In-Bond Shipments Explained: IT, T&E, and IE Entries for Miami Cargo

Not every container that lands at PortMiami is destined to clear customs in Miami. Some cargo is passing through to another U.S. port, some is headed straight back out to Latin America or the Caribbean, and some needs to move inland before duty is paid. U.S. Customs and Border Protection handles all of these situations through the in-bond process — moving cargo under bond, without formal entry, between authorized locations.

Miami is one of the busiest in-bond gateways in the country, so understanding the three main entry types pays off quickly for importers, exporters, and forwarders working here.

What “in-bond” means

An in-bond movement lets merchandise travel within the United States before customs duties are paid, under the coverage of a custodial bond. The cargo stays under CBP control the entire time and must be delivered to a bonded facility or exported within strict time limits — currently 30 days for most in-bond transits. The three workhorse entry types are IT, T&E, and IE.

IT — Immediate Transportation

An IT entry moves cargo from the port of arrival to another U.S. port or bonded facility, where formal entry will be made later. A typical Miami example: a container arrives at Port Everglades but the importer wants to clear customs in Atlanta, so it travels under an IT entry to a bonded destination there.

IT entries are also how cargo gets from the port to a local bonded warehouse without duty being paid at the pier. Once inside, goods can sit for up to five years while you decide whether to enter them for consumption, re-export them, or distribute them gradually.

T&E — Transportation and Exportation

A T&E entry covers cargo that arrives at one U.S. port, travels through the country, and exits at a different port — never formally entering U.S. commerce. Miami sees heavy T&E volume because so much freight transits South Florida on its way to the Caribbean and Latin America.

Example: machinery lands at the Port of Savannah, moves under T&E to Miami, and exports on a vessel to the Dominican Republic. Between arrival and export, that cargo needs a CBP-authorized place to wait — which is where a Container Freight Station or an IBEC facility comes in.

IE — Immediate Exportation

An IE entry is the simplest of the three: cargo arrives at a port and is exported from that same port without entering U.S. commerce. In Miami this is common for freight consolidations bound for Latin America — goods land, get consolidated with other export cargo, and leave.

Facilities approved as In-Bond Export Consolidators (IBEC) can hold export consolidation cargo for up to 20 days, giving forwarders a legal, secure staging window to build full containers. Our IBEC-approved facility handles exactly this workflow minutes from PortMiami.

Which entry type do you need?

Use IT when the goods will eventually clear customs in the U.S., just somewhere other than the arrival port. Use T&E when goods cross the U.S. between two ports but are never sold here. Use IE when goods arrive and export through the same port. Your customs broker files the entry; your job is to make sure the cargo has an authorized bonded location at each stop, because CBP holds the bonded carrier and facility responsible for the merchandise.

Common pitfalls to avoid

The 30-day transit clock is real, and liquidated damages for overstays are painful. Always confirm the receiving facility’s bonded status before the move — an unbonded warehouse cannot legally accept in-bond freight. Keep FIRMS codes accurate on the in-bond filing, and remember that electronic export documentation must be closed out properly or the bond stays open.

Frequently asked questions

How long can in-bond cargo stay at a bonded facility in Miami?

It depends on the facility class. General in-bond transit must be completed within 30 days, a Container Freight Station can hold cargo for 15 days, an IBEC up to 20 days for export consolidation, and a Class 3 bonded warehouse can store entered goods for up to five years.

Who is liable for cargo moving in-bond?

The bonded carrier and the bonded facility operator carry custodial liability under their CBP bonds. If cargo goes missing or overstays, CBP assesses liquidated damages against the bond holder.

Can e-commerce shipments move in-bond?

Yes. In-bond moves are increasingly used for e-commerce freight that arrives at one gateway and clears at another, or that transits the U.S. for re-export to Latin American markets.

Need bonded storage, CFS handling, or export consolidation in Miami? Request a free quote — we’ll match the right bonded solution to your cargo.