CBP Form 5106 for Your Whatnot Shipment

What is Form 5106?

If you are in the U.S. and purchased an item from an international seller on Whatnot, the carrier or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) may ask you to fill out a  U.S. Customs and Border Protection Form 5106 before your package can be delivered.

CBP Form 5106, officially called the Create/Update Importer Identity Form, allows U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, to create or update an importer’s identity in its system.

U.S. buyers are the importer of record for all international orders on Whatnot.  The carrier will typically act as your agent to broker the customs clearance which is why they are requesting the information.

Your package may remain on hold until the requested information is submitted and accepted.

Why am I being asked to complete this form?

CBP Form 5106 may be required when a shipment needs a formal customs entry. This commonly applies when the declared value of a shipment exceeds $2,500 USD, although customs requirements may vary depending on the merchandise and other circumstances.

Receiving this request does not mean that there is a problem with your order.

Before you begin

You should receive an email with subject line such as “FEDEX TRACKING NUMBER 889761579770 CUSTOMS QUERY”. It is typically sent by an email address that looks like xxx.xxx@fedex.com. The email from FedEx will contain a secure DocuSign link. Before opening it, confirm that:

• The message identifies FedEx as the sender
• The email references an international shipment you are expecting
• The tracking number matches your Whatnot shipment, when one is included
• The link opens a secure FedEx or DocuSign page

Enter your information directly through the secure FedEx DocuSign request. Do not send sensitive identifying information to the seller or through Whatnot messages.

Step-by-step instructions

The exact DocuSign experience may look slightly different depending on the request FedEx sends you. Complete all fields marked as required.

Section 1: Name and Identification Number 

1. Select the reason for submitting the form

Look for the section labeled Type of Action.

For most buyers completing the form for the first time, select: Notification of Identification Number

This option is generally used when:

• This is your first request for customs services under the importer identity
• Your importer number is inactive and needs to be reactivated

Only select Change of Name or Change of Address when you already have an importer record and are specifically updating that information.

2. Enter your full legal name

In the legal-name field, enter your name exactly as it appears on your social security card.. The name should be consistent with the identification number you provide.

3. Provide your importer identification information

The form may ask for an importer number or tax identification number.

For an individual buyer, FedEx will generally ask for one of the following:

• Social Security number: Commonly used for an individual importing under their own name
• Employer Identification Number: Used when a business is the importer
• CBP-assigned number: Used when CBP has previously issued you a separate importer number. 

You are also able to request a CBP if you would rather not share your SSN. Here is exactly how you can submit this to FedEx yourself:

• Download the official CBP Form 5106 from the U.S. Customs (cbp.gov) website.
• Fill out your name/address, and in Section 1, check box 1E stating you wish to be assigned a CBP Number (leave the SSN/EIN fields blank).
• Sign the form. Email the completed PDF directly to FedEx at paperwork@fedex.com.
  • Crucial FedEx formatting note: The email subject line must contain ONLY your tracking number and the body of the email must be left completely blank.
• This will route the document straight to the FedEx customs agent handling your package, and they will process the alternative ID request with Customs for you.
• Once you receive your CBP-assigned number you can fill out the original DocuSign form

4. Select your importer type and role

• When asked for the type of entity, an individual purchasing an item for personal use should generally select: Individual
• When asked about your role, select the option indicating that you are the: Importer of Record
  • The Importer of Record is the person or business responsible for the imported shipment. In this case, that is generally you as the U.S. buyer and recipient.
  • Do not select a corporation, partnership, or other business type unless the shipment is actually being imported by that type of entity.

5. Estimate your number of annual imports

The form may ask you to estimate how many shipments you expect to import into the United States each year.

• Provide a reasonable estimate. It does not need to be exact.
• For example, if this is your first international purchase and you do not regularly buy from international sellers, you may enter 1 or another reasonable estimate based on your expected activity.

Section 2: Address Information

1. Enter your mailing address

• Enter your complete current mailing address 
• Your mailing address does not necessarily need to be the shipment’s delivery address, but using consistent and accurate information can help avoid verification issues.

