ITN, and replaced the paper SED.

Electronic Export Information (EEI) is the data the U.S. government requires for most exports leaving the United States. It is filed electronically in the Automated Export System (AES) — most exporters use the free AESDirect portal — and replaces the legacy paper Shipper's Export Declaration (SED) that was phased out in 2008.

EEI must be filed when:

  • The value of any single Schedule B commodity line exceeds $2,500, OR
  • The goods require an export license regardless of value, OR
  • The destination is one of a small set of sanctioned countries, OR
  • The shipment is subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), OR
  • The goods are rough diamonds

Required data elements are set by the Foreign Trade Regulations at 15 CFR Part 30 and include USPPI, ultimate consignee, country of destination, Schedule B/HTSUS number, value, quantity, weight, license authority, and carrier information.

The filing produces an Internal Transaction Number (ITN) — a confirmation receipt that must travel with the shipment and be presented to the carrier before export. Carriers cannot lade goods without either an ITN or a properly cited exemption.

Missing or false EEI filings expose the filer to civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation under 13 U.S.C. § 305 and can also trigger Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) export-control penalties.

Data filed in EEI flows directly into U.S. Census Bureau trade statistics, the source of every "U.S. exported $X to Country Y" headline.

Frequently asked questions

When is an EEI filing required?
File EEI when any single Schedule B commodity line exceeds $2,500, when the goods require an export license regardless of value, when the destination is a sanctioned country, when the shipment is subject to ITAR, or when the goods are rough diamonds.
What is the difference between EEI and the SED?
They are the same filing in two eras. Electronic Export Information (EEI) filed in the Automated Export System (AES) replaced the paper Shipper’s Export Declaration (SED), which was phased out in 2008.
What is an ITN and why does it matter?
The Internal Transaction Number (ITN) is the confirmation AES returns when EEI is accepted. It must travel with the shipment and be presented to the carrier before export; carriers cannot lade the goods without an ITN or a properly cited exemption.

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Related Terms

AES

The electronic system through which U.S. exporters file Electronic Export Information for shipments leaving the country — operated by CBP and the Census Bureau.

AESDirect

The free web portal hosted by CBP for filing Electronic Export Information into the Automated Export System — accessible through the ACE Secure Data Portal.

Schedule B

The U.S. export classification system maintained by the Census Bureau — a 10-digit code based on the Harmonized System.

U.S. Census Bureau

The Commerce Department agency whose Foreign Trade Division publishes U.S. import and export statistics and maintains the Schedule B.

Shipper's Letter of Instruction

A document from the exporter authorizing a freight forwarder to act on their behalf and providing details required to file the EEI.
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