Browse: Departments   Dates   Agencies  

NOTICE: PROPOSED RULES

DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUBJECT CATEGORY: DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 6, 2008.

DOCUMENT SUMMARY: This document proposes to amend title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations by prescribing alternative procedures by which payers of the quarterly harbor maintenance fee (HMF) may submit their payments or refund requests to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) electronically via an Internet account established by the payer and located at http://www.pay.gov. CBP will continue to accept quarterly HMF payments or refund requests via mail. It is also proposed to clarify the regulations to state that each HMF quarterly payment, whether paper or electronic, must be accompanied by a CBP Form 349 (HMF Quarterly Summary Report). The changes proposed in this document are intended to provide the trade with expanded electronic payment/refund options for quarterly HMFs and to modernize and enhance CBP's port use fee collection efforts.

SUMMARY: Electronic Payment and Refund of Quarterly Harbor Maintenance Fees,

DOCUMENT BODY 2: 19 CFR Part 24
[Docket No. USCBP 20070111]
RIN 1505AB97

Electronic Payment and Refund of Quarterly Harbor Maintenance Fees

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Interested persons are invited to participate in this rulemaking by submitting written data, views, or arguments on all aspects of the proposed rule. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) also invites comments that relate to the economic, environmental, or federalism effects that might result from this proposed rule. If appropriate to a specific comment, the commenter should reference the specific portion of the proposed rule, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include data, information, or authority that support such recommended change.
Background

Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF)

The harbor maintenance fee (HMF) was created by the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (Pub. L.99622, 26 U.S.C. 4461 et seq.). The purpose of the fee is to require those who benefit from the maintenance of U.S. ports and harbors to share in the associated costs of such maintenance. The HMF is assessed based on 0.125 percent of the value of commercial cargo loaded or unloaded at certain identified ports or, in the case of passengers, on the value of the actual charge paid for the transportation.

Existing HMF Regulations

The HMF implementing regulations are set forth in Sec. 24.24 of title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations (19 CFR 24.24). Section 24.24(e) sets forth the procedures applicable to HMF collections, supplemental payments, and refunds. Generally, this provision requires accumulated HMFs to be paid on a quarterly basis by mailing a check or money order to a specified CBP address, accompanied by a CBP Form 349 (HMF Quarterly Summary Report). See 19 CFR 24.24(e)(1)(ii), (2)(iii), and (3)(ii). A supplemental HMF payment or refund request must be accompanied by a CBP Form 350 (HMF Amended Quarterly Summary Report), along with a copy of the CBP Form 349. See 19 CFR 24.24(e)(4)(i) and (iii). Section 24.24(f) provides that all quarterly payments required by this section be received no later than 31 days after the close of the quarter being paid.

Proposed Amendments to the HMF Regulations

Most of the changes proposed in this document affect 19 CFR 24.24(e) which, as noted above, sets forth the procedures applicable to HMF payments and refunds. Specifically, this document proposes new alternative procedures that would permit the electronic payment of quarterly HMFs using the Automated Clearinghouse (ACH) via an Internet account established by the payer and located at http://www.pay.gov. Requests for HMF refunds may also be made through http://www.pay.gov. Approved HMF refund payments will be made via ACH to those payers who are enrolled in the ACH refund program; all others will receive refund payments via mail. As these proposed electronic procedures are voluntary, CBP will continue to accept HMF payments and refund requests sent via mail.

Pay.gov is a secure Internet payment platform provided by the Financial Management Service (FMS) for payments to federal agencies. CBP has migrated payment of certain fees and taxes to the pay.gov platform through the use of ACH debit transactions. CBP will distribute a userguide to HMF payers that provides information regarding account setup and related issues.

