Customs — Reasonable Care & ISF Compliance Checklist

Activate when: filing an entry or ISF; onboarding an importer (POA); building the compliance file; 'did we file ISF in time?', 'is our reasonable-care record complete?'. Do NOT activate when: the shipment is exempt and no entry/ISF is required.

Industry front door for checklist. Adds domain triggers, example, packs only. Parent Process unchanged. Not legal advice. Verify against current 19 CFR and CBP guidance.

Activate when: filing an entry or ISF; onboarding an importer (POA); building the compliance file; "did we file ISF in time?", "is our reasonable-care record complete?" Do NOT activate when: the shipment is exempt and no entry/ISF is required.

Why this variant

The parent checklist is a verifiable gate. Customs entry is a reasonable-care obligation with hard filing clocks (ISF) and 5-year recordkeeping. This maps those duties onto the parent's gate.

Domain inputs → parent's gate

• ISF (10+2): importer security filing transmitted no later than 24 hours before lading (ocean); update as info changes.
• Entry data: classification, valuation, origin, quantity — each supported and documented (reasonable care).
• POA: valid power of attorney + importer identity (KYC) on file.
• PGA: any FDA/USDA/EPA/other agency data flagged and filed.
• Recordkeeping: entry records retained 5 years from date of entry.

Worked example

New importer, ocean shipment, mixed goods, one FDA-regulated item. → Gate: ISF must transmit ≥24h pre-lading (late = liquidated damages up to $5k/violation); the FDA item needs prior notice + PGA data; POA + reasonable-care file must exist before entry. Any gap = do not file until cleared.

Compliance anchors

• 19 CFR 149 (ISF); 19 U.S.C. 1484/1485 reasonable care; 19 CFR 163 recordkeeping (5 yrs); PGA requirements.

Packs

• Solo broker: per-importer compliance folder template.
• Brokerage: ISF timing alerts into the deadline engine; PGA triage.

Red flags

• ISF filed inside the 24-hour window.
• Valuation/classification with no supporting record.
• PGA-regulated goods entered without agency data.

Verification

• ISF transmitted ≥24h before lading; updated on change
• Entry data supported & documented (reasonable care)
• Valid POA + importer KYC on file
• PGA requirements identified and met
• 5-year recordkeeping started

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Part of deciqAI Knowledge Skills. Core method: checklist.

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Part of deciqAI Knowledge Skills — 189 open-source thinking skills that make rigor executable for AI agents. The same skills power every deciqAI agent, which runs them autonomously to operate your company. See it run → https://www.deciqai.com/c/customs-reasonable-care-isf-checklist · ⭐ Star the repo → https://github.com/deciqAI/knowledge-skills · Contributions welcome.