CBP Deploys ACE DIS ITN Validation for EEI (CBP-255) in Cert

Key Points

• CBP has deployed a new Document Imaging System (DIS) enhancement to the ACE Certification Environment that validates the Internal Transaction Number (ITN) on Electronic Export Information (EEI) submissions using form CBP-255.
• The deployment is currently in the Certification (test) Environment only; a separate production cutover date has not been announced in the available notice.
• An updated DIS Implementation Guide accompanies the release and should be reviewed by anyone filing EEI through ACE.
• Filers whose ITN data is inconsistent or improperly formatted should use the certification window now to identify and correct errors before the change reaches production.

On this page

1. What changed in ACE
2. What the ITN validation does
3. Affected filers and filing types
4. What to do before production deployment
5. Key references

CBP has pushed a new ITN validation rule for EEI submissions into the ACE Certification Environment under CSMS 69827440. The enhancement checks that the Internal Transaction Number supplied on a CBP-255 document image submission is valid before the record is accepted. Filers should test their workflows now and review the updated DIS Implementation Guide to avoid rejections once the change moves to production.

The links in this article go to the primary documents: the official CSMS notice and CBP guidance pages themselves. Read the source.

What changed in ACE

According to CSMS 69827440 (September 10, 2026), CBP has deployed an enhancement to ACE's Document Imaging System (DIS) that adds validation of the Internal Transaction Number (ITN) when Electronic Export Information (EEI) is submitted via the CBP-255 form. The change was pushed to the Certification Environment, which is the staging and testing environment used by trade software developers and filers before changes go live in production.

An updated DIS Implementation Guide has also been published alongside the deployment. The Implementation Guide is the authoritative technical reference for how document image submissions must be structured.

What the ITN validation does

The ITN is the unique identifier assigned by the Automated Export System (AES) to each Electronic Export Information filing. It confirms that an EEI record has been successfully filed with Census before goods depart the United States. The new DIS validation checks that the ITN on a CBP-255 submission corresponds to a recognized, properly formatted AES transaction. Submissions carrying a missing, malformed, or unrecognized ITN will fail validation under this enhancement.

Affected filers and filing types

This enhancement directly affects any party that submits export documents through ACE's Document Imaging System using the CBP-255 form, including:

• Exporters and their authorized agents filing EEI through AES/ACE
• Customs brokers and freight forwarders managing export clearance
• Software vendors whose systems generate or transmit CBP-255 image packages

If your export workflow does not use DIS or the CBP-255 document type, this specific validation change does not apply, but reviewing the updated Implementation Guide is still recommended practice for anyone operating in ACE.

What to do before production deployment

Required actions for exporters, brokers, and compliance teams

• Test in Certification now. Submit representative EEI transactions through the ACE Certification Environment to confirm your ITN data passes the new validation. Use the certification window to surface and resolve any formatting issues before the change goes to production.
• Download and review the updated DIS Implementation Guide. CBP has revised the guide alongside this deployment. Match your internal data maps and submission templates against the new specifications. The guide is accessible through CBP.gov.
• Coordinate with technology vendors. If a third-party system generates your CBP-255 submissions, confirm with your vendor that their software has been updated to reflect the new ITN validation requirements.
• Monitor for the production go-live notice. CBP will issue a follow-up CSMS message announcing the production deployment date. Watch the CBP CSMS feed for that announcement and build lead time into your compliance calendar.

Key references

• CSMS 69827440 (September 10, 2026): Official CBP notice announcing DIS ITN validation for EEI (CBP-255) deployment to the ACE Certification Environment and availability of the updated DIS Implementation Guide.
• CBP CSMS landing page: Subscribe to receive future CSMS messages, including the production deployment announcement.
• CBP.gov: Source for the updated DIS Implementation Guide and broader ACE filing resources.