This document also proposes to clarify 19 CFR 24.24(e) to require that, for both paper and electronic payments of the quarterly HMF, a CBP Form 349 must accompany each HMF payment. All three provisions of the existing HMF payment regulations set forth at 19 CFR
24.24(e)(1)(ii), (2)(iii), and (3)(ii) require the payer to pay all fees for which he is liable for the quarter by mailing a check or money order payable to CBP and a Harbor Maintenance Fee Quarterly Summary Report, Customs Form 349. Based on the existing terms of these provisions, a payer is required to remit a single quarterly payment to CBP accompanied by a single CBP Form 349. In practice, however, CBP has received HMF payments by methods that do not follow the regulations. For example, CBP has received several HMF payments from a single payer for a quarter or, in the alternative, a single HMF payment that is accompanied by several CBP Form 349s. In a purely paper environment, CBP was able to process these submissions. In the context of an electronic paperless environment, however, it is proposed to require that a single CBP Form be submitted with each HMF payment to support the transactional requirements of http://www.pay.gov and to promote consistency and harmonization of HMF collection procedures.

These proposed changes, other than those involving nonsubstantive editorial changes, are discussed below in more detail.

Explanation of Amendments

It is proposed to amend 19 CFR 24.24 to set forth alternative expanded procedures for the electronic payment and refund of quarterly HMFs. It is also proposed to amend this section to require that each HMF quarterly payment or refund request, whether paper or electronic, be accompanied by a CBP Form 349 or 350, as appropriate.

Section 24.24(c)(8)(i)

Section 24.24(c) describes the types of commercial cargo that are exempt from the HMF. Within this provision, paragraph (c)(8)(i) specifies donated cargo that is certified by CBP as intended for use in humanitarian or development assistance overseas, including contiguous countries, as exempt from the HMF. The existing regulations direct that a request for a refund made pursuant to this provision should be made on a CBP Form 350 and sent to the Office of Finance located at CBP Headquarters in Washington, DC, along with a CBP Form 349 for each quarter for which a refund is requested and supporting evidence that establishes that the entity donating the cargo is a nonprofit organization or cooperative and that the cargo was intended for humanitarian or development assistance overseas.

It is proposed to amend this provision to clarify that HMF refund requests must be submitted to CBP on a Harbor Maintenance Fee Amended Quarterly Summary Report, CBP Form 350, and to provide that the form may either be mailed to the Office of Finance, Revenue Division, Customs and Border Protection, 6650 Telecom Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46278, or it may be submitted electronically to CBP via an Internet account established by the payer and located at http:// www.pay.gov. Upon request by CBP, the party requesting the refund must also submit to CBP, via mail, the Harbor Maintenance Fee Quarterly Summary Report, CBP Form 349, for the quarter covering the payment to which the refund request relates as well as any supporting documentation deemed necessary by CBP to certify that the entity donating the cargo is a nonprofit organization or cooperative and that the cargo was intended for humanitarian or development assistance overseas (including contiguous countries). Approved HMF refund payments will
[[Page 45366]]
be made via ACH to those payers who are enrolled in the ACH refund program; all others will receive HMF refund payments via mail. Section 24.24(e)

Section 24.24(e) sets forth the procedures applicable to HMF collections, supplemental payments and refunds. Section 24.24(e)(1)(ii) prescribes the method by which the shipper whose name appears on the Vessel Operation Report must pay the HMF for domestic vessel movements. Specifically, this provision directs that the shipper pay the accumulated fees on a quarterly basis by mailing a check or money order to CBP along with the CBP Form 349.

It is proposed to amend this provision to state that the shipper may submit the quarterly HMF payments to CBP either electronically using ACH via an Internet account established by the payer and located at http://www.pay.gov or by check or money order to the address specified therein. It is also proposed to clarify this provision to state that each HMF quarterly payment, whether paper or electronic, must be accompanied by a CBP Form 349.

Several other provisions within Sec. 24.24(e) currently require the payer to submit HMF payments or refund requests on a quarterly basis by mailing a check or money order to CBP along with the CBP Form 349 or 350, as applicable.

