# US export documents: EEI, the ITN and the papers that travel

> When a US export needs EEI filed in AES, the $2,500 per Schedule B rule and its exemptions, the ITN on the waybill, and the invoice, origin and license papers.

Source: https://border.bot/docs/guides/countries/united-states/export-documents
Last updated: 2026-10-30

> Documentation index: https://border.bot/llms.txt. Every page is Markdown at its URL + `.md`.


A US export needs Electronic Export Information (EEI) filed in the Automated Export System (AES) when any one Schedule B number in the shipment is worth more than $2,500, or when the goods need a license or fall in another always-file category. Everything else ships with an exemption legend, such as NOEEI § 30.37(a), on the waybill instead.

Rules as of 30 October 2026.

EEI is the export data the US Principal Party in Interest (USPPI), usually the seller, or its authorized agent files in AES under the Census Bureau's Foreign Trade Regulations (15 CFR part 30). AES answers an accepted filing with an Internal Transaction Number (ITN), the proof of filing that goes to the carrier.

## When is EEI required?

EEI is required for every export of physical goods from the US unless an exemption applies, including goods sold online. The most used exemption covers any Schedule B number worth $2,500 or less, and shipments to Canada are exempt too, but neither exemption applies to licensed goods and the other always-file cases.

| Shipment | EEI? |
| --- | --- |
| Every Schedule B number worth $2,500 or less, no license needed | No: NOEEI § 30.37(a) |
| To Canada, no license needed, not stored there for or passing through to another country | No: NOEEI § 30.36 |
| Any Schedule B number over $2,500 | Yes, for that line |
| Goods needing a BIS, ITAR, DEA, NRC or other agency license, or ITAR goods even when license-exempt | Yes, at any value |
| Items subject to the EAR to a Country Group E:1 or E:2 destination | Yes, at any value |
| Commerce Control List items to China, Russia or Venezuela | Yes, at any value, with narrow exceptions |
| A party to the export on BIS's Unverified List | Yes, at any value |
| Rough diamonds, used self-propelled vehicles | Yes, at any value |

The Census Bureau can also call in shipments that are normally exempt.

## How does the $2,500 per Schedule B rule work?

The $2,500 rule counts value per Schedule B (or HTS) number, for shipments from one USPPI to one consignee on one exporting conveyance, regardless of the shipment's total value. Items under the same number are added up, and goods of US and foreign origin under the same number are reported separately and tested separately.

Here is how that plays out on one shipment to a single consignee:

| Lines under one Schedule B number | EEI? |
| --- | --- |
| $1,500 of US-made goods and $1,400 of foreign-made goods | No: each origin is under $2,500, though together they are $2,900 |
| $2,600 of US-made goods and $100 of foreign-made goods | Yes, for the US-made line |
| Three lines of the same US-made goods at $900 each | Yes: $2,700 under one number |

Within a filed shipment, only the numbers over $2,500 have to be reported.

## When is EEI due and what goes on the waybill?

EEI is due before export, by a deadline set for each mode, unless the USPPI is approved for postdeparture filing. The carrier needs the proof of filing citation, built from the ITN, or the exemption legend before the deadline, and it goes on the first page of the bill of lading, air waybill or other loading document.

| Mode | EEI filed and citation given to the carrier |
| --- | --- |
| Vessel | 24 hours before the cargo is loaded |
| Air, including air express couriers | 2 hours before scheduled departure |
| Truck, including express couriers by road | 1 hour before the truck reaches the border |
| Rail | 2 hours before the train reaches the border |
| Mail | 2 hours before export, given to the Postal Service |
| Other modes | 2 hours before export |

<details>
<summary>The citation formats in Appendix B of part 30</summary>

| Citation | Format |
| --- | --- |
| Proof of filing | `AES` followed by the ITN, for example `AES X20170101987654` |
| Low-value exemption | `NOEEI § 30.37(a)` |
| Canada exemption | `NOEEI § 30.36` |
| AES downtime | `AESDOWN`, the filer ID and the export date |

</details>

For mail, USPS needs the ITN or AES Downtime citation before mailing whenever goods under one Schedule B number sent by one sender to one addressee on the same day are worth more than $2,500, or need a license. Approved USPPIs filing postdeparture have five calendar days after export, except for shipments that must be filed in advance.

## What other documents go with a US export?

A US export usually travels with a commercial invoice for the destination's customs, a bill of lading or air waybill, any license the goods need, and a proof of origin when the buyer will claim a trade agreement. The EEI itself stays electronic; only its citation is printed on the paperwork.

- [ ] A commercial invoice for the destination's customs: see [commercial invoices](https://border.bot/docs/guides/commercial-invoices) or use the [commercial invoice generator](https://border.bot/tools/commercial-invoice-generator)
- [ ] The air waybill or bill of lading, with the AES citation or exemption legend on its first page: see [air waybill vs bill of lading](https://border.bot/docs/guides/air-waybill-vs-bill-of-lading)
- [ ] A proof of origin if the buyer will claim a trade agreement: a USMCA certification for Canada or Mexico (see the [USMCA guide](https://border.bot/docs/guides/countries/united-states/trade-agreements/usmca)), a KORUS certification for Korea, an invoice declaration for Israel, or another kind from [certificates of origin](https://border.bot/docs/guides/country-of-origin/certificates)
- [ ] Any BIS license or license exception, reported in the EEI with its license code, number, ECCN and a description matching the license
- [ ] The ITN from AES, or the exemption legend, given to the carrier or USPS before the deadline

Late or wrong filings carry civil penalties: 15 CFR 30.71 sets civil penalties of up to $1,100 a day, capped at $10,000 per violation, for late filing, and up to $10,000 per violation for false or misleading information and other violations, with all amounts adjusted for inflation each year.

## Common questions

### What is an ITN?

The Internal Transaction Number AES returns when it accepts an EEI filing. It is written on the waybill as `AES` followed by the number, for example `AES X20170101987654`.

### What does NOEEI § 30.37(a) mean?

That no EEI was filed because every Schedule B number in the shipment is worth $2,500 or less and no license or always-file rule applies.

### Do I need to file EEI for a parcel sent by USPS?

Yes, when goods under one Schedule B number to one addressee on the same day are worth more than $2,500, or when the goods need a license. Give the ITN to USPS before mailing.

## Sources

- [15 CFR part 30: Foreign Trade Regulations](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-15/part-30), eCFR, current as of 2026-10-27
- [15 CFR 30.37: Miscellaneous exemptions](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-15/section-30.37), eCFR, current as of 2026-10-27
- [15 CFR 30.4: Filing procedures and deadlines](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-15/section-30.4), eCFR, current as of 2026-10-27
- [15 CFR part 30, Appendix B: AES filing citations and exemption legends](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-15/part-30/appendix-Appendix%20B%20to%20Part%2030), eCFR, current as of 2026-10-27
- [15 CFR 758.1: The EEI filing requirement under the EAR](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-15/section-758.1), eCFR, current as of 2026-10-27
- [Foreign Trade Regulations: Clarification of Filing Requirements Regarding In-Transit Shipments and Other FTR Provisions](https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2025-15493), Census Bureau, Federal Register, 2025-08-14
- [International Mail Manual, 520: Customs forms and Electronic Export Information](https://pe.usps.com/text/imm/immc5_010.htm), U.S. Postal Service, read 2026-10-30