CBP Directive No. 3230-040A
ORIGINATING OFFICE: FO:TP:Q
DISTRIBUTION: S-01
CUSTOMS DIRECTIVE NO. 3230-040A
DATE: OCTOBER 18, 2001
SUPERSEDES: 3230-040, 6/1/99
REVIEW DATE: OCTOBER 2003
1. PURPOSE. To establish a uniform, national policy for processing quota-class merchandise with electronic payments (ACH).
2. POLICY. It is the policy of the U.S. Customs Service that the processing of quota-class merchandise with ACH will be handled in essentially the same manner at all locations.
3. AUTHORITIES/REFERENCES. 19 CFR 24.25; 132 and 142.13(b).
4.1 Directors, Field Operations, are responsible for ensuring that the provisions of this Directive are carried out effectively and uniformly throughout their areas of responsibility.
4.2 Port Directors are responsible for ensuring that the provisions of this Directive are followed and uniformly applied. They are also responsible for the dissemination of the contents of this Directive to personnel within their jurisdiction.
5.1.1 An ABI filer may elect to use ACH statement processing for entry summaries, entry/entry summaries, and warehouse withdrawals for consumption of quota-class merchandise. If a filer is authorized for ACH payment and an entry/entry summary has been transmitted and is scheduled for statement processing and ACH payment, the filer may submit the summary to Customs for quota input and cargo release processing prior to payment. Customs will not accept checks or cash for payment of ABI statements containing summaries for quota-class merchandise.
5.1.2 Customs personnel will process quota entry summaries, entry/entry summaries, and warehouse withdrawals for consumption through the ACS Quota Module using function code QSUP within 6 hours or less of the official time of presentation. Quota status cannot be granted on prefiled entry/entry summaries.
5.1.3 A filer cannot delete quota summaries from a preliminary statement if the quota has been accepted in the ACS Quota Module. The filer must request Customs to perform the deletion. Concurrently, Customs cannot delete a quota summary in accepted status from the preliminary statement using the DSAC function code without first removing the quota accepted status. This is accomplished by using the functions QSCO.
5.1.4 If the quota is rejected, held, or not input, it is possible for a filer to delete a summary from a statement and change it to a single payment, but only by using the ABI 'HP' (statement add/delete) transaction.
5.1.5 A re-transmission of the quota summary cannot be done by a filer if the quota has been input into the quota system, even if it has not been accepted. Customs can, if necessary, remove the quota lines from the quota system using the function QSCO and then the filer may re-transmit the data.
5.1.6 After the quota transaction is processed and accepted through the quota system, the entry/entry summary will not be returned to the filer for re-submission with the ABI statement. If the reviewing Import Specialist did not indicate that the entry summary was to be returned after processing, the entry/entry summary will be scheduled for liquidation via function ALQL. Filers may be advised to submit a photocopy of the first page of the CF-7501 with their ABI Statement. These procedures apply to tariff rate quota merchandise released using entry or Immediate Delivery Procedures and followed by an entry summary.
5.1.7 After the preliminary statement is printed, a filer cannot delete quota summaries from statement. Customs, however, retains the ability to both remove quota lines from the quota system using the QSCO function code and to delete quota summaries from statement using the DSAC function.
5.1.8 Each day, ports should generate daily final statement printouts that are indicative of payment authorizations performed by filers the prior day. Customs personnel will proceed to correlate preliminary statements for quota summaries submitted by filers with the final statement.
5.1.9 If Ports have established 'bullseye' procedures, Customs personnel in these Ports will use these procedures to route for additional review or liquidate quota entry summaries in accepted status.
5.1.10 For both absolute and tariff-rate quotas, if ACH payment is not made, the quota accepted status must remain in the quota module and a request for redelivery (CF-4647) must be issued, within 30 days from quota acceptance.
5.1.11 For both absolute and tariff-rate quotas, if the quota accepted status exceeds 30 days and the ACH payment is not made, the entry summary will be treated as presented without payment of duties. Custom personnel will initiate liquidated damages in accordance with established procedures.
6.1 Number of quota-class entry summaries scheduled for ACH payment appearing on the B08 Report (Late Report: These Entry Releases Have No Follow-Up Summaries) that remain unresolved after 14 days.
6.2 Number of quota-class entry summaries scheduled for ACH payment appearing on the B07 Report (ACS List of Unpaid Entries Report) that remain unresolved after 14 days.
Assistant Commissioner
Office of Field Operations