In Sec. Sec. 24.24(e)(2)(iii), 24.24(e)(3)(ii), and 24.24(e)(4)(iii), it is proposed to make changes similar to those described above to reflect that a payer may submit quarterly HMF payments to CBP either electronically using ACH via an Internet account established by the payer and located at http://www.pay.gov or by check or money order to the address specified therein and that each HMF payment, whether paper or electronic, must be accompanied by a CBP Form 349. Similarly, it is proposed that each HMF refund request must be submitted on a CBP Form 350 and may either be submitted to CBP electronically via an Internet account established by the payer and located at http://www.pay.gov or via mail. Upon request by CBP, the party requesting the refund must submit to CBP, via mail, the CBP Form 349 for the quarter covering the payment to which the refund request relates as well as any supporting documentation deemed necessary by CBP. Approved HMF refund payments will be made via ACH to those payers who are enrolled in the ACH refund program; all others will receive HMF refund payments via mail.

Section 24.24(e)(4)(iv)(B)(4) provides that a protest may be filed for any payment not approved for a refund in a Revised Report/ Certification within 90 days of the issuance of that report. As the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004 (Pub. L.108 429, 118 Stat. 2593) extended the time to file and amend a protest from 90 days to 180 days, it is proposed to amend this provision accordingly.

Section 24.24(g)

Section 24.24(g) sets forth the recordkeeping requirements applicable to this section. This provision directs the parties responsible for the maintenance of records to provide certain contact information to the Director, Accounting Services in Accounts Receivable. It is proposed to amend this provision to reflect that this information be provided to the Director, Revenue Division.

The Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 12866

Because these proposed amendments implement alternative procedures that provide expanded electronic payment/refund options for quarterly HMFs and do not require small entities to change their business practices, pursuant to the provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., it is certified that, if adopted, the proposed amendments will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Further, these proposed amendments do not meet the criteria for a ``significant regulatory action'' as specified in E.O. 12866.

Paperwork Reduction Act

The collections of information in the current regulations have already been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507) and assigned OMB control number 16510055 (harbor maintenance fee). This rule does not involve any material change to the existing approved information collection. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a valid control number assigned by OMB.

Signing Authority

This document is being issued in accordance with 19 CFR 0.1(a)(1). List of Subjects in 19 CFR Part 24

Accounting, Claims, Customs duties and inspection, Exports, Imports, Interest, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Taxes, User fees, Wages.

Amendments to the Regulations

For the reasons set forth in the preamble, part 24 of title 19 of the CFR (19 CFR part 24) is proposed to be amended as set forth below. PART 24CUSTOMS FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING PROCEDURE

1. The authority citation for part 24 continues to read in part as follows:

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 19 U.S.C. 58a58c, 66, 1202 (General Note 3(i), Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States), 1505, 1520, 1624; 26 U.S.C. 4461, 4462; 31 U.S.C. 9701; Public Law 107 296, 116 Stat. 2135 (6 U.S.C. 1 et seq.).
* * * * *

2. In Sec. 24.24:

a. The introductory text to paragraph (c)(8) is amended by removing the words ``the U.S. Customs Service'' and adding in their place the term ``CBP'';

b. Paragraph (c)(8)(i) is revised;

c. Paragraph (c)(8)(ii) is amended by: Removing the word ``shall'' each place it appears and adding in its place the word ``must''; and removing the word ``Customs'' and adding in its place the term ``CBP'';

d. The introductory text to paragraph (d)(3) is amended by removing the word ``shall'' and adding in its place the word ``will'';

e. Paragraph (e)(1)(ii) is revised;

f. Paragraph (e)(2)(i) is amended: In the second sentence, by removing the words ``U.S. Customs'' and adding in their place the term ``CBP''; and in the third sentence, by removing the word ``shall'' and adding in its place the word ``will'';

g. Paragraph (e)(2)(ii) is amended: In the first sentence, by removing the word ``shall'' and adding in its place the word ``must'', and by removing the word ``Customs'' and adding in its place the term ``CBP''; in the second sentence, by removing the language ``U.S. Customs Entry Summary Form (Customs'' and adding in its place ``CBP Entry Summary Form (CBP''; and in the third sentence, by removing the word ``shall'' and adding in its place the word ``must'';

