Goodbye Courtesy Notice

So, I've been busy. It happens.

One of the many things I need to post is that Customs and Border Protection has finalized a rule to eliminate the mailed paper copy of the courtesy notice of liquidation for entries that were filed electronically via the Automated Broker Interface. As it stands, CBP provides an electronic notice of liquidation to the broker via ABI and mails the paper courtesy notice to the importer. Going forward, importers who want to monitor liquidations will have to do so via the Automated Commercial Environment Portal. If you are one of the small percentage of people who file paper entries, you will still get paper courtesy copies.

As a practical matter, this may not make much difference. The official legal notice (which almost no one ever sees) is the posting at the customhouse. Many importers simply assume liquidation happens 314 days after entry. Others get reports from their broker. This state of affairs, together with the estimated $3 million in annual savings, is probably what prompted Customs and Border Protection to reconsider the notice process.

Look for your last paper notice September 30, 2011.


Comments

Anonymous said…
Actually, there's been a general decline in courtesy ever since they became part of DHS and changed their name from the U.S. Customs Service.
Aug 20, 2011, 11:58:00 AM
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