A customs bond is a guarantee from a surety company to CBP that the importer will pay duties, taxes and penalties and follow the rules. Formal entries require one.
Single-entry vs continuous
| Single-entry bond | Continuous bond | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | One shipment | All entries for 12 months (renews) |
| Amount | Usually based on value plus duties (higher for some agency-regulated goods) | Generally 10% of duties, taxes and fees paid in the previous year, minimum USD 50,000 |
| Best for | Occasional importers | Regular importers (four or more entries a year is a common rule of thumb) |
Why bonds became a bigger issue
- Higher duties in 2025–2026 meant many continuous bonds became insufficient, and CBP can require an increase.
- The June 2026 IOR order links importer eligibility to domestic assets, bonding or both — see 2026 IOR rules.
- AD/CVD exposure can require higher bond amounts.
Practical tips
- Review the bond size whenever your duty spend changes significantly.
- Respond quickly to bond insufficiency notices.
- For DDP, confirm whose bond covers each entry.