The NCBFAA Customs Committee Shares Important Guidelines on Closing Temporary Importation Bonds (TIBs)
Customs brokers are advised to familiarize themselves with the procedures for closing Temporary Importation Bonds (TIBs), as highlighted by the NCBFAA Customs Committee. The necessary information can be found in the Trade-External section of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Business Rules and Process Document, specifically in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Entry Summary (Version 11.0), available here.
Here are the key steps to follow when all items entered under a TIB have been exported:
- Proof of export: Ensure that proof of export is uploaded to the DIS (or provided to a CBP port or Center if submitting by paper). If there are multiple items entered under a TIB with partial exportations or destructions, the bond will not be canceled until all items associated with the bond have been exported or destroyed. A single submission of export documents should be provided either at the end of the TIB period or at the time of final exportation. This single submission should account for all exports related to the TIB.
- Submission via the Temporary Importation Bond Module: If TIB closure documents are submitted through DIS, the trade user must also send a “Closure” message via the Temporary Importation Bond Module – Extension and Closure (Application Identifier Code = TE). Please note that the correct mechanism for sending the closure is through the Temporary Importation Bond – Extension and Closure Module, as outlined in the “Temporary Importation Bond – Extension and Closure (v5)” document. (The Business Rules document incorrectly refers to the module as “ACE Entry Summary Module.”)
- Automatic notification: By completing the previous step, the appropriate CBP Center team or port’s inbox (depending on the IOR assignment) will be automatically notified of the pending TIB closure for review and processing. Once this action has been taken, the trade user will receive an acceptance notification, eliminating the need to send an email to inform the Center and port about the closure.
- Importance of additional step: Failure to follow the additional step in the Temporary Importation Bond – Extension and Closure Module after uploading the closure documents in DIS may expose the importer to the risk of receiving liquidated damages in accordance with 19 CFR 10.39.
Note: To facilitate the review of TIB closures, it is recommended to utilize ACE Report ES-704, specifically designed for this purpose. This report can serve as a valuable tool for reviewing TIB closures effectively.
