Cargo Systems Messaging Service

CSMS #45086700 - National and District Brokers Permits & RLF/EIP Filing

This is a reminder that a licensed customs broker must hold at least one active district permit and an active national permit in order to be eligible to participate in the Remote Location Filing (RLF) program. 

Pursuant to 19 C.F.R. § 143.43 filers transmitting entry/entry summary data to ports outside of their permitted port must meet the following criteria:

• Customs brokers must possess a valid national permit as required by 19 C.F.R. § 111.19 (f) (this requirement does not apply to individuals filing as importer of record for their own transactions). For more information about obtaining a national permit, see http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/broker/.
• Be operational on ABI.
• Be operational on EIP for 60 days prior to transmitting an RLF entry.
• Be operational on Automated Clearing House (ACH), or any other CBP approved method of electronic payment for 30 days prior to transmitting a RLF entry.  ACH is the method that must be used for EIP/RLF summary payment.
• In addition, RLF transactions must be secured by a continuous bond.

Per 19 C.F.R. §111.19(f), A broker who holds an active district permit may apply for a national permit for the purpose of transacting customs business in any circumstance described in 19 C.F.R. §111.2(b)(2)(i).

EIP/RLF transactions constitute “customs business” as defined in 19 U.S.C. § 1641 and 19 C.F.R. § 111, and brokers must comply with pertinent requirements in those provisions.  Transmission of an RLF entry without holding an active district and active national permit may result in a penalty under 19 U.S.C. §1641.

For additional information and resources on RLF Entries, please visit https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/entry-summary/remote-location-filing.

Policy questions should be sent to CBP’s Office of Trade, Commercial Operations, Revenue and Entry Division at otentrysummary@cbp.dhs.gov.