Question 1

What is a CBP entry number?

Accepted Answer

A CBP entry number is the 11-character identifier assigned to every formal customs entry filed in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). The format is a 3-character filer code (letters and/or numbers assigned by CBP to the filing party), followed by a 6-digit sequential entry number, followed by a 2-digit check number. Example: ABC-123456-78. Entry numbers appear on your CBP Form CF-7501 and in your ES-003 report.

Question 2

Where do I find my entry numbers?

Accepted Answer

Entry numbers appear in three places: on your CBP Form CF-7501 (the entry summary) in the top-left field labeled "Entry Number"; in your ACE Portal ES-003 report in the "Entry Number" column; and on your customs broker's invoices or entry confirmations. If your ES-003 shows entry numbers without dashes (e.g., ABC12345678), paste them into the formatter — it normalizes any format.

Question 3

Why does my CAPE CSV need correctly formatted entry numbers?

Accepted Answer

CBP's CAPE Declaration upload requires each entry number in the standard 11-character format. If your source data has dashes, spaces, or other separators, the upload may fail validation or silently skip those entries. The formatter strips separators, validates the 11-character length, and outputs a clean list ready to paste into your CAPE CSV file.

CBP Entry Number Formatter

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