diff --git a/docs/roadmap/remediation.md b/docs/roadmap/remediation.md
index 5d0a2f8..700a36d 100644
--- a/docs/roadmap/remediation.md
+++ b/docs/roadmap/remediation.md
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ filesystems. [Native link resolver](../../internal/engine/filesystem_links.go#L2
 
 ## Finding 2 — Contextless imports duplicate root contribution assembly
 
+**Status** — Complete. Bound and contextless imports share root charging, placement, and sequence-item scope assembly. The full test suite passed.
+
 **Priority P3.** Stage 4 calls for sharing the root contribution assembly
 and accounting. The new contextless path has its own source charging,
 mapping placement, wrapper charging, pending sequence-item scope
diff --git a/internal/engine/contextless_imports.go b/internal/engine/contextless_imports.go
index 142a516..ce28609 100644
--- a/internal/engine/contextless_imports.go
+++ b/internal/engine/contextless_imports.go
@@ -48,36 +48,22 @@ func acquireContextlessInput(input assembledInput, request inputAcquisitionReque
 		}
 		return input, diagnostics
 	}
-	key := importKeyForMainSource(parsed.source)
-	info := cloneSourceInfo(*parsed.source)
-	accounting := input.accounting
-	accounting.sources++
-	accounting.bytes += parsed.bytes
-	accounting.nodes += countInputNodes(parsed.document)
-	limits := policy.importLimits
-	if accounting.sources > limits.sources || accounting.bytes > limits.bytes || accounting.nodes > limits.nodes {
-		return input, []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportLimitExceeded, "configuration exceeds the aggregate input limit", nil)}
+	accounting, limits := input.accounting, policy.importLimits
+	if diagnostic := chargeDeclaringImport(parsed, accounting, limits); diagnostic != nil {
+		return input, []Diagnostic{*diagnostic}
 	}
-	contribution := acquiredContribution{source: info, payload: body, identity: key, role: importRoleMain, scopeOwner: key, processing: processing, sequenceDeclarations: sequences}
-	var scope acquisitionScope
-	if request.input.placementMode == PlacementModeSequenceItem {
-		contribution.document = body
-		local := acquisitionScope{owner: key, contributions: []acquiredContribution{contribution}}
-		scope = acquisitionScope{owner: key, destination: destination.clone(), contributions: []acquiredContribution{{source: info, payload: body, identity: key, role: importRoleMain, scopeOwner: key, destination: destination.clone(), processing: processing, sequenceDeclarations: sequences, pendingItem: &local}}}
-		if diagnostic := reservePendingItemPlacements(&scope, limits, accounting); diagnostic != nil {
-			return input, []Diagnostic{*diagnostic}
-		}
-	} else {
-		_, placed, err := placeDocument(body, destination, body.Location, maxDocumentDepth, maxDocumentNodes)
-		if err != nil {
-			return input, []Diagnostic{sourceDiagnostic(CodeSourceLimitExceeded, info.ID, "configuration exceeds the source depth or node limit after destination placement")}
-		}
-		accounting.nodes += destinationWrapperNodeCount(destination)
-		if accounting.nodes > limits.nodes {
-			return input, []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportLimitExceeded, "configuration exceeds the aggregate node limit", nil)}
-		}
-		contribution.document, contribution.destination = placed, destination.clone()
-		scope = acquisitionScope{owner: key, destination: destination.clone(), contributions: []acquiredContribution{contribution}}
+	key := importKeyForMainSource(parsed.source)
+	root := acquiredContribution{
+		source: cloneSourceInfo(*parsed.source), payload: body, identity: key,
+		role: importRoleMain, scopeOwner: key, processing: processing, sequenceDeclarations: sequences,
+	}
+	scope, diagnostic := prepareDeclaringImportScope(root, accounting, limits)
+	if diagnostic != nil {
+		return input, []Diagnostic{*diagnostic}
+	}
+	scope, diagnostic = finalizeDeclaringImportScope(scope, root, accounting, limits)
+	if diagnostic != nil {
+		return input, []Diagnostic{*diagnostic}
 	}
 	input.document = body
 	input.composition = &composedDocument{acquisition: []acquisitionScope{scope}, importGraph: newImportInclusionGraph(), inputBytes: accounting.bytes, inputNodes: accounting.nodes}
diff --git a/internal/engine/import_acquisition.go b/internal/engine/import_acquisition.go
index 73d4a9b..8277125 100644
--- a/internal/engine/import_acquisition.go
+++ b/internal/engine/import_acquisition.go
@@ -112,9 +112,6 @@ func acquireImportedWithAccess(request importAcquisitionRequest, policy *acquisi
 		_ = closeAccess()
