Last Chance To Apply For The October Exam!

The deadline for filing applications to take the October exam is just a few days away. If you are planning to take the October Customs Broker License Exam, don’t let this important deadline pass! All exam applications and the exam fees of $200 must be received and accepted by CBP at the service port (see the link on the right sidebar for a listing of ports) where the applicant intends to take the examination on or before the close of business Friday, August 31, 2007. Applications received after Friday, August 31, 2007 will not be accepted- NO EXCEPTIONS.

Click here (PDF) to print your application. Fill it out and take it over to your local CBP office today! If you aren’t close to an office, send it by express courier, today!

Don’t wait or it will be too late!

Say "Good-Bye" To Our Old Friend The SIL

On August 21, CBP announced that the Supplemental Information Letter (SIL) procedure would be discontinued and the Post Entry Amendment (PEA) processing test would be extended for another year starting August 21. This change means that the PEA is the only procedure for making post summary adjustments to entries prior to liquidation.

What does this mean to importers and brokers?

The elimination of the SIL means that importers and brokers will not be able to simply write a letter and submit it to CBP any time they find an error. The PEA procedures require that certain errors be reported using the individual amendment letter, while other errors must be reported using a quarterly tracking report. With all of the demands placed on the importer and broker, it can be difficult to for them to keep track of the errors that must be reported using the individual letters and which ones must be added to the quarterly tracking report. We’ve tried to make this task a little easier for you by creating a chart of each type of error and the appropriate method of reporting. (This chart is taken from our Importer's Policy and Procedure Manual, a regularly-updated compliance tool.)

To view this chart and the official announcement from CBP, please click on the links below.

PEA Individual Amendment Letter & Quarterly Report Requirements (PDF)

CBP: Modification and Extension of the Post-Entry Amendment Processing Test (PDF)

2007 HTSUS Print-Ready Supplement

Print Supplement Status?

We've received a lot of calls about the July Supplement to the 2007 HTSUS, so we want to make sure we address it here: At this time the International Tariff Commission (ITC) has no plans to issue a printed supplement to the 2007 HTSUS, with sources citing not enough changes to warrant releasing printed pages. Instead, the ITC is making the changes available online.

The changes were released in two revisions, and can be viewed by clicking the links below.

Revision 1 (Effective 4/6/2007)
Revision 2 (Effective 7/2/2007)

Hint: Click on 'Change Record' to simply see a listing of the changes.


Want A Supplement Anyway? No Problem!

We know that some of you will want to keep your printed editions up-to-date, even though there is no official printed supplement. As a service to our customers, we've compiled all pages contained changes as listed in the change records into one printable document! This unofficial Print Supplement will fit easily into your existing book, and will allow you to modify your printed looseleaf editions with all the most recent changes.

Click here to download your Print Supplement!

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Here are some hints for a smooth update:

1) For best results, print out on 3-hole punched, 8.5” x 11” paper.

2) If your printer allows, we recommend that you print out this document 2-sided (in other words, printed on both sides of the page). The supplement is over 300 pages long, so make sure you have enough paper before you start!

3) Printing on a paper color other than white will allow the supplement pages to stand out inside your base HTSUS book.


Disclaimer: The information contained in the supplement was received from agencies of the United States government. Neither the Editors, nor Boskage Commerce Publications, Ltd., nor the writers, shall be responsible for any errors or omissions in the contents of this book. The text may or may not contain information that is in accordance with U.S. law or regulation. This book attempts to provide accurate and authoritative information concerning the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Customs Broker License Exam - Deadline and Notice of Examination

Attention all broker exam students.

Here are two items that you'll want to be aware of as you prepare for the October Exam.

1) The Notice of Examination has been posted. Click here to view the full notice of exam, including the official list of the editions and texts to be tested.

There are two main changes from the April 2007 Exam. These are: a) the addition of a short document titled Submission Changes for Supplemental Information Letters and Post Entry Amendments; and b) the use of of the April 2007 edition of the U.S. Customs Regulations (19 CFR, Ch. 1).

Many of you have purchased our October 2007 Exam Reference Package, which included the 2006 edition. If you purchased the Exam Reference Package, you are in luck! We are developing an update right now that will get your 2006 edition up-to-date and exam-ready. We'll have it sent to you in the next couple of weeks, automatically, at no extra charge.

If you did not purchase the Exam Reference Package from us, you are STILL in luck! We'll make the update pages available as a free printable download online. Watch this blog for notification of availability.

2) The deadline for application is approaching! You'll want to have your application and fee in to the Customs Service Port at which you intend to take the Exam no less than 30 days before the Exam. For the October 1, 2007 Exam, that date is August 31. Here's the statement on CBP's website:

All exam applications and exam fees ($200) must be received and accepted by CBP at the service port where the applicant intends to take the examination on or before the close of business (COB) Friday, August 31, 2007 to be considered. Applications received by CBP after COB Friday, August 31, 2007 will not be accepted- NO EXCEPTIONS. Applications and fees submitted to CBP Headquarters will be returned.


Click here to view the Notice of Exam.
Click here to view and print the Rules for the Exam.
Click here to print an Exam Application.
Click here to view and print Submission Changes for Supplemental Information Letters and Post Entry Amendments
Click here for a listing of Customs Service Ports


Click here for information on the Exam Reference Package
Click here for information on our Exam Preparation Courses