Overview

The Customer Master Entry module is the central repository for customer information used across ATS: Customs Brokerage, AR/Billing, Export, FTZ, ISF, and Warehouse Management. Each customer may have one or more module-specific setup screens.

Use the Customer Master menu to look up an existing account or create a new one. From the blue Module Options bar you can jump into Brokerage, Billing, Export, FTZ, Warehouse and Miscellaneous screens for the selected customer.

Tip: Click any screenshot captioned “Click to expand” to view a larger version in a modal window.

Fields

Customer Acct

Unique customer account number. Used on all files, invoices and reports.

1–4. Legal Name / Address

Customer’s legal name and mailing address printed on documents.

5–7. City / State / Zip Code

Required for entry, billing and export documentation.

5. Country

Customer’s country code (e.g., US, CA, MX) used for regulatory reporting.

8–9. Phone Number / Fax Number

Primary contact numbers for this account.

Contact Name / Email Address

Operational or accounting contact for statements and notifications.

10. Type Code

Classification of the party (Importer, Exporter, Warehouse client, etc.).

11. Active or Inactive

Controls whether this customer may be used on new files.

Party Acct#

Optional cross-reference to a party or external system account.

Fields

Customer #

Customer account currently being edited.

1. Power of Attorney?

Y/N indicator showing whether a POA is on file.

2. Document Loc

Physical or electronic location of the POA and supporting documents.

3. IRS/SS#/USC#

Importer’s tax identifier used on entries (EIN, SSN, or CBP number).

4–7. Bond Number / Amount / Type / Surety Code

Details of the importer’s single or continuous bond and surety.

8. Bond Renewal Date

When the continuous bond is scheduled to renew.

11. DUNS Number

Optional DUNS identifier, if used.

16–19. Importer Type / Name Qualifier / ID Release Procedure / CBP Known Imprtr?

Additional CBP-related attributes used for automated processing and risk management.

22. CBP Center ID

Center of Excellence & Expertise (CEE) assigned to this importer, if applicable.

Fields

1. Combine Same HTS#’s

Y/N flag to roll-up identical HTS lines on entries.

2. Combine Worksheet Invoices

Determines whether multiple worksheet invoices are combined into one entry invoice.

3. Update EI from Worksheet?

Allows entry invoice details to be updated from worksheet data.

4. Pre-Assign Entry No Start

Starting number used when pre-assigning entry numbers for this importer.

6. No. of Days to Statement

Number of days for CBP Statement when Customer pays Duties via ACH. Cannot exceed 10 days.

8. CBP Approved ACH Credit?

Indicates whether the importer has ACH credit for duties with CBP.

10. COVID Financial Hardship

Optional flag/type used for special payment arrangements.

15. Transmit Arrival Info?

Controls whether arrival notifications are automatically transmitted.

16–18. Inbound / Outbound EDI Routine

Names of EDI routines used to send and receive data for this importer. Consult with ATS for this information.

19–23. Reconciliation, USMCA/NAFTA Recon, Special Program Indicators

Defaults for reconciliation filings, trade programs, and 7501 charge amounts.

Fields

1. PDF Reference# Name?

Controls how the PDF file name or reference number is built when documents are created (for example, based on File#, Entry#, Invoice#, etc.). The letter code determines the scheme used at your site.

2. Wish to Print Copies?

Y/N flag that indicates whether hard-copy prints should be produced in addition to emailed PDFs when batch routines are run.

3. Combine Docs by File#?

When enabled, multiple forms for the same file are combined into a single PDF package instead of separate attachments.

4. Include XML Document?

Y/N option to include an XML data file with each emailed/printed package (used when a trading partner or portal expects XML along with the PDF).

5. Email PDF’s or a Link?

Determines whether the email contains the PDF as an attachment or a hyperlink pointing to the document location (for example, on a portal or shared site).

6. Include Additional Docs?

Controls if related documents (supporting worksheets, scanned docs, etc.) should be bundled with the main forms. The value (such as L) follows your site’s coding for which extras to include.

7. Separate by Shipper?

When set, forms can be grouped or separated by shipper so each shipper receives only their own paperwork in the batch.

8. Email

Default email address (or email list) used when sending form batches for this customer. You can designate one or more recipients using your standard format.

9. Upload Docs (Y/N)?

Enables automatic upload of generated documents to an external service or portal in addition to emailing/printing.

10. Upload Service

Name or code of the upload service to use (for example, a specific document portal or SFTP integration configured by ATS).

11–16. Upload Site / User Name / Password / Tenant / Tenant Site / Site Path

Connection details used when Upload Docs is enabled: site URL or host, login credentials, tenant identifiers and path/folder where documents should be placed. These values are usually provided during implementation and should only be changed by an administrator.

