At the annual U.S. Customs and Border Protection Trade Symposium on April 13, 2011, CBP discussed plans to change the drawback program, develop a single U.S.-Canada export-import document, and gather trade input before it issues a rulemaking. The Commerce Department discussed its efforts to expand exports, and government and association panelists discussed ways the U.S., Canada, and Mexico are working to harmonize regulations.
Drawback
A duty drawback is a refund by CBP of the duties, taxes, or fees paid on imported goods, which were imposed upon importation as prescribed in 19 U.S.C. 1313(d). More broadly, a drawback also includes the refund or remission of other excise taxes pursuant to other provisions of law.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted an updated version of its informed compliance publication entitled Customs Valuation Encyclopedia (1980-2010).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued its fiscal year 2010 Annual Financial Report, presenting financial information on its costs of operation and revenues to enable Congress and the public to assess CBP's performance in preventing the entry of dangerous people and goods in the U.S. and facilitating lawful trade and travel.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is requesting comments by June 6, 2011, on extending its existing Drawback Process Regulations (CBP Forms 7551, 7552, and 7553) information collection
CBP has posted information on the Philadelphia Regulatory Audit Field Office, which consists of five branches with staffing resources located in Philadelphia, PA and Newark, NJ. The Philadelphia Field Office provides specialization in the areas of drawback, bonded warehouses and duty free shops. In addition, the Philadelphia Field Office maintains subject matter expertise in the area of "ability to pay" reviews.
Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested or intend to request Office of Management and Budget approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):
The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General has issued a report containing an independent audit conducted by KPMG LLP that addresses the strengths and weaknesses of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's fiscal year 2010 internal controls over financial reporting. Among other things, the audit continues to find a number of weaknesses in CBP’s drawback program.
The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General has issued a report containing an independent audit conducted by KPMG LLP that addresses the strengths and weaknesses of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's fiscal year 2010 internal controls over financial reporting. The report finds that CBP has improved, in that only drawback is listed as a "material weakness" in terms of internal controls. Five areas are also identified as having internal controls with "significant deficiencies," including CBP's in-bond program, bonded warehouses, foreign trade zones (FTZ) and information technology.
Registration is now open for the American Association of Exporters and Importers’ (AAEI) 90th Annual Conference, which will be held on June 5-7, 2011 in New York. Among others, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Bureau of Industry and Security Undersecretary Eric Hirschhorn, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection ACE Executive Director Cindy Allen are expected to speak at the conference.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is announcing a 60 day comment period for the proposed extension of its existing information collection concerning the Drawback Process Regulations (CBP Forms 7551, 7552 and 7553), which it plans to submit to the Office of Management and Budget for approval. This submission is being made to extend the expiration date of this information collection with no change to the burden hours or to the information being collected. Comments are due by June 6, 2011.