Customs Broker Verification of an Importer's Identity, 40302-40317 [2019-17179]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 14, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 40302-40317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-17179]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

19 CFR Part 111

[USCBP-2019-0024]
RIN 1651-AB17


Customs Broker Verification of an Importer's Identity

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland 
Security.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This rule proposes to amend the U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) regulations to require customs brokers to collect 
certain information from importers to enable the customs brokers to 
verify the identity of importers, including nonresident importers. CBP 
proposes these amendments, pursuant to section 116 of the Trade 
Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (TFTEA), which directs 
CBP to promulgate regulations to require brokers to verify the identity 
of the importers who are their clients.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 15, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number, by one 
of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments via Docket No. USCBP-
2019-0024.
     Mail: Trade and Commercial Regulations Branch, Regulations 
and Rulings, Office of Trade, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 90 K 
Street NE, 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20229-1177.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket number for this rulemaking. All comments received will be 
posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any 
personal information provided. For detailed instructions on submitting 
comments and additional information on the rulemaking process, see the 
``Public Participation'' heading of the

[[Page 40303]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov. Submitted comments 
may be inspected during regular business days between the hours of 9 
a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Trade and Commercial Regulations Branch, 
Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade, U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection, 90 K Street NE, 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20229-1177. 
Arrangements to inspect submitted comments should be made in advance by 
calling Mr. Joseph Clark at (202) 325-0118.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randy Mitchell, Director, Commercial 
Operations Revenue Entry Division, Office of Trade, U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection, 202-325-6532, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation

    Interested persons are invited to participate in this rulemaking by 
submitting written data, views, or arguments on all aspects of this 
proposed rule. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) also invites 
comments that relate to the economic, environmental, or federalism 
effects that might result from this regulatory change. Comments that 
will provide the most assistance to CBP will reference a specific 
portion of the rule, explain the reason for any recommended change, and 
include data, information or authority that support such recommended 
change. See ADDRESSES above for information on how to submit comments.

II. Background

    Section 641 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1641), 
provides that individuals and business entities must hold a valid 
customs broker's license and permit in order to transact customs 
business on behalf of others. The statute also sets forth standards for 
the issuance of broker's licenses and permits, provides for 
disciplinary action against brokers in the form of suspension or 
revocation of such licenses and permits or assessment of monetary 
penalties, and provides for the assessment of monetary penalties 
against other persons for conducting customs business without the 
required broker's license. Section 641 authorizes the Secretary of the 
Treasury to prescribe rules and regulations relating to the customs 
business of brokers as may be necessary to protect importers and the 
revenue of the United States and to carry out the provisions of section 
641.\1\
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    \1\ The Homeland Security Act of 2002 generally transferred the 
functions of the U.S. Customs Service from the Treasury Department 
to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). See 
Pub. L. 107-296, 116 Stat. 2142. The Act provides that the Secretary 
of the Treasury retains customs revenue functions unless delegated 
to the Secretary of DHS. The regulation of customs brokers is 
encompassed within the customs revenue functions set forth in 
section 412 of the Homeland Security Act. On May 15, 2003, the 
Secretary of the Treasury delegated authority related to the customs 
revenue functions to the Secretary of DHS subject to certain 
exceptions. See Treasury Order No. 100-16 (Appendix to 19 CFR part 
0). Since the authority to prescribe the rules and regulations 
related to customs brokers is not listed as one of the exceptions, 
this authority now resides with the Secretary of DHS.
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    The regulations issued under the authority of section 641 are set 
forth in part 111 of title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 
(19 CFR part 111). Customs brokers serve many functions when acting on 
behalf of their clients, which include resident and nonresident 
importers. Customs brokers file information about their clients' 
merchandise and transactions with CBP. Customs brokers also track 
shipments, pay duties and fees to CBP, and keep current documents and 
records about the business they transact on behalf of their clients, 
all to help their clients comply with Federal import and export laws. 
See 19 CFR part 111 subpart C.
    However, before a customs broker may transact customs business on 
behalf of a client, the broker must obtain a valid power of attorney 
(POA). 19 CFR 141.46. A POA authorizes the customs broker to become 
that client's agent and to prepare and file the necessary customs 
documents on their behalf.

A. Current POA Regulations

    In the customs broker context, a valid POA is the written 
appointment of the broker as the true and lawful agent of the principal 
(i.e., client) allowed to transact customs business on behalf of the 
principal. The regulations governing POAs are set forth in 19 CFR part 
141 subpart C.
    A POA may be executed for a specified part of the principal's 
business (limited power of attorney) or all of the principal's customs 
business (general power of attorney). See 19 CFR 141.31(a). Pursuant to 
19 CFR 141.32, POAs can be executed through various means. CBP Form 
5291 may be used to establish a power of attorney. If CBP Form 5291 is 
not used, a limited POA must be executed in the same manner and as 
explicit in its terms as CBP Form 5291. 19 CFR 141.32. A general POA 
with unlimited authority may be executed in any format. See 19 CFR 
141.32.
    A POA issued by a partnership is limited to a period not to exceed 
two years from the date of execution. 19 CFR 141.34. All other POAs may 
be granted for an unlimited period of time. 19 CFR 141.34.
    A valid POA requires the principal to provide only limited 
information. The principal is required to provide:
    (1) A statement from the principal authorizing the customs broker 
to act as the principal's agent and for the customs broker to file 
entry/entry summary in the principal's name for a shipment;
    (2) The name of the individual or the authorized representative of 
the sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation executing the POA; 
and
    (3) The name and address of the individual or business on whose 
behalf the POA is being executed.
    See 19 CFR 141.32; 141.36-.39.

B. Customs Brokers' Current Practice for Verifying Importer's Identity

    While only a limited amount of information is required for a valid 
POA, the majority of customs brokers currently require additional 
information when a POA is obtained from an importer, which is used by 
the broker to verify the importer's existence and identity. Brokers 
require this additional information and have initiated processes and 
procedures to validate an importer's identity in order to protect the 
broker's business interests, reduce identity theft, and help to prevent 
the use of shell \2\ or shelf \3\ companies to further a business fraud 
scheme. Additional information that a broker might request includes, 
but is not limited to, the registration of the importer's business with 
a state government and the Articles of Incorporation under which that 
business is formed.
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    \2\ A shell company is a company without active business 
operations or significant assets, which may be used illegitimately 
to disguise business ownership or operations.
    \3\ A shelf company is a company which was created and 
maintained by legal means, but is left dormant for a period of time 
before its sale to a buyer, which may serve to conceal the buyer's 
identity and history of business transactions so as not to appear as 
a new business entity.
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    CBP provides non-binding guidance on how brokers can validate 
importers when they obtain a POA. For example, CBP recommends that a 
broker should, whenever possible, do the following: \4\
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    \4\ See U.S. Customs and Border Protection, ``Validating the 
Power of Attorney'' for comprehensive list of recommendations. Last 
published May 25, 2018. Available at https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/customs-brokers/validating-power-attorney.

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[[Page 40304]]

    (1) Complete POAs in-person and review personal identification 
(driver's license, passport, etc.);
    (2) Check applicable websites to verify the business registration 
with State authorities;
    (3) Confirm business's trade or fictitious names that may appear on 
the POA;
    (4) Verify that the importer's name, importer number, and Employer 
Identification Number (EIN) (also known as the Federal Tax 
Identification Number) on the POA match what is in CBP's Automated 
Commercial Environment (ACE);
    (5) Check whether an importer is named as a sanctioned or 
restricted person or entity by the U.S. Government.
    Since the collection and verification of any additional information 
from the importer is voluntary, certain brokers do not require any 
additional information. As a result, an atmosphere of ``broker 
shopping'' has been created where an importer that does not wish to 
provide this additional information might refuse to provide the 
information to one broker in the hopes that another broker will not ask 
for that information. If the second broker does not request the 
additional information, that broker, with minimal knowledge about the 
importer, transacts customs business on the importer's behalf leading 
to the possible use of shell or shelf companies, revenue loss, 
increased security risks with the goods being imported into the United 
States, and an uneven playing field for brokers.

C. Section 116 of TFTEA

    On February 24, 2016, Congress enacted the Trade Facilitation and 
Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (TFTEA), Section 116, Public Law 114-125, 
130 Stat. 122 (19 U.S.C. 4301 note), which amended section 641 of the 
Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1641). Section 116 of TFTEA, Customs 
Broker Identification of Importers, specifically requires the Secretary 
to promulgate regulations setting minimum standards to: (1) Identify 
the information that an importer, including a nonresident importer, is 
required to submit to a customs broker and that a broker is required to 
collect in order to verify the identity of the importer; (2) identify 
reasonable procedures that a broker is required to follow in order to 
verify the authenticity of the information collected from the importer; 
and (3) require the broker to maintain records of the information 
collected by the broker used to substantiate the importer's identity. 
Section 116 also empowers the Secretary to assess a monetary penalty 
for each violation for a broker that fails to collect the information, 
as well as revoke or suspend the license or permit of the broker.