 		return nil, sourceInfos(main.source), []Diagnostic{importRepeatedDiagnostic(Location{SourceID: main.source.ID}, previous, importRoute{})}
 	}
-	accounting.sources++
-	accounting.bytes += main.bytes
-	accounting.nodes += countInputNodes(main.document)
 	directiveContext := request.input.directiveContext
 	if directiveContext == 0 {
 		directiveContext = rootDirectiveContextImportsOnly
@@ -125,7 +122,6 @@ func acquireImportedWithAccess(request importAcquisitionRequest, policy *acquisi
 	request.input.directiveContext = directiveContext
 	state := importTraversal{
 		access: access, request: request, policy: policy, state: loadState, tier: tier,
-		scope:       acquisitionScope{owner: mainNodeKey, destination: destination.clone()},
 		sources:     []SourceInfo{mainInfo},
 		active:      make(map[resourceIdentity]int),
 		importGraph: newImportInclusionGraph(),
@@ -134,11 +130,10 @@ func acquireImportedWithAccess(request importAcquisitionRequest, policy *acquisi
 		state.itemScope = true
 		state.itemPrefix = destination.clone()
 		state.itemFallback = destination.clone()
-		state.scope.destination = Path{}
 		state.sources[0] = cloneSourceInfo(mainInfo)
 	}
 
-	if diagnostic := state.checkInitialLimits(); diagnostic != nil {
+	if diagnostic := chargeDeclaringImport(main, accounting, limits); diagnostic != nil {
 		_ = closeAccess()
 		return nil, cloneSourceInfos(state.sources), []Diagnostic{*diagnostic}
 	}
@@ -164,31 +159,18 @@ func acquireImportedWithAccess(request importAcquisitionRequest, policy *acquisi
 	} else {
 		body, declarations, diagnostics = splitImportDirectives(main.document)
 	}
+	root := acquiredContribution{
+		source: cloneSourceInfo(mainInfo), payload: body, identity: mainNodeKey,
+		role: importRoleMain, scopeOwner: mainNodeKey, processing: processing,
+		sequenceDeclarations: sequenceDeclarations,
+	}
 	if len(diagnostics) == 0 {
-		if mainIsItem {
-			state.scope.contributions = append(state.scope.contributions, acquiredContribution{
-				source: cloneSourceInfo(mainInfo), identity: mainNodeKey, role: importRoleMain,
-				scopeOwner: mainNodeKey, payload: body, document: body, processing: processing,
-				sequenceDeclarations: cloneSequenceDeclarations(sequenceDeclarations),
-			})
-			diagnostics = state.walkDeclarations(basePath, declarations, 0, Path{}, 0)
+		scope, diagnostic := prepareDeclaringImportScope(root, accounting, limits)
+		if diagnostic != nil {
+			diagnostics = []Diagnostic{*diagnostic}
 		} else {
-			_, placed, err := placeDocument(body, destination, body.Location, maxDocumentDepth, maxDocumentNodes)
-			placementNodes := destinationWrapperNodeCount(destination)
-			if err != nil {
-				diagnostics = []Diagnostic{sourceDiagnostic(CodeSourceLimitExceeded, main.source.ID, "configuration exceeds the source depth or node limit after destination placement")}
-			} else if accounting.nodes+placementNodes > limits.nodes {
-				diagnostics = []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportLimitExceeded, "configuration exceeds the aggregate node limit", nil)}
-			} else {
-				accounting.nodes += placementNodes
-				state.scope.contributions = append(state.scope.contributions, acquiredContribution{
-					source: cloneSourceInfo(mainInfo), payload: body, document: placed,
-					identity: mainNodeKey, role: importRoleMain, scopeOwner: mainNodeKey,
-					destination: destination.clone(), processing: processing,
-					sequenceDeclarations: cloneSequenceDeclarations(sequenceDeclarations),
-				})
-				diagnostics = state.walkDeclarations(basePath, declarations, 0, destination, 0)
-			}
+			state.scope = scope
+			diagnostics = state.walkDeclarations(basePath, declarations, 0, scope.destination, 0)
 		}
 	}
 	if len(diagnostics) == 0 {
@@ -205,19 +187,8 @@ func acquireImportedWithAccess(request importAcquisitionRequest, policy *acquisi
 	if closeErr != nil {
 		return nil, cloneSourceInfos(state.sources), []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportRead, "configuration root could not be closed", nil)}
 	}
-	acquisition := state.scope
-	if mainIsItem {
-		localScope := state.scope
-		acquisition = acquisitionScope{
-			owner: mainNodeKey, destination: destination.clone(),
-			contributions: []acquiredContribution{{
-				source: cloneSourceInfo(mainInfo), payload: body, identity: mainNodeKey,
-				role: importRoleMain, scopeOwner: mainNodeKey, destination: destination.clone(),
-				processing: processing, sequenceDeclarations: cloneSequenceDeclarations(sequenceDeclarations), pendingItem: &localScope,
-			}},
-		}
-	}
