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Glossary

EIN (Employer Identification Number)

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An EIN is used by the U.S. federal government to identify business entities located in the US.

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What is an EIN?

An EIN is a tax ID that the US government uses to identify business entities located in the US. This is used by Customs to associate entities with any of their import or export dealings such as Customs bonds, Customs entries, ISF filings, etc.

Foriegn importers can obtain a Customs Assigned Importer Number (CAIN) for these purposes.

Flexport will ask for a copy of your IRS Notice to verify your EIN when you are setting up your account with Flexport.

If you don’t have an EIN, you will be assigned a CAIN.

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Related Help Articles

Do Foreign Importers Need an EIN to Import into the U.S.?

Why Does a U.S. Business Need to Act as Ultimate Consignee for a Foreign Importer? 

Related Glossary Terms

CAIN (Customs Assigned Importer Number) 

Importer of Record 

Resources

Employer ID Numbers - IRS

Do You Need an EIN? - IRS

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