III. Discussion of Proposed Amendments

    CBP proposes to amend the CBP regulations to standardize the 
process by which customs brokers verify the identity of their clients, 
specifically importers and nonresident importers. These proposed 
regulations illuminate, for the international trade community and the 
public in general, the important role customs brokers have in verifying 
prospective clients and in ensuring the quality and integrity of the 
information they keep. When brokers verify the bona fides of clients, 
CBP is better assured that importers are conducting legitimate trade 
transactions. By formalizing the verification process and requiring 
that a reverification process be carried out by brokers every year, CBP 
believes that a broker's knowledge of its importer client would be 
improved. This improved broker knowledge could allow for commercial 
fraud prevention and revenue protection and help prevent the use of 
shell or shelf companies by importers who attempt to evade the customs 
laws of the United States. Preventing the use of shell or shelf 
companies by importers would help reduce instances of a 
misclassification of merchandise to avoid duties, protect against 
intellectual property rights (IPR) violations, reduce antidumping/
countervailing duty (AD/CVD) infractions, and reduce the importation of 
unsafe merchandise.
    As the importer's and nonresident importer's agent, the customs 
broker is uniquely situated to collect the information necessary to 
authenticate their identity. CBP has determined that it is most 
efficient for the broker to collect and verify this information at the 
time the POA is obtained because the broker must both verify the 
client's identity and obtain a valid POA before transacting customs 
business on behalf of the client.
    CBP is proposing to add a new section, 111.43, entitled Importer 
identity verification, to title 19 of the CFR to establish the identity 
collection criteria and to create a required verification process of 
importer and nonresident importer clients. These proposed regulations 
set forth the minimum requirements a customs broker must meet to verify 
the importer's identity prior to transacting customs business on behalf 
of the importer or nonresident importer client. As discussed above, 
most customs brokers already meet or exceed these minimum requirements. 
Customs brokers may continue to exceed the requirements in proposed 
section 111.43, regarding the collection of information and documents, 
or conducting research about a client.
    Proposed paragraph (a) describes the general scope of the 
requirements for customs brokers to collect, verify, and maintain the 
information necessary to authenticate the identity of their clients.
    Proposed paragraph (b) provides definitions for this section. In 
accordance with section 116(a)(i)(4) of TFTEA, the term ``importer'' is 
defined as one of the parties that qualifies to be an importer of 
record under 19 U.S.C. 1484(a)(2)(B) and ``nonresident importer'' is 
defined as an importer of record that is not a citizen of the United 
States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the 
United States; or a partnership, corporation, or other commercial 
entity that is not organized under the laws of a jurisdiction within 
the customs territory of the United States (as such term is defined in 
General Note 2 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States) 
or in the Virgin Islands of the United States.\5\ The definition of the 
term ``client'' is the importer or nonresident importer of record who 
is seeking or employing the services of a customs broker to transact 
customs business on behalf of the importer or nonresident importer of 
record. The definition of the term ``grantor'' is the individual 
executing the power of attorney on behalf of the client.
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    \5\ We note that the definition for ``nonresident importer'' 
provided by Congress in section 116 of TFTEA differs from the 
definition of ``nonresident'' in 19 CFR 141.31 governing POAs. CBP 
does not discuss these differences in this notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) because the differing definitions of ``resident'' 
and ``nonresident'' in 19 CFR part 141 do not influence whether a 
broker is required to obtain a POA from a client on behalf of which 
it transacts customs business.
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A. Minimum Information That the Customs Broker Is Required To Collect 
From the Client

    Proposed paragraph (c) of section 111.43 identifies the information 
that the customs broker is required to collect from the client at the 
time the POA is obtained by the broker. The broker collects this 
information to verify the client's identity.
    At the time the POA is obtained by the broker, the broker must 
collect, at a minimum, the following information from the client, if 
applicable:
    (1) The client's name;
    (2) For a client who is an individual, the client's date of birth;

[[Page 40305]]

    (3) For a client that is a partnership, corporation, or 
association, the grantor's date of birth;
    (4) For a client that is a partnership, corporation, or 
association, the client's trade or fictitious names;
    (5) The address of the client's physical location (for a client 
that is a partnership, corporation, or association, the physical 
location would be the client's headquarters) and telephone number;
    (6) The client's email address and business website;
    (7) A copy of the grantor's unexpired government-issued photo 
identification;
    (8) The client's Internal Revenue Service (IRS) number, employer 
identification number (EIN), or importer of record (IOR) number;
    (9) The client's publicly available business identification number 
(e.g., Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, etc.);
    (10) A recent credit report;
    (11) A copy of the client's business registration and license with 
state authorities; and
    (12) The grantor's authorization to execute power of attorney on 
behalf of client.
    The broker must collect all the information that is applicable to 
that particular client. Some information might not be applicable to a 
client depending on whether the client is an individual, partnership, 
corporation, or association. For example, a small business might not 
have a business website; or a client who is an individual would not 
have a business registration and license with state authorities or a 
publicly available business identification number. Additionally, if 
certain foreign jurisdictions do not provide credit reports, the broker 
is not required to collect a recent credit report from that client.
    Under current practice, most brokers already collect all of the 
above applicable information from the client in the ordinary course of 
business. Most brokers currently require this information to ensure 
that the client is not concealing his or her identity, misusing another 
business owner's identity, or using a shell or shelf corporation to 
further a business fraud scheme. By requiring all of the applicable 
information above from all of the broker's clients, the proposed rule 
would also eliminate the ability of prospective clients to ``broker 
shop.''

B. Procedures That a Customs Broker Is Required To Perform To Verify 
the Information Collected

    CBP is proposing procedures for a customs broker to use to verify 
the authenticity of the information collected from its clients. 
Proposed paragraph (d) of section 111.43 requires customs brokers to 
verify all the information collected from the client, under proposed 
paragraph (c), to ensure accurate identification of the client.
    As explained in Section A. above, the broker must collect all the 
information set forth in proposed paragraph (c) that is applicable to 
that client. The broker would be required to verify each of the data 
points (i.e. client's name, address, etc.) that the broker collects 
from that particular client. The means of verification that the customs 
broker uses for each data point, however, are at the broker's 
discretion. There are various methods of verification that would 
satisfy CBP's requirement that the broker verify each data point that 
the broker collects. The means of verification that CBP recommends for 
each data point are set forth below and include in-person verification, 
review of the proper evidence of the grantor's authorization to execute 
the POA, and/or research performed using various federal agency, state 
government, and publicly available data sources. The broker must use as 
many of the recommended verification means as necessary to be 
reasonably certain of the client's identity.
    In addition to verifying each data point collected, the broker 
would be required to check if the client is a sanctioned or restricted 
person or entity, or if the client is suspended or debarred from doing 
business with the U.S. Government.
    Under the proposed rule, for any prospective client, the customs 
broker would be required to perform this verification before 
transacting customs business on the client's behalf. For existing 
clients with a POA issued by a partnership, brokers would have two 
years to verify this information and three years for all other existing 
clients.
1. The Client's Name, Address, Telephone Number, Email Address, 
Business Website, Trade or Fictitious Names
    A customs broker could verify the client's name, address, telephone 
number, email, website, and trade or fictitious names, if applicable, 
through various means. A customs broker could use the Automated Broker 
Interface (ABI) to access ACE to verify a client's information. This 
means of verification is only available for a broker to access an 
existing client's information for transactions where the broker 
represented the client.
    The broker could alternatively check the client's unexpired 
government-issued photo identification, the state licensing database or 
use open-source mapping. Customs brokers may also conduct research 
using reputable business information databases, individual state 
databases, and credit reporting entities or any other public or private 
database which provides accurate, timely, and relevant information 
about the client.
    To verify the client's address, the broker could use various 
navigation and mapping functions available on public websites to verify 
the location. Warning signs could include an incomplete or inaccurate 
address, or providing only a post office box address. To verify the 
telephone number, the broker could verify whether the number is a 
landline as opposed to a cell phone and could use return call 
verification to ensure that the number is accurate. To verify the email 
address, the broker could ensure that there is a return email message.
    If applicable, the broker could visit the client's place of 
business in-person to verify its existence and the client's identity. 
During this in-person visit, the broker would be looking for any 
possible indication that the client's identity is not what he or she 
provided; that the business is defunct or nonexistent; or that the 
company is a shell or shelf company. To verify a business website, the 
broker could check the depth of the website, the business universal 
resource locator (URL), and the viability of any links provided.
2. The Client's or Grantor's Date of Birth
    There are various ways that a customs broker could verify the 
client's or grantor's date of birth. The broker could perform an in-
person review of the client's or grantor's unexpired government-issued 
photo identification to verify the date of birth. Alternatively, a 
broker could use individual state databases or open-source software.
3. The Grantor's Unexpired Government-Issued Photo Identification
    The customs broker can perform an in-person review of the grantor's 
unexpired government-issued photo identification such as a passport or 
driver's license. During this in-person verification, the broker would 
be looking for any possible indications that the grantor's identity is 
not what he or she provided, or that there is fraud. Alternatively, the 
broker may conduct research using reputable databases to establish the 
veracity of the government-issued photo identification.