17. Form Name / Copies?

A list of forms controlled by this setup (e.g., INVOICE, PRO-FORMA, special customer forms). The Copies? column defines how many copies of each form are produced when emailing or batch printing. Use this to ensure customers receive the exact combination of forms and copies they require.

Fields

ISF Filing Options

Defines who files ISF and how (importer-filed, broker-filed, etc.).

Bond Holder ID / Bond Type / Surety Code

Default bond and surety data used for ISF transactions.

Bond Activity Code

Activity code associated with the ISF bond (e.g., 1A, 1C).

ISF Web Interface?

Indicates whether the web-based ISF interface is used.

ISF EDI Routine

Interface routine used to transmit ISF data.

Email Address(es)

Distribution list for ISF confirmations and exceptions.

Related ISF Acct#

Optional link to another account’s ISF profile.

Fields

Dept# / FIRM / Port

Department, FIRM code and port associated with the FTZ activity.

Zone ID

Foreign Trade Zone identifier assigned by the zone operator.

Direct Delivery?

Indicates if direct-delivery procedures are used.

Admission Type

Default FTZ admission type code.

Routing Code

Internal routing or process code used for FTZ transactions.

Fields

Bill To Account #

Alternate customer to receive invoices and statements.

OK to Invoice

Y/N flag. When set to N, billing for this customer is blocked.

Automated Billing

Y/N indicates whether this customer can be included in batch/automated billing routines.

AR Statement Reqd

Y/N indicating whether monthly AR statements are generated.

Batch Billing?

Controls whether this account is included in batch billing jobs.

Transfer to External Acctg

Flag used when exporting invoices to an external accounting system.

Email Address to Send

Default email used for AR statements and billing notices.

Credit Limit / Credit Status

Maximum approved credit and current status (e.g., OK, HOLD).

Charge Late Fees, % Charge, Days Considered Late

Parameters used to calculate late fees on past-due balances.

Minimum Monthly Charge

Base charge applied when activity does not meet a threshold.

Invoice Terms / Corporate Acct# / Invoice Remarks

Payment terms, corporate AR mappings and standard comments printed on invoices.

Fields

EIN Number

Exporter’s tax ID used for AES filings.

Station Code

Default branch or station handling exports for this customer.

Contract Rate No.

Contract or tariff code referenced when rating shipments.

Primary / Secondary Cmdy Code

Default commodity profiles used when creating export documents.

ExDec POA (Y/N)

Indicates if a specific Export Declaration POA is on file.

Security Known/Unk. / Security ID Number

Known shipper status and ID for security programs.

AES SED EDI Routine

Program used to generate and transmit AES/SED messages.

Spec Instructions

Free-form export instructions that may print on documentation.

Fields

Power of Attorney?

Y/N flag for export POA specific to ocean operations.

POA Document Loc / Expiration Date

Where the POA is stored and when it expires.

IRS/SSN Number

Tax ID of the exporter of record.

Export License No.

Default export license number used when required.

Mailing Code

Mail-to routing code for export documents.

AES Option

Defines whether AES is filed by the broker, shipper, or other party.

AES Contact Name / Phone

Primary contact for questions related to AES and export compliance.

Bill To Account

Alternate account used for ocean export billing.

Comments

Free-form notes for internal use.

Fields

1. Import Info, Export Info, Both or Skip

Entry that determines whether you are maintaining import POA, export POA, both, or skipping this screen for the current customer.

IMPORT INFORMATION

Top section – used for import POA details.

2. Import POA Code

Code for the import power of attorney (e.g., internal POA identifier).

3–4. Expires (Y/N) / Expiration Date

Whether the POA expires and the date it expires, if applicable.

5. Office Location

Location where the POA is kept on file.

6. Orig or Fax

Indicates whether the original document or faxed copy is held.

7. Revoked Date

Date the import POA was revoked, if no longer valid.

8–9. Foreign Corp (Y/N) / Foreign Cert (Y/N)

Flags used when the importer is a foreign corporation and whether foreign certification is on file.

10. Signature

Name of the individual who signed the import POA.

11. Capacity

Role of the signatory (e.g., President, CFO, Owner).

12. 3rd Party Waiver

Indicates if a third-party waiver is part of the POA.

13. Valid Port(s)

List of ports where this import POA is valid.

14–16. Validated / Validated By / Validation Date

Tracking fields showing whether the document was reviewed, by whom, and on what date.

EXPORT INFORMATION

Lower section – similar fields for export POA.