-	if diagnostic := reservePendingItemPlacements(&acquisition, limits, accounting); diagnostic != nil {
+	acquisition, diagnostic := finalizeDeclaringImportScope(state.scope, root, accounting, limits)
+	if diagnostic != nil {
 		return nil, cloneSourceInfos(state.sources), []Diagnostic{*diagnostic}
 	}
 	return &composedDocument{
@@ -226,22 +197,6 @@ func acquireImportedWithAccess(request importAcquisitionRequest, policy *acquisi
 	}, cloneSourceInfos(state.sources), nil
 }
 
-func (s *importTraversal) checkInitialLimits() *Diagnostic {
-	if s.state.accounting.sources > s.policy.importLimits.sources {
-		value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportLimitExceeded, "configuration exceeds the source-count limit", nil)
-		return &value
-	}
-	if s.state.accounting.bytes > s.policy.importLimits.bytes {
-		value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportLimitExceeded, "configuration exceeds the aggregate byte limit", nil)
-		return &value
-	}
-	if s.state.accounting.nodes > s.policy.importLimits.nodes {
-		value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportLimitExceeded, "configuration exceeds the aggregate node limit", nil)
-		return &value
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
 func prepareImportDeclarations(declarations []importDeclarationSpec, defaults ImportDefaults, parentDestination Path) ([]resolvedImportPolicy, []Diagnostic) {
 	policies := make([]resolvedImportPolicy, len(declarations))
 	for index, spec := range declarations {
diff --git a/internal/engine/import_scope.go b/internal/engine/import_scope.go
index 66c6e70..52bf6f1 100644
--- a/internal/engine/import_scope.go
+++ b/internal/engine/import_scope.go
@@ -285,3 +285,58 @@ func importedVersionClaim(documents []*document.Node, scope acquisitionScope, co
 	}
 	return nil
 }
+
+// The declaring payload contributes once even when there are no admitted imports.
+func chargeDeclaringImport(parsed parsedSource, accounting *importAccounting, limits importLimits) *Diagnostic {
+	accounting.sources++
+	accounting.bytes += parsed.bytes
+	accounting.nodes += countInputNodes(parsed.document)
+	if accounting.sources > limits.sources {
+		value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportLimitExceeded, "configuration exceeds the source-count limit", nil)
+		return &value
+	}
+	if accounting.bytes > limits.bytes {
+		value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportLimitExceeded, "configuration exceeds the aggregate byte limit", nil)
+		return &value
+	}
+	if accounting.nodes > limits.nodes {
+		value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportLimitExceeded, "configuration exceeds the aggregate node limit", nil)
+		return &value
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func prepareDeclaringImportScope(root acquiredContribution, accounting *importAccounting, limits importLimits) (acquisitionScope, *Diagnostic) {
+	scope := acquisitionScope{owner: root.identity}
+	if root.source.placementMode == PlacementModeSequenceItem {
+		root.document = root.payload
+	} else {
+		destination := root.source.Destination
+		_, placed, err := placeDocument(root.payload, destination, root.payload.Location, maxDocumentDepth, maxDocumentNodes)
+		if err != nil {
+			diagnostic := sourceDiagnostic(CodeSourceLimitExceeded, root.source.ID, "configuration exceeds the source depth or node limit after destination placement")
+			return acquisitionScope{}, &diagnostic
+		}
+		placementNodes := destinationWrapperNodeCount(destination)
+		if accounting.nodes+placementNodes > limits.nodes {
+			diagnostic := importDiagnostic(CodeImportLimitExceeded, "configuration exceeds the aggregate node limit", nil)
+			return acquisitionScope{}, &diagnostic
+		}
+		accounting.nodes += placementNodes
+		root.document, root.destination = placed, destination.clone()
+		scope.destination = destination.clone()
+	}
+	scope.contributions = []acquiredContribution{root}
+	return scope, nil
+}
+
+func finalizeDeclaringImportScope(scope acquisitionScope, root acquiredContribution, accounting *importAccounting, limits importLimits) (acquisitionScope, *Diagnostic) {
+	if root.source.placementMode == PlacementModeSequenceItem {
+		root.destination = root.source.Destination.clone()
+		localScope := scope
+		root.pendingItem = &localScope
+		scope = acquisitionScope{owner: root.identity, destination: root.destination.clone(), contributions: []acquiredContribution{root}}
+	}
+	diagnostic := reservePendingItemPlacements(&scope, limits, accounting)
+	return scope, diagnostic
+}