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4. The Client's IRS Number, EIN, or IOR Number
    A customs broker could use federal government databases or the 
client's tax forms to verify the client's IRS, EIN, or IOR number. The 
broker could also use the ABI to access ACE to verify an existing 
client's IRS number, EIN, or IOR number. This means of verification is 
only available for a broker to access an existing client's information 
for transactions where the broker represented the client. 
Alternatively, the broker could conduct research using reputable public 
or private databases and websites, such as www.freeerisa.com, which is 
a private website that provides free access to all Employee Retirement 
Income Security Act (ERISA) form 5500s filed with the Department of 
Labor over the past two years.
5. The Client's Publicly Available Business Identification Number
    If the client provides a non-government issued business identifier, 
the broker can use the associated database to verify the relevant 
aspects of that client's identification. For example, if the client 
provides its DUNS number, the broker could use the Dun and Bradstreet 
website at www.DNB.com to verify the client's DUNS number, company 
name, address, and telephone number.
6. A Recent Credit Report
    To check the client's credit report, the broker would check with a 
nationally recognized credit reporting entity. When checking the 
client's credit report, warning signs could include declarations of 
bankruptcy, and any delayed payment history. If the client informs the 
broker that a credit report cannot be provided because its jurisdiction 
does not provide credit reports, the broker must verify this by 
checking the address of the client's physical location.
7. The Client's Business Registration and License With State 
Authorities
    A broker could use individual state databases to verify the 
business registration and license.
8. The Grantor's Authorization To Execute Power of Attorney on Behalf 
of Client
    A broker is required to confirm that the grantor has the authority 
to execute the POA. When a representative appears on behalf of the 
client, the representative would be required to provide evidence of his 
or her authorization to sign the POA. This evidence should be notarized 
whenever possible; however, the person whose signature is required is 
dependent on the type of business. To determine the type of evidence 
required, the broker would review the business's public filings, for 
example, the articles of incorporation, to determine who holds the key 
positions. For a corporation, the evidence would be a corporate officer 
providing certification on the entity's letterhead. For a limited 
liability company (LLC), the evidence would be the managing partner or 
member providing certification on the entity's letterhead. For a 
partnership, authorization would be the general and/or managing partner 
providing certification on the entity's letterhead. For a sole 
proprietorship or individual, evidence of authorization would consist 
of a certification, notarized by the sole proprietor or individual, 
stating that the representative was authorized to sign on behalf of the 
individual or the sole proprietor.
9. Check if the Client is a Sanctioned or Restricted Person or Entity 
by the U.S. Government or if the Client is Suspended or Debarred From 
Doing Business With the U.S. Government
    The broker would be required to check to determine if the client is 
a sanctioned or restricted person or entity, or if the client is 
suspended or debarred from doing business with the U.S. Government. The 
broker could check this information through any of the following 
websites: www.sam.gov, a U.S. government website that may be used to 
search public records for company registrations; https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Pages/default.aspx, which is 
a U.S. Department of Treasury website identifying Office of Foreign 
Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned companies and individuals; or https://build.export.gov/main/ecr/eg_main_023148, which is a consolidated 
screening list identifying entities that have been sanctioned by U.S. 
Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration.

C. Requirement To Implement Policies, Procedures and Internal Controls

    Proposed paragraph (e) of section 111.43 requires customs brokers 
to implement policies, procedures, and internal controls to verify a 
client's identity before transacting customs business on behalf of that 
client. While most customs brokers already have such policies, 
procedures, and internal controls in place to collect and verify this 
information, this requirement is to ensure that all brokers implement 
these policies, procedures, and internal controls so that brokers are 
required to collect the required information from the client, and to 
ensure that the broker has established policies and procedures to 
verify and reverify the information.

D. Recordkeeping Requirements

    Section 116 of TFTEA requires that the regulations also set minimum 
standards for customs brokers to maintain records of the information 
used to substantiate the client's identity. Accordingly, proposed 
paragraph (f) requires all customs brokers to make, retain, and update 
records containing the information the brokers collected to verify the 
client's identity.
1. Current Recordkeeping Requirements
    Customs brokers must make, retain, and update certain records of 
their transactions with their clients and must comply with all 
recordkeeping requirements. For customs brokers, the relevant 
recordkeeping provisions are in part 111 and part 163 and each broker 
must comply with the provisions of those parts when maintaining records 
that reflect on his or her transactions as a broker. 19 CFR 111.21 and 
163.2(d). Part 163 governs the maintenance, production, inspection, and 
examination of records, in general. Part 111 sets forth the specific 
recordkeeping requirements applicable to customs brokers, and the 
additional records that each customs broker must make and maintain, and 
make available for CBP examination.
    Pursuant to part 111, customs brokers are required to keep current 
records of account reflecting all their transactions as a broker, and 
keep and maintain copies of all correspondence and other records 
relating to their customs business. 19 CFR 111.21. A broker is not 
required to file a POA with CBP but must retain the POA as part of his 
or her records and make it available to representatives of the 
Department of Homeland Security (DHS).\6\ See 19 CFR 141.46. Customs 
brokers must maintain all these records for the required retention 
periods, in a manner that allows CBP to readily examine them, and 
pursuant to an allowable method of storage. See 19 CFR 111.25 and 
163.5. These records, except for POAs, must be retained for at least 
five years after the date of entry. See 19 CFR 111.23 and 163.4. POAs 
must be retained until

[[Page 40307]]

revoked, and revoked POAs and letters of revocation must be retained 
for five years after the date of revocation or for five years after the 
date the client ceases to be an ``active client'' as defined in section 
111.29(b)(2)(ii), whichever period is later. See 19 CFR 111.23 and 
163.4.
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    \6\ Subpart C of 19 CFR part 111 provides that the POA and other 
records must be made available to representatives of the Department 
of the Treasury; however, pursuant to the Homeland Security Act of 
2002 and Treasury Order No. 100-16 (Appendix to 19 CFR part 0), this 
was delegated to representatives of the Secretary of DHS as opposed 
to representatives of the Department of the Treasury. See Pub. L. 
107-296, 116 Stat. 2142.
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    The proposed regulations add additional records to 19 CFR part 111 
that the customs broker must make, retain, update, and have readily 
available for CBP examination.
2. Retention of Identification and Verification Records
    Proposed paragraphs (f)(1) and (2) of section 111.43 set forth the 
minimum identification and verification records that customs brokers 
must retain. At a minimum, customs brokers must retain the information 
required by proposed paragraph (c), including any identification 
records, which consists of the information presented to the broker used 
to identify the client as well as any certifications the client makes. 
Customs brokers must also retain verification records of the means and 
documents relied on to verify the client's identity as required by 
proposed paragraph (d) and each record must indicate which information 
required pursuant to proposed paragraph (c) was verified by those means 
and documents. At a minimum, for the verification records, customs 
brokers must retain descriptions of any documents relied upon, any non-
documentary methods, any results of measures undertaken, and any 
resolution of discrepancies as well as who performed the verification 
and the date the verification was performed. Brokers must indicate in 
the verification records which information required pursuant to 
proposed paragraph (c) was not collected from the client because it was 
inapplicable to that particular client.
3. Records Must Be Readily Available for CBP Examination
    The identification and verification records collected by the broker 
must be retained in accordance with 19 CFR 111.23 and be made available 
upon request by CBP for examination. The period of retention for the 
identification and verification records shall be the same as for POAs. 
See 19 CFR 111.23 and 163.4.
4. Updating the POA, Identification and Verification Records
    Proposed paragraph (f)(4) requires customs brokers to implement 
procedures to ensure the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, and 
relevancy of any POA and any information about the client. These 
procedures must include a requirement that customs brokers update their 
records annually with any changes to the client, POA, or the 
information in the records, and reverify the client's identity.
    The customs broker would update this information with new 
information or records received through either the client or through 
the broker's independent research. Customs brokers must update their 
information on an annual basis about any client and its business to 
ensure that the information they have is timely, accurate, complete, 
and relevant, and they must reverify the client's identity annually 
using the procedures set forth in proposed section 111.43(d). Depending 
on the client, maintaining the information could include setting up 
news alerts about the client, confirming with a client the accuracy of 
information, or setting up automatic searches in specific databases. 
This ensures the quality and integrity of the information in the POA, 
and in the identification and verification records.

E. Penalties for Failure To Meet the Requirements

    Section 116 of TFTEA amended section 641 of the Tariff Act of 1930 
(19 U.S.C. 1641) to authorize the Secretary, at his or her discretion, 
to hold any customs broker liable if the broker fails to collect the 
required information for a monetary penalty not to exceed $10,000 for 
each violation and to revoke or suspend a license or permit of the 
customs broker pursuant to the procedures set forth in section 641(d). 
Further, it holds that the penalty shall be assessed in the same manner 
and under the same procedures as the monetary penalties provided for in 
section 641(d)(2)(A). See 19 U.S.C. 1641(d)(2)(A). The provisions 
relating to assessment of a monetary penalty under sections 641(b)(6) 
and (d)(2)(A), Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1641(b)(6) and 
(d)(2)(A)), are set forth in 19 CFR 111, subpart E.
    Proposed paragraph (g) sets forth the conditions under which CBP 
may assess a monetary penalty and the maximum amount that a penalty may 
be assessed for. CBP may, at its discretion, assess a monetary penalty 
for a broker's failure to collect, verify, secure, retain, update, or 
make available for inspection the information in this section in an 
amount not to exceed $10,000 per client. CBP could also choose to 
revoke or suspend the customs broker's license or permit in accordance 
with 19 U.S.C. 1641(d)(2)(B).

F. Timing of Verifications

    Proposed paragraph (h) of section 111.43 provides the different 
timing requirements for verifications based on whether it is a 
prospective or existing client. This is to allow customs brokers that 
are not already collecting, verifying, and maintaining the information, 
additional time to start complying with the requirements for existing 
clients.
    For prospective clients, customs brokers would be required to 
comply with proposed 19 CFR 111.43 as of the effective date of the 
final rule. A customs broker would not be permitted to begin 
transacting customs business on behalf of that client until the broker 
collected the required information and verified the client's identity. 
The broker would also be required to reverify the client's identity on 
an annual basis.
    For existing clients with a POA issued by a partnership, customs 
brokers would have two years from the effective date of the final rule 
to verify the client's identity, and to update the necessary 
identification and verification records. This is because, as discussed 
above, unlike all other POAs, a POA issued by a partnership is limited 
to a period not to exceed two years from the date of execution. See 19 
CFR 141.34. Brokers would have to reverify the client's identity on an 
annual basis after the initial verification.
    For all other existing clients, customs brokers would have three 
years from the effective date of the final rule to verify the client's 
identity, and to update the necessary identification and verification 
records. The three-year period is to allow brokers adequate time to 
verify existing client's identities pursuant to the new regulatory 
requirements taking into account the number of existing POAs and the 
number of hours per existing POA that the verification process will 
take (see Section IV. Executive Orders 13563, 12866, and 13771 for more 
detailed information). Brokers would have to reverify the client's 
identity on an annual basis after the initial verification.