17. Export POA Code

Code for the export power of attorney.

18–19. Expires (Y/N) / Expiration Date

Whether the export POA expires and its expiration date.

20. Office Location

Where the original export POA is stored.

21. Orig or Fax

Indicates whether an original or faxed copy is held.

22. Revoked Date

Date the export POA was revoked, if no longer valid.

23–24. Signature / Capacity

Name and role of the export POA signatory.

25. Valid Port(s)

Ports where the export POA is valid.

Fields

NOTE

Enter the owner or officer’s name as Last, First, including commas, to match the format expected by CBP.

1. Owner or Officer’s Name

Name of the owner or corporate officer for this importer.

2. Title

Officer’s title (e.g., President, Managing Member, Director).

3. Email

Email address for CBP or internal correspondence.

4–5. Phone / Extension

Primary phone number and optional extension.

6. Social Security No.

Officer’s SSN, if collected and permitted by your compliance policies.

OWNER’S OR OFFICER’S PASSPORT DETAILS (OPTIONAL)

Optional passport details for the officer.

7. Passport Number

Passport number for the owner/officer.

8. Expiration Date

Passport expiration date.

9. Country

Country that issued the passport.

10. Passport Type

Type of passport (e.g., regular, diplomatic, official).

RELATED BUSINESS DETAILS

If this section is completed, the related business must already be on file in ACE. Use these fields to connect the officer to another importer or related entity.

11. Related Business

Code or account number of the related business.

12. Business Name

Name of the related business.

13. Related Business #

Additional reference number for the related business, if needed.

Fields

1. Electronic Signature?

Y/N flag indicating whether the certifying individual authorizes electronic signature on 5106 filings.

2–3. Certifying Individual’s Name / Title

Name and title of the person certifying the importer information.

UTILIZE ACCOUNT ID# AS

Section that defines how this importer ID may be used in ACE.

4–7. Importer? / Consignee? / Drawback? / Refunds/Bills?

Y/N flags marking which roles this account ID is authorized to fulfill (importer of record, consignee, drawback claimant, or recipient for refunds/bills).

8. Description Of Use If 4–7 Above Blank

Free-form text explaining the intended use of the account if none of the standard roles are checked.

CBP VARIOUS DATA ELEMENTS (OPTIONAL)

Optional business profile details that may be requested by CBP.

9. Est. Entries Per Year

Estimated number of entries per year for this importer.

10. Year Importer Established

Year the business was established.

11. CBP Programs

List any CBP programs the importer participates in (e.g., C-TPAT, ISA).

12. Business Description

Short description of the importer’s business activities.

13. Business Web Site

Primary web site URL for the business.

14. NAICS Code

North American Industry Classification System 6-digit code describing the business sector.

‘IMPORTER’S CERTIFICATE’ / ‘ARTICLES OF INC.’ FILING DETAILS (OPTIONAL)

Optional incorporation details used by CBP when reviewing the importer.

15–16. Country / State Where Filed

Jurisdiction where the importer’s articles of incorporation or similar documents were filed.

17. Reference# of Incorporation

Corporate registration or reference number assigned by the filing authority.

CUSTOMER’S BANK DETAILS (OPTIONAL)

Optional banking information for the importer.

18. Bank Name

Name of the customer’s primary bank.

19. Bank Routing No

Bank routing number (if maintained for reference).

20. Bank City / Country / State

Location of the bank office associated with this account.

Fields

Parts Key use UPC/SKU?

Indicates whether items are keyed primarily by UPC or internal SKU.

Pick/Packing Method

Default picking/packing strategy for this customer.

Default Warehouse

Warehouse code used when none is specified on a transaction.

GS1 Identification Code

GS1 company prefix used for label generation and barcoding.

EDI PO/SO/Adjustments/Materials Capable?

Flags which EDI document types this customer supports (purchase orders, sales orders, etc.).

Fields

RLF Filer’s Main Port / Filer Code / RLF Indicator

Defaults used for Remote Location Filing.

MAP Area Ref# / Rate Area

Mapping and rating references used by your organization. Used in the Cartage module.

CBP GBI Participant?

Indicates participation in CBP's Global Business Initiative program.

E-3 Notification?

Indicates participation in CBP's Law Enforcement via the E3 Portal program.

Customs Assigned ACE ID?

ACE ID assigned by CBP used in EDIFACT eManifest Module.

C-TPAT Certified?

Indicates if Importer has been certified by C-TPAT.

Broker-Known Importer?

Internal flag for trusted or repeat importers. Transmitted in Entry Summary 10 Record.

Fresh Prod. Assoc Member?