h. Paragraph (e)(2)(iii) is revised;

i. Paragraph (e)(3)(ii) is revised;

j. Paragraph (e)(4)(i) is amended by removing the fourth and fifth sentences;

k. Paragraph (e)(4)(ii) is amended by removing the word ``Customs'' each place it appears and adding in its place the term ``CBP'';

l. Paragraph (e)(4)(iii) is amended by: Removing the word ``Customs'' each place it appears and adding in its place
[[Page 45367]]
the term ``CBP''; and adding after the last sentence the following language, ``Supplemental payments, accompanied by the requisite CBP Form 349, must either be mailed to the Office of Finance, Revenue Division, Customs and Border Protection, 6650 Telecom Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46278, with a check or money order payable to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or submitted electronically to CBP using the Automated Clearinghouse (ACH) via an Internet account established by the payer and located at http://www.pay.gov. HMF refund requests must be submitted to CBP on a Harbor Maintenance Fee Amended Quarterly Summary Report, CBP Form 350, and must either be mailed to the above address or submitted electronically to CBP via an Internet account established by the payer and located at http://www.pay.gov. Upon request by CBP, the party requesting the refund must also submit to CBP, via mail, the CBP Form 349 for the quarter covering the payment to which the refund request relates as well as any supporting documentation deemed necessary by CBP. Approved HMF refund payments will be made via ACH to those payers who are enrolled in the ACH refund program; all others will receive HMF refund payments via mail.'';

m. The introductory text to paragraph (e)(4)(iv) is amended by removing the word ``Customs'' and adding in its place the term ``CBP'';

n. Paragraph (e)(4)(iv)(A) is amended by adding after the last sentence the following language, ``Refund requests must either be mailed to the Office of Finance, Revenue Division, Customs and Border Protection, 6650 Telecom Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46278, or submitted electronically to CBP via an Internet account established by the payer and located at http://www.pay.gov. Approved HMF refund payments will be made using the Automated Clearinghouse (ACH) to those payers who are enrolled in the ACH refund program; all others will receive HMF refund payments via mail.'';

o. Paragraphs (e)(4)(iv)(B)(1), (2), and (3) are amended by removing the word ``Customs'' each place it appears and adding in its place the term ``CBP'';

p. Paragraph (e)(4)(iv)(B)(4) is amended by: Removing the word ``Customs'' and adding in its place the term ``CBP''; and removing the number ``90'' each place it appears and adding in its place the number ``180'';

q. Paragraph (e)(4)(iv)(B)(5) is amended: In the second sentence, by removing the words ``by Customs'' and adding in their place the words ``by CBP'', and by removing the words ``and Customs'' and adding in their place the words ``and CBP's''; and in the fourth and fifth sentences, by removing the word ``Customs'' each place it appears and adding in its place the term ``CBP'';

r. Paragraph (e)(4)(iv)(C) is amended by removing the word ``Customs'' each place it appears and adding in its place the term ``CBP'';

s. Paragraph (g) is amended: In the first, second, fourth, and fifth sentences, by removing the word ``shall'' each place it appears and adding in its place the word ``must'', and by removing the word ``Customs'' each place it appears and adding in its place the term ``CBP''; and in the third sentence, by removing the language ``shall advise the Director, Accounting ServicesAccounts Receivable, P.O. Box 68903, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268, of the name, address, and telephone number of a responsible officer who shall be'' and adding in its place the language, ``must advise the Director, Revenue Division, 6650 Telecom Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46278, of the name, address, e mail and telephone number of a responsible office who is'';

t. Paragraph (h)(1) is amended by removing the word ``shall'' each place it appears and adding in its place the word ``will'';

u. Paragraph (h)(2) is amended by removing the word ``shall'' each place it appears and adding in its place the word ``must''; and

v. Paragraph (h)(3) is amended by removing the word ``shall'' each place it appears and adding in its place the word ``will''.