IV. Executive Orders 13563, 12866, and 13771

    Executive Orders 13563 (``Improving Regulation and Regulatory 
Review'') and 12866 (``Regulatory Planning and Review'') direct 
agencies to assess the costs and benefits of available regulatory 
alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory 
approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, 
environmental, public health and safety effects, distributive impacts, 
and equity). Executive Order 13563

[[Page 40308]]

emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, of 
reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility. 
Executive Order 13771 (``Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory 
Costs'') directs agencies to reduce regulation and control regulatory 
costs and provides that ``for every one new regulation issued, at least 
two prior regulations be identified for elimination, and that the cost 
of planned regulations be prudently managed and controlled through a 
budgeting process.''
    This rule is not designated a ``significant regulatory action'' 
under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866. Accordingly, the rule has 
not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget. As this rule 
is not a significant regulatory action, it is exempt from the 
requirements of Executive Order 13771. See OMB's Memorandum titled 
``Guidance Implementing Executive Order 13771, Titled `Reducing 
Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs' '' (April 5, 2017). The 
regulatory amendments in this rule are the result of the Trade 
Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (TFTEA) (Pub. L. 114-
125). This rule's annualized net regulatory cost is $11.7 million using 
a 7 percent discount rate and 2017 U.S. dollars. CBP has prepared the 
following analysis to help inform stakeholders of the impacts of this 
proposed rule.

1. Need and Purpose of Rule

    CBP is one of several agencies that are responsible for issuing 
regulations governing the importation of goods into the United States. 
As this process is complex and involves compliance with numerous 
requirements ranging from agricultural safety to intellectual property 
rights, to the payment of appropriate duties and fees, CBP licenses 
customs brokers to assist importers with the importation process. As 
brokers are knowledgeable about the legal requirements and often have a 
great deal of visibility into their clients' businesses, they are key 
partners to CBP in preventing fraud and ensuring that the correct 
amount of revenue is collected. However, brokers' knowledge of their 
importer clients can vary as there is no current requirement that 
standardizes the collection and verification of broker's information 
about their clients. Most brokers verify their clients' information 
prior to conducting business with them, even absent a requirement to do 
so, but some do not and there is no universal standard for this 
verification. CBP has for many years provided guidance on this matter, 
but it is non-binding, and not all brokers follow it. We note that 
CBP's guidance closely follows industry best practice standards that 
many brokers have been following for years and CBP's guidance 
standardizes and publicizes the best practices. CBP does not have 
evidence indicating the guidance changed industry's behavior. As such, 
brokers who properly verify their importers impose a higher burden on 
themselves and their clients than brokers who do not properly verify 
their clients. Also, importers who intend to commit fraud or are 
otherwise reluctant to share their information likely gravitate toward 
brokers who do not thoroughly verify their clients' information. This 
puts brokers who properly verify importers' identities at a competitive 
disadvantage and makes it easier for fraudulent importers to remain 
undetected.
    Section 116, Customs Broker Identification of Importers, of TFTEA 
requires CBP to prescribe regulations governing the customs broker 
identification of importers. This proposed rule would satisfy this 
requirement by setting minimum standards for importers to provide the 
information and for customs brokers to collect this information and 
verify the identity of their importer or nonresident importer clients. 
The definition of the term ``client'' is the importer or nonresident 
importer of record who is seeking or employing the services of a 
customs broker to transact customs business on behalf of the importer 
or nonresident importer of record. The definition of the term 
``grantor'' is the individual executing the power of attorney on behalf 
of the client. This regulation would reduce fraud by helping to 
eliminate the use of shell or shelf companies, protect U.S. Government 
revenue, and ensure level competitiveness among brokers.

2. Background

    Each year, approximately 350,000 importers actively transact 
customs business with CBP through one of approximately 2,093 permitted 
customs brokers.\7\ By regulation, each importer is required to have a 
Power of Attorney (POA) with the broker before the broker may transact 
customs business on behalf of the client. In addition to assisting the 
importer with its filings, the broker has an important function in 
preventing fraud. As an importer's agent and CBP-licensed entity, the 
broker is uniquely situated to verify specific data on its importer and 
nonresident importer clients. The most timely and efficient way for a 
broker to request identity-verifying information is to do so at the 
point of the POA development. A valid POA is the written appointment of 
the broker as the true and lawful agent of the principal (i.e., client) 
allowed to transact ``customs business'' in the name of that principal. 
The broker's own professional business interest and continuing 
obligation to demonstrate reasonable care involves determining that a 
POA is valid. Currently, the information required for a valid POA is 
limited to:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ Source: Email correspondence with CBP's Broker Management 
Branch, Office of Trade [hereinafter referred to as CBP's Broker 
Management Branch], on August 15, 2017.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (1) A statement from the principal authorizing the broker to act as 
the principal's agent and for the customs broker to file entry/entry 
summary in the principal's name for a shipment;
    (2) The name of the individual or authorized representative of the 
sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation executing the POA; and
    (3) The name and address of the individual or business on whose 
behalf the POA is being executed.
    As noted previously, the vast majority of customs brokers verify 
their clients' identity and industry groups have established best 
practices for doing so over the years. While there is no current 
requirement for brokers to verify their client's information prior to 
transacting customs business on their behalf and only a limited amount 
of information is required for a valid POA, the majority of brokers 
currently require importers to provide them with certain additional 
information when a POA is obtained from an importer, which is used by 
the broker to verify the importer's existence and identity. This 
includes, but is not limited to, the registration of the importer's 
business with a state government and the Articles of Incorporation 
under which that business is formed. As this validation is important to 
prevent fraud and to protect a broker's business interests, CBP 
provides non-binding guidance on how brokers can validate importers 
when they obtain a POA. For example, CBP recommends that a broker 
should, whenever possible, do the following: \8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, ``Validating the 
Power of Attorney.'' Last published May 25, 2018. Available at 
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/customs-brokers/validating-power-attorney. Accessed May 31, 2018.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (1) Complete POAs in-person and review personal identification 
(driver's license, passport, etc.);
    (2) Check applicable websites to verify the business registration 
with State authorities;

[[Page 40309]]

    (3) Confirm business's trade or fictitious names that may appear on 
the POA;
    (4) Verify that the importer's name, importer number, and Employer 
Identification Number (EIN) (also known as the Federal Tax 
Identification Number) on the POA match what is in CBP's Automated 
Commercial Environment (ACE); and
    (5) Check whether an importer is named as a sanctioned or 
restricted person or entity by the U.S. Government.
    This proposed rule standardizes the process by which brokers verify 
the identities of their importer clients by requiring that the broker 
collect specified identity-verifying information from the client at the 
time the POA is obtained and mandating procedures for the broker to 
verify the importer client's identity. Since CBP has determined that it 
is most efficient for brokers to collect this information and verify at 
the time the POA is obtained, this analysis uses the number of POAs 
created and existing to determine when the importer client's identity 
must be verified pursuant to this proposed rule's requirements.
    According to CBP's Broker Management Branch and conversations with 
members of the trade community, including one of the major broker 
associations and some individual brokers, for the vast majority--about 
95 percent--of POAs obtained by brokers, the broker has sufficiently 
verified the importer client's identity, a process that takes about 2 
hours per POA.\9\ The 2 hour time burden can be divided into four major 
categories which include time for recordkeeping. Brokers who 
sufficiently verify their clients' identity spend approximately 40 
minutes to check state or local business status via appropriate 
channels, 20 minutes to check their clients' business profile via 
organizations such as Dun and Bradstreet,\10\ 40 minutes to access and 
review credit reports, and 20 minutes for internet research on the 
client's company. CBP requests comment on these estimates.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ Source: Email correspondence with CBP's Broker Management 
Branch on August 15, 2017, and numerous conversations with the trade 
in August 2017. The exact percentage of customs brokers that do not 
properly verify importers and nonresident importer clients is 
unknowable, as no broker will readily admit that it is not 
adequately verifying importer and nonresident importer information.
    \10\ Source: Dun and Bradstreet. Get a Dun & Bradstreet DUNS 
number. https://www.dnb.com/duns-number/get-a-duns.html. Accessed 
March 28, 2019.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CBP estimates that approximately 100,000 new POAs are created 
annually when an importer either enters into a relationship with a 
broker for the first time or the particulars of the POA change and a 
new one is needed.\11\ Therefore, CBP estimates that brokers currently 
spend approximately 190,000 hours per year validating 95 percent of the 
importer clients' identities at the time the POA is obtained. It also 
takes time for importers to provide their information to their brokers 
for a POA and the additional information required to verify the 
client's identity. Based on conversations with the trade community, CBP 
expects that it would take each importer approximately 1 hour to 
provide the broker with this verifying information. Accordingly, CBP 
estimates that importers currently spend approximately 95,000 hours per 
year gathering the necessary information to complete a POA and the 
additional information required to verify the client's identity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ Source: Email correspondence with CBP's Broker Management 
Branch on August 16, 2017, and March 27, 2018. The actual number of 
new POAs varies each year. In 2015, there were 84,520 new POAs, in 
2016 there were 101,945, and in 2017 there were 101,110.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Impacts of Rule

