For mid-market and enterprise
Moving Off a Distributor to Import Directly into the U.S.
Moving U.S. imports off a distributor? What changes when you become importer of record: customs broker, bond, tariffs and documents.
General information, not a duty quotation. Shipment-specific conclusions require licensed customs broker review.
What the distributor was doing for you.
When a U.S. distributor buys your goods and imports them, the distributor is usually the importer of record. It pays the duties and tariffs, holds the customs bond and answers to CBP for classification, value and origin. Importing directly moves those responsibilities to your company.
In exchange you control pricing, margin and customer relationships, and you see exactly what duty is paid on each product.
What you need to import in your own name.
| Step | What it involves | Who does it |
|---|---|---|
| Importer number | A U.S. tax ID, or CBP Form 5106 for a company without one | Your company, prepared with Greenwich |
| Customs bond | A continuous bond is common for regular imports | Your company, through a surety |
| Power of attorney | Authorizes the licensed customs broker to file | Your company signs; the broker files |
| Product record | HTS classification, origin and value for every product | Greenwich prepares; the broker confirms |
| Entry filing | Each shipment's entry and entry summary | A licensed U.S. customs broker |
Check the tariffs the distributor was paying.
Ask the distributor, or review past invoices, for the HTS codes and duty rates used on your products. Re-check each classification before the first direct shipment: inherited codes are a common source of overpaid or underpaid tariffs, and once you are the importer of record any error is yours.
A licensed U.S. customs broker reviews and files every entry under your power of attorney: one of our partner brokers, or your existing broker working from the same record.
Questions, answered directly.
Can a foreign brand import directly into the U.S. without a distributor?
Yes. A foreign company can act as its own U.S. importer of record with CBP Form 5106 and a customs bond. A licensed U.S. customs broker files the entries under its power of attorney.
Who files with customs once we import directly?
A licensed U.S. customs broker reviews and files every entry under your power of attorney: one of our partner brokers, or your existing broker working from the same record. Your company stays the importer of record.
Will our duty cost change when we stop using a distributor?
The duty rate on a product does not depend on who imports it, but the customs value can change when you sell through a different structure. Review value and classification before the first direct shipment.
Sources and limits
- CBP: Basic import and export
- CBP Form 5106 (official PDF)
- 19 CFR Part 113: Customs bonds
- 19 CFR Part 141: Entry of merchandise
Sources support the stated context, not an endorsement of Greenwich or a shipment-specific determination.
Define your next U.S. decision.
Agree the question, evidence and responsibilities before acting.
Import readiness review