Licensed Customs Brokers that want to keep their license have to go through this ritual every three years. Previously, it was handled by broker management units at the ports where CBP issued license. Now, CBP has gone virtual.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced today the submission period for the 2018 Customs Broker Triennial Status Report and fee for all licensed customs brokers opens Dec. 15. Every licensed broker is required to file a status report with CBP every three years and the deadline for submitting the 2018 Triennial Status Report and fee is Feb. 28, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Submissions will be collected online via Pay.gov. Pay.gov accepts credit card, debit card, and digital wallet (i.e. PayPal and Amazon Pay) payments. No additional fees are charged for any payments, and receipts are provided electronically.
Each entity holding a broker’s license must file a status report with CBP and pay a processing fee of $100 every three years, in accordance with 19 CFR § 111.30(d). Licensed customs brokers must include an employee list, if applicable, with each status report submitted to CBP in accordance with 19 CFR § 111.28(b). In addition, each individually licensed broker must state whether or not he/she still meets the applicable requirements of 19 CFR § 111.11 and 111.19 and has not engaged in any conduct that could constitute grounds for suspension or revocation under section 111.53. Broker employee lists and any additional detail can be submitted as a PDF file attachment with the Pay.gov online form.
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. 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.
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.
Failure to file a Triennial Status Report will result in the customs broker’s license to be revoked by operation of law, without prejudice.
CBP encourages all brokers to submit the report and fee electronically via Pay.gov; however, CBP will accept a paper status report and payment at the port that originally delivered the license.