    CBP proposes to formalize the process by which customs brokers 
verify importers and nonresident importer clients. This proposed rule 
would require the broker to collect specified information from the 
importer client and for the broker to verify the information from 
importers before it begins working under a new POA allowing the broker 
to transact customs business on behalf of the client.\12\ In addition, 
within three years of the effective date of this proposed rule being 
finalized,\13\ brokers would also need to verify this information from 
existing clients.\14\ Additionally, brokers must continue to make and 
retain identification and verification records. This requirement would 
be enforceable according to the recordkeeping requirements of current 
broker regulations in 19 CFR part 111 and part 163. Finally, brokers 
will now be required to reverify the client's identity and update their 
records annually with any changes to the client, POA, or information in 
the records.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ Many brokers currently collect more information than what 
this proposed rule requires and they may continue to do so. This 
proposed rule simply establishes a minimum threshold of information 
that the client must provide and that the broker must verify.
    \13\ For any existing client with a POA issued by a partnership, 
the broker also must verify the client's identity. Existing clients 
with partnership POAs will need to have their identities verified 
within two years from the effective date of this proposed rule being 
finalized and reverified every year thereafter. However, according 
to subject matter experts from CBP's Broker Management Branch, 
partnership POAs represent less than 1% of active POAs, though we 
lack data on the precise number of partnership POAs. To the extent 
partnership POAs are affected, it will increase broker costs by a 
small amount because they may require verification sooner than 
estimated.
    \14\ Source: Email correspondence with CBP's Broker Management 
Branch on May 17, 2017.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The information that the customs broker would now be required to 
collect, at minimum, from the importer client under this proposed rule 
is as follows, if applicable:
     The client's name;
     For a client who is an individual, the client's date of 
birth;
     For a client that is a partnership, corporation, or 
association, the grantor's date of birth;
     For a client that is a partnership, corporation, or 
association, the client's trade or fictitious names;
     The address of the client's physical location (for a 
client that is a partnership, corporation, or association, the physical 
location would be the client's headquarters) and telephone number;
     The client's email address and business website;
     A copy of the grantor's unexpired government-issued photo 
identification;
     The client's Internal Revenue Service (IRS) number, 
Employer Identification Number (EIN), or Importer of Record (IOR) 
number;
     The client's publicly available business identification 
number (e.g., DUNS number, etc.);
     A recent credit report;
     A copy of the client's business registration and license 
with state authorities; and
     The grantor's authorization to execute power of attorney 
on behalf of client.
    Importer clients can obtain a DUNS number without cost and already 
report their DUNS number on CBP Form 5106. Brokers can verify the DUNS 
number online for free. The time it takes to do this is included in the 
estimated time to verify an importer client's information.
    The broker must collect all the information that is applicable to 
that particular client. Some information might not be applicable to a 
client depending on whether the client is an individual, partnership, 
corporation or association. For example, a small business might not 
have a business website; and a client who is an individual would not 
have a business registration and license with state authorities or a 
publicly available business identification number. Additionally, 
certain foreign jurisdictions do not provide credit reports; 
accordingly, if the address of

[[Page 40310]]

the client's physical location is located in one of those 
jurisdictions, the broker is not required to collect a recent credit 
report from that client.
    Once customs brokers collect this data from importers and 
nonresident importers, brokers would need to check to determine whether 
the importer client is named as a sanctioned or restricted person or 
entity by the U.S. Government, or if the client is suspended or 
debarred from doing business with the U.S. Government, and would need 
to verify all the information collected from the importer client using 
various federal agency, state government, and publicly available data 
sources. The means of verification are at the customs broker's 
discretion. The broker must use as many of the recommended verification 
means as necessary to be reasonably certain as to the client's 
identity. Some of the tools that are recommended for verifying this 
information include:
     A check of the appropriate websites to determine whether 
the client is named as a sanctioned or restricted person or entity by 
the U.S. Government, or if the client is suspended or debarred from 
doing business with the U.S. Government;
     An in-person review of the grantor's unexpired government-
issued identification;
     An in-person client meeting;
     An in-person visit of the client's place of business;
     A review of the client's Articles of Incorporation; and
     A query of publicly available information, business 
information and credit reporting entities, Federal, state, and local 
databases or websites and any other relevant trade or business sources.
    As previously stated, conscientious brokers already require 
information from the importer or nonresident importer client in order 
to verify the client's identity. According to CBP's Broker Management 
Branch and conversations with the trade community, for approximately 5 
percent of POAs, the brokers do not require most or any of this 
additional information and the importer clients' identities are not 
currently verified or are only minimally verified.\15\ As a result of 
this rule, all brokers will be required to verify all of the specified 
information collected from the client to verify the client's existence 
and identity for all POAs granted by importers and nonresident importer 
clients and this information will need to be reverified annually. CBP 
analyzes the costs and benefits of these new requirements over a 5-year 
period of analysis spanning from 2019 to 2023.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ Source: Email correspondence with CBP's Broker Management 
Branch on August 15, 2017. The exact percentage of customs brokers 
that do not properly verify importers and nonresident importer 
clients is unknowable because no broker will readily admit that it 
is not adequately verifying importer and nonresident importer 
information.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Costs

Costs to Brokers
    Brokers currently have approximately 350,000 POAs with importer 
clients, for which brokers would now need to verify the client's 
identity under this rule within three years of the effective date of 
this proposed rule being finalized. CBP assumes that brokers would 
verify the importer client's identity for one-third of these existing 
POAs each year beginning in 2019--or about 116,666 each year from 2019 
to 2021--to satisfy this rule's new verification requirement (see Table 
1).\16\ These existing verifications would each take approximately 2 
hours and can be divided into four distinct time-burden categories that 
were identified earlier.17 18 There is a time cost of $59.52 
each, according to CBP's assumed hourly time value for customs brokers 
of $29.76.19 20 Based on the historical number of POAs 
created each year, CBP estimates that 100,000 new POAs would be created 
each year between 2019 and 2023 (see Table 1). CBP estimates that in 
the absence of this rule, brokers would have verified 95 percent of the 
importer clients' identities for new POAs--or 95,000 POAs--while the 
remaining 5 percent--or 5,000--new POAs would have the clients' 
identities go unverified based on historical estimates. According to 
CBP's Broker Management Branch, this rule's verification requirements 
would not increase the time burden for the 95 percent of instances 
where brokers verify the importer client's identity for each new POA. 
The specific information brokers currently require may be different 
than the information required under this rule, but we estimate that it 
takes approximately two hours to verify either set of data. As such, 
this rule will have no additional time burden to do the initial 
validation of the importer client's identity for the POA. The remaining 
5 percent of brokers who do not currently verify the client's identity 
would incur a two-hour time burden for the verification of the importer 
client's identity for a POA under this rule,\21\ at an added time cost 
of $59.52 per new POA according to CBP's assumed hourly time value for 
customs brokers.\22\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ Source: Email correspondence with CBP's Broker Management 
Branch on August 15, 2017.
    \17\ The two hours includes the time to implement policies, 
procedures and internal controls for identity verification, and to 
keep records containing the information used to verify the importer.
    \18\ Source: Email correspondence with CBP's Broker Management 
Branch on August 15, 2017.
    \19\ 2-hour time burden for broker to verify information of the 
client's identity for an existing POA x $29.76 hourly time value for 
customs brokers = $59.52 time cost.
    \20\ CBP bases the $29.76 hourly time value for customs brokers 
on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) 2017 median hourly wage 
rate for Cargo and Freight Agents ($20.11), which CBP assumes best 
represents the wage for brokers, by the ratio of BLS' average 2017 
total compensation to wages and salaries for Office and 
Administrative Support occupations (1.4801), the assumed 
occupational group for brokers, to account for non-salary employee 
benefits, and rounded. Source of median wage rate: U.S. Bureau of 
Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment Statistics, ``May 2017 
National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, United States--
Median Hourly Wage by Occupation Code: 43-5011.'' Updated March 30, 
2018. Available at https://www.bls.gov/oes/2017/may/oes_nat.htm#43-0000 . Accessed March 26, 2019. The total compensation to wages and 
salaries ratio is equal to the calculated average of the 2017 
quarterly estimates (shown under Mar., June, Sep., Dec.) of the 
total compensation cost per hour worked for Office and 
Administrative Support occupations divided by the calculated average 
of the 2017 quarterly estimates (shown under Mar., June, Sep., Dec.) 
of wages and salaries cost per hour worked for the same occupation 
category. Source of total compensation to wages and salaries ratio 
data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employer Costs for Employee 
Compensation. Employer Costs for Employee Compensation Historical 
Listing March 2004-December 2018, ``Table 3. Civilian workers, by 
occupational group: Employer costs per hours worked for employee 
compensation and costs as a percentage of total compensation, 2004-
2018 by Respondent Type: Office and administrative support 
occupations.'' Available at https://www.bls.gov/web/ecec/ececqrtn.pdf. Accessed March 26, 2019.
    \21\ Source: Email correspondence with CBP's Broker Management 
Branch in March 2018. The 100,000 figure is a rounded average of the 
number of POAs that were filed in 2015 (84,520), 2016 (101,945), and 
2017 (101,110).
    \22\ 2-hour added time burden for broker to verify information 
of the importer's identity for a new POA x $29.76 hourly time value 
for customs brokers = $59.52 time cost.

