QUICK ANSWER A customs bond is a guarantee to CBP that your duties, taxes, and fees will be paid, required on formal entries and on goods regulated by another agency. It comes in two types: a continuous bond covers all your entries at every US port for a year, while a single-entry bond covers one shipment. Regular importers use a continuous bond; a one-off importer uses single-entry.
A customs bond is not insurance for you, it is a promise to the government that it will get paid even if you do not. You cannot file a formal entry without one, so the only real question is which type fits your volume. This guide covers both, how the amount is set, what each costs, and which to choose.
How a customs bond works
A customs bond is a three-party financial guarantee: the importer (the principal), a surety that backs the bond, and CBP (the beneficiary). It guarantees that CBP will collect the duties, taxes, and fees owed on an import even if the importer fails to pay. If a claim is ever made against the bond, the surety pays CBP and then recovers from the importer. The bond does not reduce what you owe; it guarantees it.
Why you need one
CBP requires a bond on every formal entry, generally goods valued over $2,500, and on any shipment regulated by a partner government agency such as the FDA or USDA regardless of value. No bond, no entry. It is a fixed cost of importing at commercial scale, filed as part of customs clearance, and it sits behind every shipment you bring in.
Continuous vs single-entry
The two types differ in coverage and, for a regular importer, in cost efficiency.
Continuous vs single-entry customs bond
| Continuous bond | Single-entry bond | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | All entries, all US ports, for 12 months | One specific shipment |
| Best for | Anyone importing more than a few times a year | A one-off or infrequent import |
| Renews | Annually | Not applicable, per shipment |
| Cost basis | Based on prior-year duties and fees | Based on that shipment's value and duty |
How the bond amount is calculated
The bond amount is the coverage limit, not the price. For a continuous bond, the minimum is $50,000, or 10 percent of the total duties, taxes, and fees you paid in the previous 12 months, whichever is greater, rounded to set brackets. For a single-entry bond, the amount is typically the value of the goods plus the duties, taxes, and fees, and for goods under another agency's rules it can be set at three times the value. Higher duties, driven by Section 301 tariffs, push continuous bond amounts up, which has caught a lot of importers off guard.
What each type costs
The price is a fraction of the bond amount, not the amount itself.
Customs bond cost
| Bond | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Continuous | A flat annual premium. Platton arranges continuous bonds at $375/year, below the typical $400 to $600 |
| Single-entry | Roughly $3 to $6 per $1,000 of bond value, with a minimum charge |
For anyone importing more than two or three times a year, a single continuous bond almost always costs less than paying for single-entry bonds shipment by shipment.
Which one you need
The math is usually simple. If you import regularly, even a few times a year, a continuous bond is cheaper and covers every entry at every port, so it is the default for a real importer. A single-entry bond fits a genuine one-off: a single trial shipment or an import you do not expect to repeat. When Section 301 tariffs have pushed your duties up, revisit the continuous bond amount, because an under-sized bond can be flagged by CBP and stall entries.
How Platton helps you get bonded
The bond is a small line that can hold up a whole shipment if it is missing or under-sized. Platton handles it as part of the import.
A continuous bond at $375
We arrange continuous customs bonds at $375 a year, below the typical $400 to $600 market range, so the bond is a settled annual cost rather than a per-shipment errand.
The amount sized to your real duties
We size the continuous bond to your actual duty and fee history, including Section 301 exposure, so it is neither under-sized enough to be flagged nor larger than you need.
Renewal tracked before it lapses
A continuous bond renews annually, and we track the date and handle the renewal ahead of time, so an entry never stalls on a bond that quietly expired.
Arranged with the entry, not after it
The bond sits on the same shipment file as the freight and the entry, so it is in place before the goods arrive, not sorted out at the last minute.
Get an import quote with a $375 continuous bond
Common Questions About Customs Bonds
What is a customs bond?
It is a financial guarantee to CBP that the duties, taxes, and fees on an import will be paid. Three parties are involved: the importer, a surety that backs the bond, and CBP. If the importer does not pay, the surety pays CBP and then recovers from the importer. The bond does not lower what you owe; it guarantees the government collects it, and CBP requires one on formal entries.
Do I need a continuous or single-entry customs bond?
If you import more than two or three times a year, a continuous bond is almost always cheaper and simpler, because it covers every entry at every port for a year. A single-entry bond fits a genuine one-off shipment you do not expect to repeat. Most commercial importers settle on a continuous bond quickly.
How much does a customs bond cost?
A continuous bond is a flat annual premium; Platton arranges them at $375 a year, below the typical $400 to $600 range. A single-entry bond runs roughly $3 to $6 per $1,000 of bond value with a minimum charge, so it is paid per shipment. For regular importers the continuous bond is the cheaper path once you count more than a couple of entries a year.
How is the customs bond amount calculated?
For a continuous bond, the amount is the greater of $50,000 or 10 percent of the duties, taxes, and fees you paid in the prior 12 months, rounded to set brackets. For a single-entry bond, it is generally the value of the goods plus duties and fees, and up to three times the value for goods under another agency's rules. Rising Section 301 duties push continuous bond amounts higher.
When should I review my customs bond amount?
At least once a year, and any time your duty bill jumps, because the continuous bond amount is set from the duties and fees you paid in the prior 12 months. Section 301 tariffs have pushed many importers over their bracket, and CBP can flag an under-sized bond and hold entries until it is increased. Reviewing the amount at renewal keeps the bond from becoming the bottleneck.
Related Customs Guides
How US import customs clearance works: the entry the bond stands behind.
ISF filing and the $5,000 penalty: the $5,000 filing deadline before the goods even load.
Duty drawback: recovering duties the bond guaranteed you would pay.
