CBP Posts "ACE Overview" Fact Sheets on ACE Account Benefits

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted "ACE Overview" fact sheets on the benefits associated with certain ACE (Automated Commercial Environment) Secure Data Portal account types.

These account types are importers, brokers, carriers, service providers, cartmen and lightermen, sureties, facility operators, and FTZ operators. (Each account type in this list is hyperlinked to its list of benefits in this notice).

Highlights from CBP's list of benefits for each ACE Portal account type include (partial list):

Importer Benefits

• Transition to an interest-free monthly statement process from a transaction-by-transaction payment process
• Schedule large bulk data download reports that can be tailored to meet specific business needs
• Review CBP entry summary data in near-real time
• Create an account based on a company's organizational structure and restrict user access to select account information
• Create the CBP Form 5106 (Importer ID Input Record) information
• Ability to perform a bond query
• Offer cross account access to other ACE portal accounts (e.g., brokers) while maintaining control over access privileges
• Request a merger of accounts via the portal, when both parties are ACE portal accounts
• Post information, track issues or respond to CBP on compliance and operational issues
• Track changes (by user name and date) made to ACE portal account information
• Initiate a change with CBP to modify account structure and obtain historical data, if acquiring a company or part of a company that is also an ACE portal account

Broker Benefits

• Offer monthly statement processing to qualified importers
• Schedule large bulk data download reports that can be tailored to meet specific business needs
• Review CBP entry summary data in near-real time
• View the respective account information of each client, with a single sign-on and password
• Create and update (for single-entry bond filers only) Importer ID information via the ACE portal, if the broker is also the filer
• View, sort and print account lists by name and number
• Access an expanded number of reference files, including expanded Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) views, as well as port code and country codes
• Maintain and update information on the broker's account, including contacts, addresses, etc. Attach electronic information to the account, as deemed appropriate by CBP or the account owner

Carrier (Truck, Air, Ocean, Rail) Benefits

• View and maintain account information, such as company name, addresses, company contact information; e-Manifest information (if applicable); and Standard Character Alpha Code (SCAC), etc.
• View Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) license, permit or certificate information that is posted on the portal account (ocean carriers only)
• Post information, track or respond to CBP on compliance and operational issues
• Attach scanned or electronic information to the account, as deemed appropriate by CBP or the trade account owner (e.g., Load line certificates, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspections, etc.)
• Store conveyance, crew, equipment, shipper and consignee information in one account, thus reducing the amount of information submitted with each crossing (truck carriers only)
• Send copies of the shipment records to the customs broker (truck carriers only)

Service Provider¹ Benefits

• View and update account information including physical address, mailing address and contacts
• View bond information (surety agents only)
• Attach scanned or electronic information to the account, as deemed appropriate by CBP or the trade account owner
• Post information, track or respond to CBP on compliance and operational issues

Cartman and Lighterman² Benefits

• View and update company information including physical address, mailing address, points of contact, licensed employees, other employees and names of officials
• View bond information

Surety³ Benefits

• Grant cross account access to other ACE portal accounts (e.g., brokers, surety agents) while maintaining control over access privileges
• Request a merger of accounts via the portal (Note: both parties must be ACE portal accounts)
• View information that is maintained in the account, including bond and bond rider information
• Effectively manage who is able to write bonds using their bond authority
• Access a business activity log to attach additional scanned or electronic information to the account, as deemed appropriate by CBP or the TAO (Trade Account Owner)

Facility Operator⁴ Benefits

• View and update account information at the facility operator level and at the facility level
• View company name, taxpayer ID type, physical address, mailing address and points of contact at the facility operator level
• View and maintain account information for each facility, including type of facility, liability insurance, contact information, addresses, relevant documents, employees and management officials
• View bond information
• Account for relevant documentation, e.g. facility blueprints, proof of fire insurance, record keeping and inventory control documents, etc., on each warehouse facility

Foreign Trade Zone Operator⁵ Benefits

• View information that is maintained in the account, including bond information at the GP or subzone site level
• View account-based business information
• Edit address, except physical address and contact information
• View status of any documentation or certification required by regulation or policy that is stipulated by CBP and/or the FTZ Board
• Utilize the business activity log to attach additional scanned or electronic information to the account, as deemed appropriate by CBP or the FTZB

¹Service Provider accounts include service bureaus/service centers, software vendors, port authorities, third-party manifest preparers and surety agents.

²This includes all cartmen and lightermen as defined in 19 CFR 112 and as provided for in 19 CFR 113.63 with regard to the requirement for coverage by a continuous Type 2 custodial bond.

³As defined in 19 CFR Part 113, Subpart D.

⁴Facility Operators include bonded warehouses, container freight stations, and centralized examination stations. This includes all operations covered by 19 CFR Parts 19 and 118, and as provided for in 19 CFR 113.63 with regard to the requirement for coverage by a continuous Type 2 custodial bond.

⁵This account type differs from the other account types as the FTZ Board, an ACE participating government agency, will create the account. In addition, the FTZ Board, along with CBP, will jointly maintain the core account information, based upon the information derived from the application and approval processes of both agencies.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 09/11/07 news, 07091105, for BP summary announcing that ESAR A1 was deployed on September 9, 2007.

See ITT's Online Archives or 10/26/07 news, 07102610, for BP summary of the Federal Register notice on the deployment of ESAR A1, with a link to Part I.)

ACE Overview fact sheets (dated 06/04/08) available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/fact_sheets/trade/ace_factsheets/ace_overview/carriers_fact_sheet.xml