Enter Y if Importer is member of the Fresh Produce Asssociation. If so their shipments will be included in the Fresh Produce XML Report.

7501 Part Numbers Usage / Validate Part#’s

Controls whether part numbers are used and validated on 7501 lines.

Valid Options are:
• Y Yes - Prompt user for Part Number input at tariff line.
• N No - Do NOT prompt user for Part Number input at tariff line.
• I Internal (Company Standard) Part Numbers

Validate Part#'s?

Indicates if when loading commercial Invoice via EDI part numbers must be validated against the Importers Parts Database.

Print Part# on 7501?

Indicates if the Part# used at the line item level should be printed on the 7501.

7501 Purchase Order Req?

Indicates if PO Numbers are required at the 7501 line item level.

7501 Class Ruling Number?

Indicates if a Customs assigne Class Ruling Number should be prompted for at the 7501 Line Item Level.

Landed Cost System Usage?

Indicates if Importer wishes to receive a Landed Cost Report.

eManifest Filing?

Valid Options are:
• A Always
• S Sometimes (Prompt me)
• C Carrier Dependent (Only when Carrier does not file own Manifest)
• N Never (Default)

Validate Equipment (Y/n)?

Enter Y if you want to validate the Equipment when doing an eManifest Entry.

Default Service Lane Type

Service lane or business segment used for this importer. Enter / to view available options.

Freight Checks (Y/N)

Determines whether freight checks should be performed.

Proforma Transaction Flag?

Indicates if proforma entries are under transaction value. (Shipment are Consignment).

Prefer (K)ilos or (L)bs?

Indicates if Importer prefers seeing Kilos or Pounds on their reports.

Duty Value Update Report?

Enter Y if Customer will be receiving a report of entries for Value Reconciliation.

Duty Report Emails?

Enables duty report email distribution. If this field is left blank system will use the emails entered for billing.

Mailing List / Mail Contact / Email/Fax Level

Mailing list participation and contact info.

Notification Type

Indicates if Client prefers (E)mail or (F)ax Notifications.

Reporting Code

Enter the Customer Account# of the Headquarter accounts. I.e. If customer has several offices you can enter the main office account. Used for combining data on reports.

• Line# — Enter a number to jump to a field.
• Module Letter Option — Type the module letter (C/M/A/O/B/S/E/F/CO/I/N/W) to open its setup.
• Post — Save changes. Posting writes defaults that downstream billing and documents rely on.
• COPY — Copy this Customer information to new Account.
• T 5106 Xmit Transmit 5106 Information to CBP.
• Quit — Exit without saving current edits.

Tips and Best Practices

• Control access carefully: Coordinate with your manager or system administrator to determine who should have update access to the Customer Master Entry. Limit access to trained personnel in Operations, Accounting, and Compliance to prevent unauthorized changes.
• Ensure data accuracy and completeness: Customer Master data flows to all FasTrax modules (Brokerage, Billing, Export, FTZ, ISF, Warehouse). Incomplete or incorrect entries can cause filing errors, delayed invoices, or CBP rejections. Always verify legal name, address, tax ID, and bond details before posting.
• Inactivate obsolete accounts: Set the Active or Inactive field to “Inactive” for customers no longer in use. This prevents accidental selection on new entries, shipments, or invoices while preserving historical records for reporting and audits.
• Use meaningful account numbers: If your company does not use auto-assigned customer account numbers, create a logical, easy-to-remember format (e.g., first 3 letters of company name + sequential number: ABC001, XYZ100). Consistency improves lookup speed and reduces errors.
• Review Power of Attorney (POA) regularly: Use the POA/Shipment Authorization Details screen to track expiration dates, valid ports, and revocation status. Schedule quarterly reviews to ensure POAs are current before filing entries or exports.
• Coordinate billing changes with Accounting: Before modifying Bill To Account #, Credit Limit, Invoice Terms, or OK to Invoice flags, confirm with Accounting to avoid AR mismatches, delayed payments, or GL posting issues.
• Standardize Type Codes across departments: Agree on Type Code usage (e.g., IMP = Importer, EXP = Exporter, WH = Warehouse Client) with all teams. Consistent classification ensures accurate reporting and correct default behavior in each module.
• Validate tax IDs and bonds before first filing: For new importers, confirm IRS/EIN, bond number, and surety code are correct in the Customs Brokerage screen before transmitting the first ABI entry. Incorrect data triggers ACE rejects.
• Leverage the “Post” command wisely: Always use P (Post) to save changes — unsaved edits are lost on Quit. After posting, verify key fields (e.g., Bond, EIN, Bill To) appear correctly on a test document or report.
• Use Corporate Acct# for system integration: When integrating with external ERP or accounting systems, populate the Corporate Acct# field with the corresponding ID from that system. This enables seamless cross-referencing and reduces duplicate data entry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Customer Master Entry module used for?

