Census Issues Guidance for Exporting Humanitarian Relief
The Census Bureau issued a guidance on Sept. 6 on exporting goods for humanitarian relief to areas affected by hurricanes. Shipments worth less than $2,500 are exempt from filing requirements and can use the “low value exception,” the guidance said. Certain Schedule B shipments intended for relief that are valued at more than $2,500 or shipments that require a license must be filed in the Automated Export System, the guidance said. The Schedule B shipments include “commingled food products,” “medicinal and pharmaceutical products,” “wearing apparel,” and other “articles donated for relief or charities.” Shipments of “food, medicine and clothing” do not require a license, the guidance said.
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The code used to identify “the type of export shipment or condition of the donated goods” is CH, the guidance said. The reported value of the goods should be their “market value” because they are not being sold. If the market value is unknown, “considerations should be given to cost if sold,” the guidance said.
Exporters directly shipping goods for humanitarian relief are responsible for their AES filing, the guidance said, and all that are a U.S. Principal Party of Interest are “responsible for filing or authorizing an agent to file the shipment information in the AES.”
All exporters must obtain an Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service “in order to file or authorize the filing of an AES record,” the guidance said. Exporters cannot use Social Security Numbers as an identification number in the AES. Foreign entities that do not have an EIN and that are in the U.S. when they obtain an item for export must report a “Dun & Bradstreet number, border crossing number, passport number or any other number assigned by” CBP.
The guidance also includes information on how to obtain an EIN and how to access Automated Commercial Environment AESDirect to submit Electronic Export Information.
Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the notice.