INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAW
CBP Form 28: Responding to a Request for Information
CBP Form 28, the “Request for Information,” is a form U.S. Customs and Border Protection sends to an importer when the documents filed with an entry don’t give CBP enough to verify the classification, value, or admissibility of the goods. It is not a form you fill out and submit on your own initiative — it is a question from Customs that you must answer, in writing, within 30 days. Receiving one is not an accusation, but it is a signal that CBP is examining your entry, and how you respond shapes whether the matter ends quietly or escalates into reclassification, additional duties, or penalties. This article explains what the CF-28 is, why you got one, and how to handle it.
What the CF-28 Is and Why You Received It
Customs issues a CF-28 when it needs more information to do its job on a specific entry. Common triggers include questions about the tariff classification (the HTS code you declared), the customs value you reported, the country of origin, or a free-trade-agreement or preference claim you made. CBP may ask for commercial invoices, purchase orders, payment records, manufacturing details, or product specifications. The request identifies the entry at issue and the CBP officer handling it.
A CF-28 sits at a specific point in the import-review process: CBP has a question, but hasn’t yet decided to take action. That makes it the importer’s best opportunity to supply context and documentation before any adverse decision is made.
The 30-Day Deadline and What Follows
You have 30 days from the date of the request to respond in writing. If you can’t gather everything in time, contact the CBP officer named on the form to request more time or discuss the questions — don’t simply let the clock run. What comes next depends on your response:
| Your action | Likely outcome |
|---|---|
| Respond fully and persuasively | CBP accepts the entry as filed; the matter closes |
| Respond, but CBP still disagrees | CBP issues a CF-29 Notice of Action proposing or taking action (reclassification, rate change, value adjustment) |
| Respond late or not at all | CBP proceeds on the information it has — typically the least favorable interpretation: higher duties, reclassification, or a denied preference claim |
Ignoring a CF-28 is the worst option. When an importer doesn’t respond, CBP generally resolves the open questions against the importer, which can mean a higher duty rate, a revalued shipment, or an overturned trade-agreement claim — and can set up penalties down the line.
How to Respond
Treat the CF-28 as a focused legal-and-documentation exercise, not a formality:
- Read exactly what’s asked. Answer the specific questions about classification, value, or origin — not more, not less.
- Support every answer with documents. Invoices, contracts, payment records, mill certificates, and product specs carry more weight than narrative explanations.
- Make sure your answer is consistent with what you originally declared and with your other entries — inconsistencies invite broader review.
- Get advice before you respond if the stakes are real. A CF-28 touching on classification, valuation methodology, or origin can have consequences well beyond the one entry, because CBP may apply its conclusion to your past and future imports.
A careful, well-documented response is the cheapest point at which to resolve a customs question. The CF-28 is part of the broader system of customs oversight of imports; a related document, the FDA notice of refusal, works similarly for FDA-regulated goods.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CBP Form 28?
It is the “Request for Information,” a form U.S. Customs and Border Protection sends to an importer to obtain additional information needed to verify the classification, value, origin, or admissibility of imported merchandise on a particular entry.
How long do I have to respond to a CF-28?
Thirty days from the date of the request. If you need more time, contact the CBP officer named on the form before the deadline rather than missing it.
What happens if I don’t respond to a CBP Form 28?
CBP will generally proceed using the information it already has and adopt the least favorable interpretation — which can mean reclassification, a higher customs value, additional duties, or denial of a preference claim — and may issue a CF-29 Notice of Action.
Is a CF-28 the same as a CF-29?
No. A CF-28 (Request for Information) asks the importer questions. A CF-29 (Notice of Action) is what CBP issues when it proposes or takes action on an entry, such as reclassifying goods or adjusting their value — often after an unsatisfactory or missing CF-28 response.
A CF-28 is the moment to get the facts and documents in front of Customs before a decision hardens against you. Reidel Law Firm helps importers respond to Requests for Information and manage classification, valuation, and origin issues on flat-fee terms. Get an import compliance memo.
