U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) published an August 1, 2018, Federal Register Notice (FRN) advising the below-noted increase(s), effective October 1, 2018. CBP will increase Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) “user fees” by 4.886 percent to adjust for inflation in fiscal year 2019. I note that this percentage is based on the change from FY2014 to FY 2019.
Affected user fees include the merchandise processing fee (MPF…Minimum & Maximum only) and truck, rail and vessel arrival fees. The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, passed in 2015, required CBP make inflation adjustments and fee limitations when deemed necessary.
Changes to prominent fees paid by Livingston to CBP via the 7501/Entry Summary are:
– MPF Minimum $26.22 (previously $25.67; only this “Minimum” is increasing; we see no change to the MPF % of 0.3464%
– MPF Maximum $508.70 (previously $497.99)
– Dutiable Mail Fee $5.77 (previously $5.65)
Other user fees affected, along with their January 1, 2018 amount(s):
– commercial truck arrival: $5.75 / $104.89 annual cap (Previously $5.65 / $102.68)
– rail car arrival: $8.65 / $104.89 annual cap (Previously $8.47 / $102.68)
– commercial vessel arrival: $458.35 / $6245.97 annual cap (Previously $448.70 / $6114.46)
– barge and other bulk carrier arrival: $115.37 / $1,573.29 annual cap (Previously $112.95 / $1540.17)
– private vessel or aircraft first arrival/calendar year prepayment: $28.84 (Previously $28.24)
– commercial vessel or aircraft passenger arrival: $5.77 (Previously $5.65), or $2.02 from a U.S. Territory
– customs broker permit: $144.74 (Previously $141.70)
– express consignment carrier/centralized hub facility, per individual waybill/bill of lading: $0.37 minimum, $1.05 maximum (Previously $0.36 / $1.03)
– surcharge for manual entry or release: $3.15 (Previously $3.08)
– informal entry or release not prepared by CBP personnel: $2.10 automated, $6.29 manual (Previously $2.05 / $6.16)
– informal entry or release prepared by CBP personnel: $9.44 (Previously $9.24)
COBRA user fees are adjusted when the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is greater than one (1) percent. CPI was found to be 2.063 percent resulting in an increase.
If you have any questions regarding the Fiscal Year 2019 Increased CBP User Fees, Livingston can help! Please contact either your Livingston account manager or our regulatory affairs department at usregaffairs@livingstonintl.com