The U.S. Shipper Export Declaration (SED) is a standard U.S. government form for all U.S. exports valued at $2,500 or more. It has been superseded by the Electronic Export Information Form (EEI).
If the value of a single item in a U.S. export exceeds $2,500.00, an EEI must be submitted to the U.S. Census Bureau. The U.S. Census Bureau uses the EEI to compile trade statistics and enforce export controls.
The Census Bureau requires exporters to complete the SED for two main purposes:
Fulfilling obligations to collect U.S. export data, including the export value of each commodity.
Help ensure compliance with U.S. export regulations that require exporters to provide export license information.
The FTR requires exporters to complete SED for shipments with a merchandise value exceeding $2,500 per Schedule B number and for mail-in shipments with a value of at least $500. SED is required for all shipments that require an export license or are destined for embargoed countries, regardless of value.
How to use the export declaration?
Any U.S. exporter (or freight forwarder) must complete Form 2575-V required by the U.S. Department of Commerce and submit it to U.S. Customs at the port of export. If the value of the exported goods is $2,500 or more, or the value of the mailed goods is $500 or more, the individual must make the necessary filings. This form must be completed for any shipment to an embargoed country or that requires an exporter's license. The U.S. Census Bureau uses this form to compile trade statistics and enforce export controls. The Automated Export System (AES) allows shippers to make the necessary declarations online.
According to the Census Bureau, more than half of all SEDs submitted by exporters contain errors, making accurate data collection difficult. In the mid-1990s, in an effort to improve data accuracy and ease of data collection, the Census Bureau, in partnership with what is now the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and the Department of State, introduced electronic collection of SED information through the Automatic Export System (AES).
