U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a 2009 Great Idea Form (GIF) on a request from the trade community for the ability of Customs brokers to upload employee information from an Excel spreadsheet to the ACE Portal to meet the 19 CFR Part 111 requirement to provide CBP with a list of broker employees. The GIF notes that the functionality delivered with ESAR A1 does not allow the mid to large size broker to take advantage of the ACE Portal for this requirement.
Licensed Customs Broker
Customs brokers are entities who assist importers in meeting federal requirements governing imports into the United States. Brokers can be private individuals, partnerships, associations or corporations licensed, regulated and empowered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Customs brokers oversee transactions related to customs entry and admissibility of merchandise, product classification, customs valuation, payment of duties, taxes, or other charges such as refunds, rebates, and duty drawbacks. To obtain a customs broker license, an individual must pass the U.S. Customs Broker License Exam. Customs brokers are not government employees and should not be confused with CBP officials. There are approximately 11,000 active licensed customs brokers in the United States.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has previously announced that all licensed Customs brokers must file their Triennial Status Report and $100 fee by February 29, 2012.
The Federal Maritime Commission is seeking comments on ways to make the tariff filing exemption provided to licensed non-vessel-operating common carriers who have agreed to Negotiated Rate Arrangements (NRAs) with their shippers more useful, including its possible extension to foreign-based non-vessel-operating common carriers not licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission.
The State Department has issued a proposed rule to amend 22 CFR Parts 120, 122, 126, 127 and 129 of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations regarding the definitions of broker and brokering activity and related provisions. The proposed revisions are intended to clarify the scope of brokering activities, registration, prior approval and guidance, requirements and exemptions, reporting and recordkeeping, etc. The State Department is also proposing certain revisions to the DS-2032 form, the annual brokering report, and the brokering prior approval application.
In December 2011, U.S. Customs and Border Protection updated its eight Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on voided Importer ID input Records (CBP Form 5106), making one substantive change. In the third FAQ, CBP clarifies that acceptable proof of an Employee Identification Number (EIN) includes a preprinted document that is received from the IRS.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection sources have informed Broker Power that the pass rate for the October 2011 customs broker license exam was 25%. There were no problem questions.
NCBFAA has sent a November 2011 letter to the Federal Maritime Commission asking it to reconsider three of its approaches to regulating ocean transportation intermediaries - NVOCC Rate Arrangements, NVOCC Service Arrangements, and OTI licensing.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a frequently asked questions and answers document to provide guidance to licensed Customs brokers on the submission of the Triennial Status Report and fee. The next triennial status report, in addition to a $100 fee, should be filed during the month of February 2012.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a notice announcing that 26 Customs broker licenses are revoked without prejudice for failure to file the 2006 triennial status report and applicable fee.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice announcing that 469 Customs broker licenses are revoked by operation of law, without prejudice, for failure to file the 2009 triennial status report and applicable fee.