In a message published today, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that it would no longer accept duty deferral requests that were authorized on March 20th in CSMS 42097586. The initial reprieve allowed for additional days to pay duty, taxes, and fees due to the COVID-19 emergencies; requests for which were considered on a case-by-case basis. Duties deferred between March 20th and 26th are now due tomorrow, Friday, March 27th.
Today’s message stated:
- CBP is no longer accepting requests for additional days 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 for FedWire can be found at the bottom of CSMS 4216166.
CBP said it will retain the right to consider additional days “for narrow circumstances, including physical inability to file entry or payments due to technology outages or port closures.” CSMS 4216166 also provided: “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.”
If you have questions, please send an email to Deringer’s Compliance Department.