The revisions to Sec. 24.24 read as follows:
Sec. 24.24 Harbor maintenance fee.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
(8) * * *
(i) The donated cargo is required to be certified as intended for use in humanitarian or development assistance overseas by CBP. Subsequent to payment of the fee, a refund may be requested by submitting to CBP a Harbor Maintenance Fee Amended Quarterly Summary Report, CBP Form 350. The CBP Form 350 must either be mailed to the Office of Finance, Revenue Division, Customs and Border Protection, 6650 Telecom Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46278, or submitted electronically to CBP using the Automated Clearinghouse (ACH) via an Internet account established by the payer and located at http:// www.pay.gov. Upon request by CBP, the party requesting the refund must also submit to CBP, via mail, the Harbor Maintenance Fee Quarterly Summary Report, CBP Form 349, for the quarter covering the payment to which the refund request relates as well as any supporting documentation deemed necessary by CBP to certify that the entity donating the cargo is a nonprofit organization or cooperative and that the cargo was intended for humanitarian or development assistance overseas (including contiguous countries). A description of the cargo listed in the shipping documents and a brief summary of the intended use of the goods, if such use in not reflected in the documents, are acceptable evidence for certification purposes. Approved HMF refund payments will be made via ACH to those payers who are enrolled in the ACH refund program; all others will receive HMF refund payments via mail.* * *
* * * * *
(e) * * *
(1) * * *
(ii) Fee payment. The shipper whose name appears on the Vessel Operation Report must pay all accumulated fees for which he is liable on a quarterly basis in accordance with paragraph (f) of this section by submitting to CBP a Harbor Maintenance Fee Quarterly Summary Report, CBP Form 349. The CBP Form 349 must either be mailed to the Office of Finance, Revenue Division, Customs and Border Protection, 6650 Telecom Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46278, with a check or money order payable to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or the CBP Form 349 and payment must be submitted electronically to CBP using the Automated Clearinghouse (ACH) via an Internet account established by the payer and located at http://www.pay.gov. (2) * * *
(iii) Foreign Trade Zones. In cases where imported cargo is unloaded from a commercial vessel at a port within the definition of this section and admitted into a foreign trade zone, the applicant for admission (the person or corporation responsible for bringing merchandise into the zone) who becomes liable for the fee at the time of unloading pursuant to paragraph (e)(3)(i) of this section, must pay all fees for which he is liable on a quarterly basis in accordance with paragraph (f) of this section by submitting to CBP a Harbor Maintenance Fee Quarterly Summary Report, CBP Form 349. The CBP Form 349 must either be mailed to the Office of Finance, Revenue Division, Customs and Border Protection, 6650 Telecom Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46278, with a check or money order payable to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or the
[[Page 45368]]
CBP Form 349 and payment must be submitted electronically to CBP using the Automated Clearinghouse (ACH) via an Internet account established by the payer and located at http://www.pay.gov. Fees must be paid for all shipments unloaded and admitted to the zone, or in the case of direct deliveries under Sec. Sec. 146.39 and 146.40 of this chapter, unloaded and received in the zone under the bond of the foreign trade zone operator.
(3) * * *
(ii) Fee payment. The operator of the passengercarrying vessel must pay the accumulated fees for which he is liable on a quarterly basis in accordance with paragraph (f) of this section by submitting to CBP a Harbor Maintenance Fee Quarterly Summary Report, CBP Form 349. The CBP Form 349 must either be mailed to the Office of Finance, Revenue Division, Customs and Border Protection, 6650 Telecom Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46278, with a check or money order payable to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or the CBP Form 349 and payment must be submitted electronically to CBP using the Automated Clearinghouse (ACH) via an Internet account established by the payer and located at http://www.pay.gov. * * * * *
Jayson P. Ahern,
Acting Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Approved: July 31, 2008.
Timothy E. Skud,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
[FR Doc. E817967 Filed 8408; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 911114P

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Deborah Thompson, Office of Finance, Revenue Division, Collections, Refunds and Analysis Branch, (317) 614 4511.