CBP Form 7501 Entry Summary: PRA revision and ET-13 test
CBP seeks comments on a Form 7501 PRA revision that announces the voluntary ACE informal mail Entry Type 13 test. Burden lines, data elements, and the drawback accuracy note.
CBP published a 30-day Paperwork Reduction Act notice for the Entry Summary information collection (OMB Control Number 1651-0022; Form 7501). Publication date October 1, 2026 (91 FR 62537-62538; FR Doc. 2026-20171). Comments are due no later than November 2, 2026 via www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. A companion Entry Form 3461 PRA notice (FR Doc. 2026-20170) is covered separately in CBP Entry Form 3461 PRA: GBI expansion.
The revision's headline change is a voluntary ACE informal mail Entry Type 13 test for shipments valued at $2,500 or less, with twelve listed electronic data elements.
What Form 7501 still does
CBP Form 7501, Entry Summary, is used to identify merchandise entering the commerce of the United States, including its customs value and the amount of estimated duties, taxes, and/or fees owed. It is submitted by the importer, or the importer's authorized agent, for each import transaction. Unless filed at the time of entry, Form 7501 must be filed within 10 working days after the time of entry (19 CFR 142.12(b)). Collection is authorized by 19 U.S.C. 1484 and provided for by 19 CFR 141.61, 19 CFR 142.11, and 19 CFR 143.24. Form and instructions: cbp.gov forms search for 7501. A prior 60-day PRA notice published July 1, 2026 (91 FR 40016).
New changes: Entry Type 13 Test
CBP is announcing a voluntary test for a new electronic informal entry process for mail in ACE through informal entry type 13 (Informal Mail Entry). Entry type 13 applies to shipments valued at $2,500 or less sent to the United States via mail. It provides an alternative to the interim process in 19 CFR 145.12(b) by allowing electronic transmission of informal entry for qualified mail shipments. It also creates an informal entry pathway for low-value mail shipments subject to Partner Government Agency (PGA) data requirements or duties other than those in HTSUS Chapters 1-97, which are ineligible for the interim process.
The test is open to owners and purchasers of merchandise mailed to the United States and licensed customs brokers properly appointed who act as importer of record (IOR). It is also open to carriers transporting mail to transmit the postal tracking number as part of manifest filing. Entry type 13 requires the IOR to electronically transmit: (1) filer code; (2) IOR number; (3) description of merchandise; (4) country of origin; (5) all applicable 10-digit HTSUS classification(s); (6) quantity and weight if using specific duty rates; (7) duty rate; (8) value; (9) total duty owed; (10) carrier name; (11) tracking number generated by the foreign post operator; and (12) arrival port.
OMB 1651-0022 · Form 7501 · Type of Review: Revision · PRA contact: Seth Renkema, 202-325-0056
Formal Electronic: 2,336 respondents; 23,133,408 responses; 5 min; 1,920,073 hours
Formal Paper: 28 / 277,284 / 20 min / 92,336 hrs · Softwood Lumber Act paper: 210 / 400,050 / 40 min / 266,433 hrs
Informal Electronic: 1,883 / 4,861,906 / 5 min / 403,538 hrs · Informal Paper: 19 / 49,058 / 15 min / 12,265 hrs
7501A paper: 20 / 1,200 / 15 min / 300 hrs · Exclusion Approval Letter: 5,000 / 5,000 / 3 min / 250 hrs · ET-13 Test: 10 / 2,000,000 / 5 min / 166,667 hrs
Form 7501 data (classification, value, duty) is the foundation for later drawback claims. Keep entry-summary filings accurate if you may claim drawback on the same merchandise (see how to file a duty drawback claim). ET-13 is a voluntary informal mail pathway; keep it conceptually separate from formal commercial entries that typically feed drawback unless counsel says otherwise. Comment through Reginfo by November 2, 2026 if the burden estimates or data elements affect your ACE workflow.
Action items
- Review ACE entry-summary workflows for any impact from the Form 7501 PRA revision and ET-13 test data elements.
- Comment by November 2, 2026 via www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain if burden or data-element changes affect your operations.
- Keep 7501 classification, value, and duty accurate; those fields underpin later drawback matching.
- Read the companion 3461 PRA notice for GBI/release-side changes: CBP Entry Form 3461 PRA: GBI expansion.
- FR Doc. 2026-20171 (91 FR 62537-62538): CBP 30-day PRA revision for Entry Summary (OMB 1651-0022; Form 7501). Published Oct 1, 2026. Comments due Nov 2, 2026 via Reginfo. Prior 60-day notice: Jul 1, 2026 (91 FR 40016).
- Form 7501 identifies merchandise entering U.S. commerce, including customs value and estimated duties/taxes/fees. Unless filed at entry, due within 10 working days after entry (19 CFR 142.12(b)). Authority: 19 U.S.C. 1484; 19 CFR 141.61, 142.11, 143.24.
- New changes: voluntary ACE informal mail Entry Type 13 test for mail shipments valued at $2,500 or less, with twelve listed electronic data elements; alternative to 19 CFR 145.12(b) interim process and a path for PGA/duty cases outside HTSUS Chapters 1-97.
- Burden lines include Formal Electronic (23.1M responses), Softwood Lumber Act paper, Informal Electronic/Paper, 7501A, Exclusion Approval Information Letter, and ET-13 Test (10 respondents; 2,000,000 responses; 166,667 hours).
- 7501 classification, value, and duty data feed later drawback claims. Comment by Nov 2, 2026 if ACE workflows are affected. See the companion 3461 PRA article for GBI/release-side changes.
- Agency Information Collection Activities; Revision; Entry Summary (91 FR 62537-62538; FR Doc. 2026-20171) · U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security
- CBP Form 7501 and instructions · U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- Reginfo PRA Main · Office of Management and Budget
This article is for general information and is not legal or tax advice. Drawback eligibility depends on your specific facts, and final refunds are determined by CBP at liquidation. Consult a licensed customs broker or attorney for your situation.