Import compliance for Amazon sellers
E-commerce sellers hit the same requirements as any importer, usually with more SKUs, tighter timelines and less warning.
Licensed U.S. customs brokerage. Customs broker of record; movement coordinated through vetted partners.
Import compliance for Amazon and e-commerce sellers covers the customs obligations that apply once goods are imported for resale: establishing Importer of Record status, arranging a customs bond, classifying every SKU correctly, and timing clearance so inventory reaches fulfilment centres before it runs out.
Key takeaways
- The seller is normally the Importer of Record and carries the liability.
- A continuous bond is usually cheaper once shipments become regular.
- Every distinct SKU needs its own classification.
- Regulated products carry full agency requirements regardless of sales channel.
- Fulfilment centre appointments have to be timed against actual entry status.
The liability sits with you
Sellers sometimes assume the supplier, the freight forwarder or the marketplace absorbs import responsibility. None of them do. The Importer of Record certifies the entry and carries responsibility for its accuracy, for duty owed, and for record-keeping.
That is worth understanding before volume grows, because errors repeated across many small shipments compound quietly.
Regulated products do not get an exception
Supplements, cosmetics, devices and food sold online carry exactly the same requirements as those sold anywhere else. A seller sourcing a private-label supplement needs registration, product codes, Prior Notice and FSVP like any other food importer. The channel changes nothing.
How it works
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01
Importer status established
Importer number, bond and power of attorney.
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02
SKU list classified
Each distinct product, with the reasoning recorded for repeat shipments.
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03
Regulatory review
Whether any product line brings agency requirements.
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04
Duty exposure calculated
Including trade remedies, before you commit to a purchase order.
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05
Delivery timed
Fulfilment appointments booked against actual entry status.
Common mistakes
- Letting the supplier act as Importer of Record. It removes your control and not your liability.
- Repeat single-transaction bonds. Past a handful of entries a continuous bond is cheaper.
- One classification for a whole catalogue. Each SKU is a separate declaration.
- Assuming online sales avoid agency rules. The channel is irrelevant to compliance.
- Booking fulfilment appointments before release. A missed slot is worse than a late one.
Questions
Who is the Importer of Record for an Amazon seller?
Normally the seller. Some suppliers offer to act as importer, which removes your visibility and control while leaving you commercially exposed. We generally advise sellers to be their own Importer of Record.
Do I need a customs bond?
Yes, for formal entries. A single-transaction bond covers one shipment; a continuous bond covers a year and is usually cheaper once you are importing with any regularity.
Do marketplace rules replace customs requirements?
No. Marketplace policies are commercial requirements. Customs and agency obligations apply independently, and the marketplace does not assume them on your behalf.
Can you help with many low-value shipments?
Yes. Frequent small shipments raise their own questions around entry type and bond sufficiency, and the economics differ from occasional large ones. Worth a conversation about how your volume is actually structured.
Related
Tell us what you're importing.
Commodity, origin, port and arrival date is enough to start.