CBP Updated Guidance on Duty Payment Extensions
On March 20, US Customs (CBP) issued preliminary guidance regarding temporary duty-payment extension requests as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Updated guidance was published yesterday.
In summary, the updated guidance clarified that the only extensions granted were for March Periodic Monthly Statements that were due to be paid last Friday, March 20. The extension for any requests granted will only last until this coming Friday, March 27. Any importers or brokers who received an approval for an extension needs to complete payment no later than March 27.
Below is the updated CSMS message:
CSMS #42161666 - Additional Guidance for Entry Summary Payments Impacted by COVID-19
In a continued effort to work with the trade community through the national emergency challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) message 42097586 on 3/20/2020, requesting case by case need for additional days for payment of estimated duties, taxes and fees.
The purpose of this message is to (a) notify the trade community that CBP is no longer accepting requests for additional days for payment, and (b) provide guidance to Brokers (including brokers that made requests on behalf of importers), Importers and Sureties on processing the universe of entries affected by the previous message. CBP will retain the right to allow additional days for narrow circumstances, including a physical inability to file entry or payments, due to technology outages or port closures.
This message applies to those parties who have submitted a request to CBP in writing for additional days for payments, in response to CSMS 42097586.
Time frame For Payment:
Single payments, daily and periodic monthly statement payments of estimated duties, taxes and fees that should have been tendered from 3/20/2020 through 3/26/2020, must be initiated by 3/27/2020.
If a trade member did not pay CBP for estimated duties, taxes and fees due 3/20/2020 through 3/26/2020, payment should be initiated via FedWire or ACH credit by 3/27/2020.
Payment Instructions:
If paying via FedWire, please follow the attached instructions. For payment of Periodic Monthly Statement, include the Periodic Monthly Statement numbers in the Originator to Beneficiary Information Line 2. If paying a daily statement please enter the daily statement number. If paying multiple statements, please send the list of those statements to debitvoucherteam2@cbp.dhs.gov. Alternatively, parties who are current ACH Credit participants may pay via ACH Credit following normal business practices.
Please Note: Although the temporary option was provided to extend payment due dates, if the money was withdrawn from the account, these funds are legally owed to CBP and a refund will not be issued. Trade users need to work with their financial institutions to ensure that future ACH debit and ACH credit payments to CBP are processed appropriately.
Additional Information:
CBP is continuing to work with our federal and private sector partners to identify appropriate mechanisms to manage the operational impacts of COVID-19. The trade community should monitor CSMS for additional changes related to COVID-19.
Policy questions should be directed to the Office of Trade, Trade Policy and Programs at OTentrysummary@cbp.dhs.gov.
Janel will continue to monitor this situation and will provide more information as it becomes available. If you have questions regarding this matter, please reach out to your Janel Group Account Representative.