Will The Informal Entry Amount Be Increased?

S.1631 - Customs Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Reauthorization Act of 2009 is packed full of interesting information such as the requirement for additional C-TPAT benefits, creation of a new Customs Facilitation Partnership Program and a variety of miscellaneous provisions. If not reading carefully, one might skip over the very last provision which proposes an increase in the de minimis value under 19 U.S.C 1321(a) as well as the informal entry fee. Sec 311 of the bill proposes an increase from $200 to $500 for goods imported by one person on one day under 19 U.S.C. 1321. Additionally, it permits CBP to allow informal entry for merchandise valued at $2,500 or less, with limited exceptions. This is a nice increase from the current $2,000 limit that has been in place since 1998. You may remember a similar article published on our blog on April 23, Is It Time To Increase Informal Entry Amount? At that time, the newly formed Express Association of America made a request to CBP to increase the current informal entry amount as well as the §321 (de minimis) amount for express couriers. It looks as if some of our elected officials have taken on this challenge and have proposed that these increases be enacted for all trade participants.

Stay tuned for updates on the Customs Facilitation and Trade Enforcement bill!