[[Page 40311]]



                    Table 1--Projected Number of POAs Requiring Broker Verification With Rule
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Existing POAs     New POAs       Total POAs
                                                                     requiring       requiring       requiring
                              Year                                   identity-       identity-       identity-
                                                                   verification    verification    verification
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019............................................................         116,667           5,000         121,667
2020............................................................         116,667           5,000         121,667
2021............................................................         116,666           5,000         121,667
2022............................................................               0           5,000           5,000
2023............................................................               0           5,000           5,000
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................         350,000          25,000         375,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To estimate the total time cost for brokers to verify existing 
importer clients' identities, CBP multiplies the projected number of 
existing POAs requiring identity-verification during the period of 
analysis shown in Table 1 by the $59.52 time cost to complete each 
identity-verification of an existing client by measuring the existing 
POAs. Accordingly, CBP finds that brokers would incur undiscounted 
costs totaling $20.8 million to verify existing clients' identities 
from 2019 to 2023 following this rule's implementation (see Table 2). 
Brokers who do not already conduct client identity verifications would 
sustain a total time cost of $1.5 million for verification of the 
importer client's identity based on their $59.52 added time burden and 
their projected number of client identities verified measured by the 
number of projected POAs over the period of analysis (see Table 1 and 
Table 2). Altogether, the total undiscounted cost of this rule to 
brokers would measure $22.3 million from 2019 to 2023.

         Table 2--Total Cost for Brokers To Verify Client's Identity for Existing and New POAs With Rule
                                        [Undiscounted 2017 U.S. dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Total time
                                                                                                     cost for
                                                                   Time cost to    Time cost to     brokers to
                              Year                                    verify        verify new        verify
                                                                   existing POAs       POAs        existing and
                                                                                                     new POAs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019............................................................      $6,944,020        $297,600      $7,241,620
2020............................................................       6,944,020         297,600       7,241,620
2021............................................................       6,944,020         297,600       7,241,620
2022............................................................               0         297,600         297,600
2023............................................................               0         297,600         297,600
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................      20,832,000       1,488,000      22,320,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additionally, as a result of this rule, customs brokers will need 
to update their records and reverify on an annual basis that the POA 
information, and the identification and verification records for their 
importer clients is accurate. According to CBP's Broker Management 
Branch, there are approximately 350,000 active importers of record 
(IORs) in any given year and that is not expected to change 
significantly--on average any new IORs are offset by IORs that become 
inactive.\23\ Brokers will now have to verify all 350,000 existing 
client's identities as measured by the existing POAs within three years 
of the effective date of this proposed rule being finalized and 
reverify the client's identity annually thereafter. As discussed 
earlier, we expect brokers to do the initial verification evenly over 
the course of the first three years (see Table 1). The reverifications, 
then, will lag the initial verifications by a year. As the new 
importers are offset by importers who become inactive, brokers will 
need to reverify 350,000 existing clients' identities each year, after 
the initial 3-year verification window. Table 3 shows the number of 
verifications we estimate for each year. These verifications would each 
take approximately 45 minutes (.75 hours) to complete,\24\ at a time 
cost of $22.32 each, according to CBP's assumed hourly time value for 
customs brokers of $29.76.\25\ Table 3 shows the estimated costs of 
this reverification. The total undiscounted cost to verify and update 
recordkeeping requirements for existing and prospective clients as 
measured by existing and new POAs is $23,436,022 over the period of the 
analysis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ Source: Email correspondence with CBP's Broker Management 
Branch on April 12, 2018.
    \24\ Source: Email correspondence with CBP's Broker Management 
Branch on March 20, 2018.
    \25\ 0.75-hour time burden for broker to verify information of 
the importer client's identity for an existing POA x $29.76 hourly 
time value for customs brokers = $22.32 time cost.

   Table 3--Total Cost for Brokers To Verify and Update Recordkeeping
           Requirements for Existing and New Clients With Rule
                    [Undiscounted 2017 U.S. dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Total POAs
                                             requiring      Total time
                  Year                        annual          cost to
                                          reverification   reverify POAs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019....................................               0              $0
2020....................................         116,667       2,604,007
2021....................................         233,334       5,208,015
2022....................................         350,000       7,812,000
2023....................................         350,000       7,812,000
                                         -------------------------------
  Total.................................       1,050,000      23,436,022
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Costs to Importers
    In addition to its costs to brokers, this rule would impose costs 
on the broker's existing and prospective importer clients now required 
to provide additional identity-verifying data to brokers for their 
existing and new POAs. Based on conversations with the trade

[[Page 40312]]

community, CBP assumes that each existing POA corresponds to a unique 
importer of record.\26\ As a result, CBP estimates that 350,000 
existing importer clients would provide identity-verifying data to 
brokers for 350,000 existing POAs within three years of the effective 
date of this proposed rule being finalized (see Table 1). CBP expects 
that it would take each importer approximately one hour to provide the 
broker with this identity-verifying information, at a time cost of 
$29.76 according to CBP's assumed hourly time value for importers of 
$29.76.27 28 Considering this time cost and the projected 
number of existing POAs where the importer's identity must be verified 
during the period of analysis (see Table 1), CBP finds that importers 
would incur a total cost of $10.4 million to provide identity-verifying 
information to their brokers for existing POAs (see Table 4). For new 
POAs where the importer's identity must be verified, CBP estimates that 
importers already provide most of the additional identity-verifying 
information required in this rule to brokers for 95 percent--or 
95,000--of new POAs each year. As stated above, while the specific 
information brokers require currently may vary, it is generally very 
similar to what this rule requires that the brokers collect. Hence, CBP 
assumes these importers would not incur an added burden to provide 
identity-verifying information to their brokers with this rule beyond 
what they already bear. For the remaining 5 percent--or 5,000--of POAs 
where the importer's identity is not currently verified, this rule 
would require brokers to collect such information from their clients. 
Like with existing POAs, CBP believes that it would take each importer 
approximately one hour to provide the broker with this identity-
verifying information, at a time cost of $29.76 according to CBP's 
assumed hourly time value for importers of $29.76.\29\ By applying this 
time cost to the 5,000 new POAs where the importer's identity would not 
be verified absent this rule, CBP estimates that some importers would 
sustain undiscounted costs totaling $0.7 million over the period of 
analysis from this rule's identity-verifying data submission 
requirement (see Table 4). In all, this rule would impose undiscounted 
costs of $11.2 million on importers between 2019 and 2023, as 
illustrated in Table 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ Some importers have several importer of record numbers, but 
each requires its own POA.
    \27\ 1-hour time burden for importer to provide broker with the 
required information to verify the importer's identity for an 
existing POA x $29.76 hourly time value for importers = $29.76 time 
cost.
    \28\ CBP bases the $29.76 hourly time value for importers on the 
Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) 2017 median hourly wage rate for 
Cargo and Freight Agents ($20.11), which CBP assumes best represents 
the wage for importers, by the ratio of BLS' average 2017 total 
compensation to wages and salaries for Office and Administrative 
Support occupations (1.4801), the assumed occupational group for 
importers, to account for non-salary employee benefits, and rounded. 
Source of median wage rate: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 
Occupational Employment Statistics, ``May 2017 National Occupational 
Employment and Wage Estimates, United States--Median Hourly Wage by 
Occupation Code: 43-5011.'' Updated March 30, 2018. Available at 
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm. Accessed March 26, 
2019. The total compensation to wages and salaries ratio is equal to 
the calculated average of the 2017 quarterly estimates (shown under 
Mar., June, Sep., Dec.) of the total compensation cost per hour 
worked for Office and Administrative Support occupations divided by 
the calculated average of the 2017 quarterly estimates (shown under 
Mar., June, Sep., Dec.) of wages and salaries cost per hour worked 
for the same occupation category. Source of total compensation to 
wages and salaries ratio data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 
Employer Costs for Employee Compensation. Employer Costs for 
Employee Compensation Historical Listing March 2004-December 2018, 
``Table 3. Civilian workers, by occupational group: employer costs 
per hours worked for employee compensation and costs as a percentage 
of total compensation, 2004-2017 by Respondent Type: Office and 
administrative support occupations.'' Available at https://www.bls.gov/web/ecec/ececqrtn.pdf. Accessed March 26, 2019.
    \29\ 1-hour time burden for importer to provide broker with 
information to verify the importer's identity for a new POA x $29.76 
hourly time value for importers = $29.76 time cost.

    Table 4--Total Cost for Importers To Provide Identity-Verifying Data for Existing and New POAs With Rule
                                        [Undiscounted 2017 U.S. dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Total time
                                                                   Time cost for                     cost for
                                                                     existing      Time cost for   importers to
                                                                   importers to    new importers   provide data
                              Year                                    provide       to provide          for
                                                                  verifying data     data for      verification
                                                                   for existing    verification     of existing
                                                                       POAs                        and new POAs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019............................................................      $3,472,010        $148,800      $3,620,810
2020............................................................       3,472,010         148,800       3,620,810
2021............................................................       3,471,980         148,800       3,620,810
2022............................................................               0         148,800         148,800
2023............................................................               0         148,800         148,800
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................      10,416,000         744,000      11,160,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Brokers are required to obtain recent credit reports from their 
client importers for use in the verification process. We next estimate 
the cost of running credit reports to the importer. It is common 
practice among businesses to periodically run their own credit report, 
so we expect most importers to simply provide the broker with a 
previously run credit report. For the purposes of this analysis, we 
again assume that 95% of importers are already providing their credit 
report to the broker or that they routinely run their own credit report 
for their own purposes. There is not a financial cost to these 
importers.\30\ The remaining 5 percent or approximately 5,000 importers 
will incur a costs by purchasing credit reports with credit scores from 
each of the credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and Transunion). The 
three reports costs approximately $40.\31\ Table 5 shows the costs to 
importers working with brokers not currently accessing free credit 
reports from their clients.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \30\ Source: Communication with CBP's Broker Management Branch 
on March 23, 2019, and numerous conversations with the trade in 
August 2017. During the March 23, 2019 discussion with the Broker 
Management Branch, the branch noted that there can be a cost to 
brokers for collecting credit reports that range between $35 to $50 
depending on the source.
    \31\ Source: Experian. Consumer Products. https://www.experian.com/consumer-products/experian-equifax-transunion-credit-report-and-score.html. Accessed March 27, 2019.

