CBP reminds customs brokers of 2018 triennial status reports

Licensed customs brokers can begin turning in their 2018 triennial status reports on Dec. 15, with a final deadline for submissions of Feb. 28, 2018, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in a statement.    Licensed customs brokers can begin turning in their 2018 triennial status reports to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Dec. 15, with a final deadline for submissions of Feb. 28, 2018, CBP said in a statement.
   Each entity holding a broker’s license must file a status report with CBP and pay a processing fee of $100 every three years. Licensed customs brokers must include an employee list, if applicable, with each status report submitted to CBP.
   “Individuals are considered to be ‘actively engaged’ in transacting customs business when they are currently transacting or have recently transacted customs business on behalf of others as a sole proprietor, or when they are employed by a licensed customs broker which is currently transacting or has recently transacted customs business on behalf of others,” CBP said. “Those who work for another broker and are not directly involved in any activities which fall under the scope of the definition of customs business may report that they are not actively engaged in customs business.”
   CBP said partnerships, corporations, and associations must also report to customs in a status report whether or not they are actively engaged in customs business. “An organization which currently transacts or recently transacted customs business on behalf of others should report that they are ‘actively engaged’ in customs business,” the agency said.
   The triennial status report are even required for all individuals who have obtained a customs broker license within the past three years.
   CBP warned that failure to file a status report will result in the customs broker’s license to be revoked.
   While CBP will accept a paper status report and payment at the port that originally delivered the license, the agency is encouraging all brokers to use Pay.gov to submit their reports and fees electronically. Pay.gov accepts credit card, debit card, and digital wallet (i.e. PayPal and Amazon Pay) payments.
   For Cody Armes, vice president of import/export and compliance of Mid-Gulf Shipping Co., who recently obtained his customs brokers license, this year will be first time filing a triennial report with CBP. “I would say that the option to file and pay online is much more attractive than submitting the payments and forms via paper format,” he said.