CBP Form 4455, Certificate of Registration , is a form used by a traveler as supporting documentation of the equipment purchase. Prior to departure, the traveler has to complete the form and present the equipment to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for comparison and signing of the form.
Alternate Name:
CBP Form 4455 is generally used for the examination, registration, and supervised lading of commercial shipments of articles that are exported for alteration, repair, or processing and later returned to the U.S. duty-free or at a reduced duty rate. It provides a convenient means of showing proof of prior possession of an item made abroad, taken on a trip abroad, and later returned to the U.S. This registration is restricted to articles with unique markings or serial numbers. It is a kind of passport for your gear that requires complete details so that it is easier to get back to the country with all the items you left with.
The latest version of the form was released on January 1, 2024 , with all previous editions obsolete. A CBP Form 4455 fillable version is available for download through the link down below. The completed form must be enclosed with every type of merchandise you send abroad to avoid paying customs duties on merchandise made in the foreign countries and sent abroad for alterations and/or repairs.
Duty-free entry can be claimed only for the articles that have been exported without drawback or benefit and are returned unchanged. Foreign alterations or repairs to articles, whether or not the articles are registered with the CBP, are dutiable. Such alterations or repairs must be declared to CBP when the articles re-enter the U.S., whether or not they were done free of charge.
When you bring the articles to the CBP office, the CBP compares the merchandise with the information entered on the form, completing and signing the boxes for CBP use, and returns the completed form to you for subsequent presentation to the CBP every time the registered articles are returned. This form remains valid for re-importation of the articles described for as long as the document is legible. The certificate is not transferable.
It is recommended to keep the form in the package and easily accessible, so when the goods are returned to the U.S. and are examined by the CBP officer, it will be clear they were previously in the U.S.
Filling out CBP Form 4455 starts with figuring out how many copies to submit. The number of copies varies with the type of transaction, so you should inquire at the port director's office how many copies are needed.