[[Page 40313]]



              Table 5--Cost of Credit Report for Importers
                    [Undiscounted 2017 U.S. dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             New POAs
                                             requiring     Credit report
                  Year                       identity-         costs
                                           verification
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019....................................           5,000        $200,000
2020....................................           5,000         200,000
2021....................................           5,000         200,000
2022....................................           5,000         200,000
2023....................................           5,000         200,000
                                         -------------------------------
  Total.................................          25,000       1,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total Costs
    Table 6 summarizes the costs of this rule to brokers and importers. 
Altogether, this rule would impose a total undiscounted cost of $57.9 
million on the trade community from 2019 to 2023.

          Table 6--Total Cost of Rule to Brokers and Importers
                    [Undiscounted 2017 U.S. dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Total cost of
                          Year                              importer ID
                                                               rule
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019....................................................     $11,062,430
2020....................................................      13,666,437
2021....................................................      16,270,355
2022....................................................       8,458,400
2023....................................................       8,458,400
                                                         ---------------
  Total.................................................      57,916,022
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    When discounted, as shown in Table 7, this cost would measure $51.4 
million in present value and $11.7 million on an annualized basis 
(using a 7 percent discount rate and 2017 U.S. dollars).

  Table 7--Total Monetized Present Value and Annualized Costs of Rule,
                                2019-2023
                           [2017 U.S. dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            3% Discount     7% Discount
                                               rate            rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Present Value Cost......................     $54,922,999     $51,403,406
Annualized Cost.........................      11,643,386      11,716,647
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The estimates in this table are contingent upon CBP's projections
  as well as the discount rates applied.

5. Benefits

    Most brokers are already verifying the identity of their 
prospective clients when they begin their business relationship, but 
there are some who do not. Based on conversations with the broker 
community, CBP estimates that five percent of importers' identities are 
not currently verified or are only minimally verified. Those who do not 
wish to be thoroughly verified sometimes ``broker shop'' for a broker 
that does not require the same amount of verifying information. While 
some importers simply do not want to share more information with their 
brokers than is required, others intend to commit fraud and import 
illicit and/or counterfeit goods into the United States. These 
fraudulent importers seek out brokers who do not ask for verifying 
information in order to use a shell or shelf company to import 
fraudulent goods into the United States. When the customs broker or CBP 
discovers the illegal activities and attempts to penalize the shell or 
shelf company, it disappears. By formalizing the verification process 
for importers and requiring that it be carried out every year, this 
proposed rule would help prevent the use of shell or shelf companies by 
importers who attempt to commit fraud against the United States.
    The fraud this proposed rule is intended to prevent can take a 
number of forms. It can range from misclassifying merchandise to avoid 
duties to intellectual property rights (IPR) violations, to 
antidumping/countervailing duty (AD/CVD) infractions, to the 
importation of unsafe merchandise. CBP believes that this proposed rule 
would improve brokers' knowledge of the importers. This improved broker 
knowledge could allow for commercial fraud prevention and revenue 
protection. According to CBP's Broker Management Branch, from 
approximately 2007 to 2017, there was about $3.3 billion in uncollected 
duties related to AD/CVD violations by shell companies. Fifteen percent 
of these business entities are out of business. Their business model is 
to open, import merchandise subject to AD/CVD for a short period of 
time, and then shut down operations and disappear to avoid paying the 
required duties.\32\ As CBP cannot find the party responsible for 
importing, the duties can remain unpaid forever. Similarly, these shell 
companies frequently engage in the trade of counterfeit and pirated 
goods. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development 
estimates that counterfeit and pirated products accounted for as much 
as $461 billion dollars in world trade in 2013.\33\ This proposed rule 
will help prevent companies from engaging in these types of fraud 
because they will need to share real, verified information with their 
broker, which will make it much more difficult for those liable to 
disappear.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ Source: Email correspondent with CBP's Broker Management 
Branch on April 20, 2018.
    \33\ Source: Trade in Counterfeit and Pirated Goods: Mapping the 
Economic Impact. Accessed April 25, 2018. https://www.oecd.org/industry/global-trade-in-fake-goods-worth-nearly-half-a-trillion-dollars-a-year.htm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    When shell or shelf companies importing goods into the United 
States do disappear before paying outstanding customs bills for duties, 
taxes and fees, CBP must collect the outstanding debt from sureties who 
issue bonds for the imported merchandise. The amount of duties, taxes, 
and fees that CBP may collect from sureties is limited by the value of 
the bond. In some instances, the bond value is insufficient to cover 
all outstanding duties, taxes, and fees owed by the importer. 
Consequently, there is a loss of revenue for CBP. At the same time, 
sureties incur additional costs to cover the duties, taxes, and fees 
collected against the bonds. This proposed rule will allow brokers to 
more effectively vet importers and reduce the number of bad actors. 
This will decrease revenue loss for the government and reduce costs 
incurred by sureties.
    Reducing fraud by shell or shelf companies is a benefit to all 
parts of the economy. The United States Government would benefit by 
collecting the appropriate revenue for imported merchandise. To the 
extent that it avoids fruitless enforcement actions against shell or 
shelf companies that disappear, it would also save on

[[Page 40314]]

enforcement costs. Brokers would benefit as they would have better 
knowledge of their importers and would be better able to avoid engaging 
in business with fraudulent companies. Brokers would also benefit 
through the leveling of the playing field in obtaining new clients or 
retaining current clients. Currently, brokers who properly verify their 
importer client's identity when the POA is obtained incur costs 
verifying the importer's identity and can lose customers to brokers who 
do not ask importers for information to verify their identity. This 
proposed rule would eliminate the opportunity to ``broker shop'' for a 
broker that does not require as much identifying information from the 
importers. The larger trade community would benefit from this proposed 
rule as it would reduce identity theft, the number of counterfeit or 
IPR-violative imports, and it would help enforce AD/CVD laws. The 
American public would benefit through any reduction in unsafe 
merchandise that results from this proposed rule. Finally, this 
proposed rule fulfills the congressional mandate in TFTEA that CBP 
issue regulations governing the broker identification of importers.

V. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), as amended 
by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement and Fairness Act of 1996, 
requires agencies to assess the impact of regulations on small 
entities. A small entity may be a small business (defined as any 
independently owned and operated business not dominant in its field 
that qualifies as a small business per the Small Business Act); a small 
not-for-profit organization; or a small governmental jurisdiction 
(locality with fewer than 50,000 people).
    This proposed rule will affect all customs brokers and IORs. The 
vast majority of customs brokers and importers are small businesses, so 
this rule would have an impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. However, these impacts will not be significant. As stated 
above, as a result of this rule, brokers would need to collect 
identity-verifying information from both their existing importer 
clients and prospective importer clients within three years of the 
effective date of this proposed rule being finalized.\34\ CBP estimates 
that the monetized value of time spent by importers to provide this 
data costs $29.76 per POA. Additionally about five percent of importers 
not currently working with brokers requesting credit reports with 
scores might incur a $40 fee, as noted above. CBP does not consider the 
time cost of $29.76 and possibly a $40 fee to be a significant cost to 
importers. It is possible that some importers may have more than one 
IOR number and therefore more than one POA where their identity would 
need to be verified, but that is less likely for small businesses. We 
note that even in an extreme case where a small business has 10 POAs 
for each of its IOR numbers, the time cost would be only $297.60 (or 
even less if there are efficiencies in submitting similar information 
multiple times) with a possible $40 credit report fee, which CBP also 
does not consider a significant impact.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \34\ For any existing client with a POA issued by a partnership, 
the broker also must verify the client's identity. Existing clients 
with partnership POAs will need to have their identities verified 
within two years from the effective date of this proposed rule being 
finalized and reverified every year thereafter. However, according 
to subject matter experts from CBP's Broker Management Branch, 
partnership POAs represent less than 1% of active POAs, though we 
lack data on the precise number of partnership POAs. To the extent 
partnership POAs are affected, it will increase broker costs by a 
small amount.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Brokers would incur costs associated with verifying their importer 
client's identity whether they are prospective or existing clients. 
Above, as seen in Tables 2 and 3 we estimate that in the most costly 
year (2021), 2,093 permitted brokers bear total costs of $12,449,635 
for an average of $5,948.22 per permitted broker. However, it is 
unlikely that the burden is spread evenly among brokers; those with 
more clients would need to verify more importer clients' identities, so 
their costs would be higher. To estimate the burden per broker and to 
assess whether the burden is significant, we will go through the 
following steps:
     Estimate the number of small brokers in various revenue 
categories.
     Per each category of brokers, estimate the additional 
number of POAs for which brokers will need to verify the importer 
client's identity.
     Estimate the cost per permitted broker of these 
verifications.
     Estimate the ratio of costs to annual revenue to assess 
whether the costs are significant.
    To estimate the number of small brokers in different size 
categories, we use data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The U.S. Census 
Bureau categorizes customs brokers under the North American Industry 
Classification System (NAICS) code 488510, which also includes other 
businesses such as freight forwarders.\35\ The Small Business 
Administration (SBA) considers a business entity classified under the 
488510 NAICS code as small if it has less than $15 million in annual 
receipts.\36\ As shown in Table 8, 95 percent of businesses classified 
under this NAICS code are small businesses. For the purposes of this 
analysis, we will assume that all brokers are small businesses. To the 
extent some are not, the impact on small businesses will be smaller 
than estimated in this analysis. We estimate the number of firms in 
each revenue category by allocating the 2,093 permitted brokers 
proportionally to the number of total firms in the NAICS code.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ Source: U.S. Census. https://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/sssd/naics/naicsrch?code=488510&search=2012%20NAICS%20Search. Accessed 
August 8, 2018.
    \36\ Source: U.S. Small Business Administration. Table of Small 
Business Size Standards Matched to North American Industry 
Classification System Codes. https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/Size_Standards_Table_2017.pdf. Accessed March 21, 2019.