The Customer Master Entry module is the central repository for customer information used across ATS modules including Customs Brokerage, AR/Billing, Export, FTZ, ISF, and Warehouse Management. It stores legal name, address, contacts, and module-specific defaults.

How do I access or create a customer account?

Use the Customer Master menu to look up an existing Customer Acct or create a new one. Enter the unique account number in the Customer Acct field to open the Main Screen.

What information is stored on the Main Screen?

The Main Screen includes the customer’s legal name, mailing address, city, state, zip code, country, phone, fax, primary contact name and email, Type Code, Active/Inactive status, and optional Party Acct# cross-reference.

How do I navigate to module-specific setup screens?

From the Main Screen, use the blue Module Options bar at the bottom and select the letter for the desired module: C – Customs Brokerage, B – Billing, A – Air/Export, O – Ocean Export, F – FTZ, W – Warehouse, M – Miscellaneous.

What does the Type Code represent?

The Type Code classifies the party. This is used in certain reports.

Valid Options are:
1. AGT Overseas Agent
2. ALN Airline
3. BIL Billing
4. IBB Import BreakBulk
5. ICB Import Customs Brokerage
6. OE Ocean Export
7. AE Air Export
8. MSC Miscellaneous
9. NOA All BUT Customers marked as AGT
10. AFFAffiliate

How do I inactivate a customer account?

Set the Active or Inactive field to I “Inactive” on the Main Screen. This prevents the account from being used on new files while preserving historical data.

What is required for Customs Brokerage setup?

Key fields include Power of Attorney (Y/N), IRS/SS#/USC# (importer tax ID), Bond Number, Amount, Type, Surety Code, and Bond Renewal Date. These are required for ABI/ACE entry filing.

Can multiple worksheet invoices be combined into one entry invoice?

Yes. In Brokerage – Additional Options, set “Combine Worksheet Invoices” to Y to consolidate multiple worksheet invoices into a single entry invoice.

How are AR statements controlled per customer?

In the Billing Info screen, use “AR Statement Reqd” (Y/N) to enable monthly statements and “No. of Days to Statement” (in Brokerage Additional Options) to set the delay between billing and statement generation.

What is a Bill To Account # used for?

The Bill To Account # allows invoices and statements to be sent to an alternate customer account (e.g., corporate parent or third-party payer) instead of the operational customer. This is useful for Customers with multiple offices but a centralized accounting office.

How do I block billing for a customer?

In the Billing Info screen, set “OK to Invoice” to N. This prevents any invoicing for the customer until the flag is reset.

What export information is required for AES filings?

In Export Information (Air/General), enter the EIN Number, AES SED EDI Routine, and AES Option (who files). For ocean exports, also complete IRS/SSN Number, AES Contact Name/Phone, and POA details.

How do I record Power of Attorney (POA) details?

Use the POA / Shipment Authorization Details screen. Select Import, Export, Both, or Skip. Enter POA Code, Expiration, Office Location, Signatory Name/Capacity, Valid Port(s), and Validation status.

What is the CBP Additional 5106 Information screen for?

It stores supplemental data for CBP Form 5106 (Importer ID), including certifying individual, authorized roles (Importer, Consignee, etc.), business details, incorporation info, and optional bank data.

How do I set up FTZ defaults for a customer?

From the Main Screen, select F for select – Foreign Trade Zone. Enter Dept#, FIRM, Port, Zone ID, Direct Delivery (Y/N), Admission Type, and Routing Code.

What Warehouse Management settings are available?

Configure Parts Key (UPC/SKU), Pick/Packing Method, Default Warehouse, GS1 Identification Code, and EDI capabilities (PO, SO, Adjustments, Materials).

How do I save changes in Customer Master Entry?

Use the “Post” command (P) to save changes. Posting writes defaults used by downstream billing, entries, and documents. Use “Quit” (Q) to exit without saving.

Can I jump to a specific field while editing?

Yes. Enter the Line# (e.g., 1, 10) in the command line to jump directly to that field on the current screen. You can also jump from one field to another by entering .10 or .5 to jump up or down. See Keywords and Helpful tips.

Should I coordinate with Accounting before making changes?

Yes. The tip recommends coordinating with Accounting when changing AR/AP accounts, GL Company/Division, or credit settings to avoid discrepancies.

• AR Main Menu.
• FasTrax Introduction.
• Standard Keywords and Usefull Tips.