Tips on How to Resolve AES Response Messages

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December 20, 2021

Tips on How to Resolve AES Response Messages

Fatal Error Screen - Large

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.  Though the shipment is accepted, the filer may still receive a Verify Message, Compliance Alert, Informational Message or Warning Message along with their ITN.  However, if the shipment is rejected, a Fatal Error notification is received and must be corrected to receive a valid ITN. 

To help you take the appropriate action for the different AES Response Messages, here are some tips on how to address the most frequent messages that were generated in AES for this month.


Fatal Error Response Code: 111

Narrative:     U.S. State of Origin Code Must Be “PR”

Severity:       Fatal

Reason:        The U.S. State of Origin Code reported was not “PR” (Puerto Rico) and the Country of Ultimate Destination Code reported was “US” (United States).

Resolution:  The U.S. State of Origin Code must be “PR” for shipments exported from Puerto Rico to the United States.

Verify the U.S. State of Origin Code and the Country of Ultimate Destination Code, correct the shipment and resubmit.  

Response Code: 505


Narrative:     Value of Goods Contains Non-Numerics

Severity:       Fatal

Reason:        The Value of Goods reported contains non-numerics or spaces.

Resolution:  The Value of Goods must be reported on an EEI as numeric. 

Verify the Value of Goods, correct the shipment and resubmit.    

AES Training Resources

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 Trade Data Collection Branch.

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

Email: askaes@census.gov

Online: www.census.gov/trade

Blog: blogs.census.gov/globalreach

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