2. Enter your physical address, if different from your mailing address

• If your physical address is the same as your mailing address, follow the form’s instructions to indicate that they are the same.
• If they are different, enter your actual residential or business location. A physical-address field generally should not contain a P.O. box.

3. Add your contact information

• Enter a phone number and email address that FedEx can use to contact you about the shipment.

Section 3: Company Information (skip if you are an individual)

This section includes several fields intended for companies and other commercial importers. If you are an individual purchasing items for personal use on Whatnot, you may skip this section unless a field is marked as required.

If you are purchasing items on behalf of a business, complete the fields that apply to your business as accurately as possible. 

Section 4: Certification

Follow the DocuSign instructions to electronically sign and submit the form.

Do not send the completed form to the Whatnot seller. DocuSign should return it through the secure FedEx process.

Keep the DocuSign completion email or confirmation page for your records.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CBP Form 5106?

CBP Form 5106 is the Create/Update Importer Identity Form used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It creates or updates identifying information for people and businesses importing goods into the United States.

Why am I considered an importer?

For customs purposes, the U.S. buyer or recipient may be considered the importer because they are receiving goods shipped from another country.  If you have questions on the legal implications of being the importer of record, you should consult an advisor.

Why is the form required for my order?

Your shipment may require a formal customs entry, which commonly applies to shipments valued above $2,500 USD. FedEx or CBP may need to create, verify, reactivate, or update your importer identity before the shipment can clear customs.

Certain types of merchandise may be subject to different requirements regardless of value.

Is this request legitimate?

Requests for customs information are normal for some international shipments. However, you should verify that the request came from FedEx and relates to a shipment you are expecting.

Confirm the tracking number when available, and submit sensitive information only through a secure FedEx or DocuSign page.

Do not provide your Social Security number to the seller or through Whatnot messages.

Do I have to provide my Social Security number?

An individual importer may be asked to provide a Social Security number so CBP can establish or verify their importer identity.

Depending on your circumstances, the form may instead use an Employer Identification Number or an existing CBP-assigned importer number. Follow FedEx’s instructions for the request you received.

Contact FedEx directly if you are unsure which identification option applies to you.

Can I use my driver’s license number instead?

A driver’s license number is generally not a substitute for the importer identification information requested on CBP Form 5106.

Use one of the identification options accepted in the FedEx form.

Can the seller complete the form for me?

No. The form requests your legal and sensitive identifying information as the importer. The seller should not complete it for you and should not request your Social Security number through Whatnot messages.

Can Whatnot complete the form for me?

No. You must provide and certify your own importer information through FedEx’s secure process.

Whatnot may provide general guidance, but Whatnot cannot select answers, sign the form, or submit your identifying information on your behalf.

Does it cost anything to complete CBP Form 5106?

There is no fee for completing the form itself.

However, your shipment may separately be subject to customs duties, taxes, carrier charges, or other import-related fees. Those charges are not a fee for Form 5106.

Does completing the form mean that I owe customs duties?

No. Form 5106 verifies or creates your importer identity. It is separate from the calculation of duties and taxes.

Do I have to complete this form for every international purchase?

Not necessarily.

CBP Form 5106 is used to create or update an importer record, so it may not be necessary for every shipment. However, FedEx may request it again if it cannot match your shipment to an active record, if your information has changed, or if additional verification is needed.

Complete the request you receive or contact FedEx if you believe you have already provided the information.

What if I do not have a Social Security number or Employer Identification Number?

The form may allow you to request or use a CBP-assigned number, depending on your circumstances. Because additional identification or documentation may be required, contact the FedEx customs-clearance representative listed in your email for instructions. Do not enter a made-up number or someone else’s number.

How long will customs clearance take?

Processing times vary. Submitting the form promptly and accurately can help reduce delays, but FedEx and CBP may need additional time or information before releasing the package.

What happens if I do not complete the form?

FedEx may be unable to complete customs clearance. Your shipment may remain on hold, be delayed, or eventually be returned to the sender in accordance with the carrier’s procedures.

Complete the request promptly or contact FedEx if you cannot provide the requested information.

Will I receive confirmation when customs approves the form?

You may receive a DocuSign confirmation showing that the form was submitted. You may not receive a separate approval message from CBP.