Tips on How to Resolve AES Fatal Errors

When a shipment is filed to the AES, a system response message is generated and indicates whether the shipment has been accepted or rejected.  If the shipment is accepted, the AES filer receives an Internal Transaction Number (ITN) as confirmation.  However, if the shipment is rejected, a Fatal Error notification is received. 

To help you resolve AES Fatal Errors, here are some tips on how to correct the most frequent errors that were generated in AES for this month.

Fatal Error Response Code:  120

Narrative: Carrier Unknown

Reason: The Carrier ID (SCAC/IATA) reported is not known in AES.

Resolution: If the Carrier ID (SCAC/IATA) as known at the time of filing is not valid in AES and a valid Carrier ID (SCAC/IATA) cannot be obtained from the carrier, as a last resort, report the Carrier ID as UNKN for vessel, rail or truck shipments. For an unknown air carrier, report one of the acceptable “unknown” codes as follows:

*F or 99F for Unknown Foreign Air Carrier

*U or 99U for Unknown U.S. Air Carrier

*C or 99C for Unknown Canadian Air Carrier

** or 99O for flyway aircraft reported under Chapter 88.

Verify the Mode of Transportation Code and the Carrier ID (SCAC/IATA), correct the shipment and resubmit.

Fatal Error Response Code:  643

Narrative: Quantity 2 Must Be Greater Than Zero

Reason: The Schedule B/HTS number reported requires a second Quantity to be reported and the Quantity 2 is missing or reported as zero.

Resolution: Quantity 2 must be greater than zero.

Verify the Quantity 2, correct the shipment and resubmit.

For a complete list of Fatal Error Response Codes, their reasons, and resolutions, see Appendix A – Commodity Filing Response Messages.

It is important that AES filers correct Fatal Errors as soon as they are received in order to comply with the Foreign Trade Regulations.  These errors must be corrected prior to export for shipments filed predeparture and as soon as possible for shipments filed postdeparture but not later than five calendar days after departure.

For further information or questions, contact the U.S. Census Bureau’s Data Collection Branch.

Telephone: (800) 549-0595, select option 1 for AES

Email: askaes@census.gov

Online: www.census.gov/trade

Blog: www.census.gov/globalreach