                               Table 8--Business Entity Data for NAICS Code 488510
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Estimated
                                                                  Number of                          number of
                Annual revenue ($) (midpoint)                       firms            Small           permitted
                                                                                                      brokers
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<100,000 (50,000)............................................           2,195                Yes             323
100,000-499,999 (300,000)....................................           4,935                Yes             727
500,000-999,999 (750,000)....................................           2,330                Yes             343
1,000,000-2,499,999 (1,750,000)..............................           2,429                Yes             358
2,500,000-4,999,999 (3,750,000)..............................           1,208                Yes             178
5,000,000-7,499,999 (6,250,000)..............................             540                Yes              80
7,500,000-9,999,999 (8,750,000)..............................             284                Yes              42
10,000,000-14,999,999 (12,500,000)...........................             282                Yes              42

[[Page 40315]]

 
>15,000,000..................................................             815                 No               0
                                                              --------------------------------------------------
    Total....................................................          15,018  * (14,203/15,018)           2,093
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. 2012 SUSB Annual Data Tables by Establishment Industry. https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2012/econ/susb/2012-susb-annual.html.
* 95 percent are small.

    Now that we have estimated the number of permitted brokers in each 
size category, we estimate how much of each type of IOR verification 
will be done by brokers in each category. We use total annual revenue 
as a proxy for the number of clients (IORs) each broker has. While 
cases may exist where a broker generates a lot of revenue from just a 
few IORs or conversely that a broker generates little revenue from many 
IORs, on average we expect that the number of clients is well 
correlated with the broker's revenue. To estimate total revenue for 
each size category, we use the category's revenue midpoint. We 
determine the different types of client identities that need to be 
verified as existing importer clients; clients that need their POAs, 
information and records to be annually reverified and updated; and 
prospective clients, and we allocate these to the different types of 
POAs (existing POAs requiring identity-verification, POAs needing 
annual verification, and new POAs needing identity-verification) 
proportionally to the total revenue for each size category. Table 9 
shows the number of brokers in each revenue category, their total 
revenue, and the number of each type of POA for which the brokers would 
need to verify the importer client's identity under this proposed rule. 
Note that we present estimates for 2021, which is the most costly year 
for brokers.

                                     Table 9--POAs by Size Category in 2021
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Estimated                                    POAs requiring     New POAs
  Annual revenue ($) (midpoint)      number of     Total revenue   Existing POAs      annual         requiring
                                      brokers         (000 ')                     reverification   verification
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<100,000 (50,000)...............             323         $16,150             593           1,186              25
100,000-499,999 (300,000).......             727         218,100           8,007          16,013             343
500,000-999,999 (750,000).......             343         257,250           9,444          18,888             405
1,000,000-2,499,999 (1,750,000).             358         626,500          22,999          45,999             986
2,500,000-4,999,999 (3,750,000).             178         667,500          24,504          49,009           1,050
5,000,000-7,499,999 (6,250,000).              80         500,000          18,355          36,711             787
7,500,000-9,999,999 (8,750,000).              42         367,500          13,491          26,982             578
10,000,000-14,999,999                         42         525,000          19,273          38,546             826
 (12,500,000)...................
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................           2,093       3,178,000         116,667         233,334           5,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We next estimate the costs per broker. In the analysis above, we 
estimated that the cost per verification for existing clients' 
identities for each POA and the initial verification of the prospective 
client's identity for new POAs was each $59.52. Additionally, as shown 
in the analysis above, the cost for each reverification of the client's 
identity was $22.32. We multiply these costs to the number of POAs from 
Table 9 to reach the total costs for each broker category, shown in 
Table 10 below.

                                 Table 10--Broker Costs by Size Category in 2021
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Cost for      Cost for new
          Annual revenue ($) (midpoint)              Cost for         annual      POAs requiring    Total cost
                                                   existing POAs   revalidation    verification
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<100,000 (50,000)...............................         $35,288         $26,466          $1,512         $63,267
100,000-499,999 (300,000).......................         476,555         357,416          20,424         854,394
500,000-999,999 (750,000).......................         562,099         421,574          24,090       1,007,762
1,000,000-2,499,999 (1,750,000).................       1,368,920       1,026,690          58,668       2,454,278
2,500,000-4,999,999 (3,750,000).................       1,458,506       1,093,880          62,507       2,614,893
5,000,000-7,499,999 (6,250,000).................       1,092,514         819,386          46,822       1,958,722
7,500,000-9,999,999 (8,750,000).................         802,998         602,248          34,414       1,439,660
10,000,000-14,999,999 (12,500,000)..............       1,147,140         860,355          49,163       2,056,658
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................       6,944,020       5,208,015         297,600      12,449,635
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 40316]]

    We next calculate the cost per broker and assess whether it is a 
significant impact. To calculate the cost per broker for each size 
category, we simply divide the total cost for the category from Table 
10 by the number of brokers in it. Then we compare the cost per broker 
by the revenue per broker (again using the midpoint for each range) to 
assess whether the costs significant. The results are presented in 
Table 11. As shown, the costs are about 0.4 percent of revenue. CBP 
does not consider this to be significant.

                                       Table 11--Costs per Broker in 2021
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Estimated
          Annual revenue ($) (midpoint)              number of      Total cost       Cost per         Cost to
                                                      brokers                         broker       revenue ratio
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<100,000 (50,000)...............................             323         $63,267         $195.87           0.004
100,000-499,999 (300,000).......................             727         854,394        1,175.23           0.004
500,000-999,999 (750,000).......................             343       1,007,762        2,938.08           0.004
1,000,000-2,499,999 (1,750,000).................             358       2,454,278        6,855.53           0.004
2,500,000-4,999,999 (3,750,000).................             178       2,614,893       14,690.41           0.004
5,000,000-7,499,999 (6,250,000).................              80       1,958,722       24,484.02           0.004
7,500,000-9,999,999 (8,750,000).................              42       1,439,660       34,277.63           0.004
10,000,000-14,999,999 (12,500,000)..............              42       2,056,658       48,968.04           0.004
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................           2,093      12,449,635        5,948.22  ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In summary, this proposed rule would affect a substantial number of 
importers and brokers. However, the costs do not rise to the level of 
economic significance. Therefore, CBP certifies that this proposed rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities. CBP welcomes comments on this conclusion and any 
additional data.

VI. Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.), an agency may not conduct, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of 
information displays a valid control number assigned by OMB. The 
collections of information and recordkeeping requirements related to 
this NPRM will be submitted for approval by OMB under a revision and 
extension of collection number 1651-0034 (CBP Regulations Pertaining to 
Customs Brokers). The likely respondents are importers and customs 
brokers.

Customs Brokers Verification Burden

    Number of Respondents: 121,667.
    Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Total Number of Responses: 121,667.
    Time per Response: 2 hours.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 243,334.
    The estimated total annual burden associated with the collection of 
information in this NPRM is 243,334 hours.

VII. Signing Authority

    This document is being issued in accordance with 19 CFR 0.1(b)(1), 
which provides that the Secretary of the Treasury delegated to the 
Secretary of Homeland Security the authority to prescribe and approve 
regulations relating to customs revenue functions on behalf of the 
Secretary of the Treasury for when the subject matter is not listed as 
provided by Treasury Department Order No. 100-16. Accordingly, this 
proposed rule to amend such regulations may be signed by the Secretary 
of Homeland Security (or his or her delegate).

 List of Subjects in 19 CFR Part 111

    Administrative practice and procedure, Brokers, Penalties, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    For the reasons set forth above, CBP proposes to amend 19 CFR part 
111 as set forth below:

PART 111--CUSTOMS BROKERS

0
1. The general authority citation for part 111 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 19 U.S.C. 66, 1202 (General Note 3(i), Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States), 1624, 1641.
* * * * *
0
2. Add Sec.  111.43 to read as follows:


Sec.  111.43  Importer identity verification.

    (a) Scope. This section sets forth the minimum requirements for 
importer and nonresident importer clients to provide information and 
for customs brokers to collect, verify, and maintain information about 
the identities of their resident and nonresident importer clients. The 
customs broker must collect certain information from the importer 
client when the importer client provides the customs broker with a 
power of attorney and the customs broker must verify all of the 
information collected before the broker may transact customs business 
on behalf of that client.
    (b) Definitions. (1) Importer and nonresident importer. For 
purposes of this section, ``importer'' is defined as one of the parties 
qualifying as an importer of record under 19 U.S.C. 1484(a)(2)(B). 
``Nonresident importer'' is defined as an importer of record that is 
not a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for 
permanent residence in the United States; or a partnership, 
corporation, or other commercial entity that is not organized under the 
laws of a jurisdiction within the customs territory of the United 
States (as such term is defined in General Note 2 of the Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States) or in the Virgin Islands of the 
United States.
    (2) Client. For purposes of this section, the ``client'' is defined 
as the importer or nonresident importer of record who is seeking or 
employing the services of a customs broker to transact customs business 
on behalf of the importer or nonresident importer of record.
    (3) Grantor. For purposes of this section, the ``grantor'' is 
defined as the individual executing the power of attorney on behalf of 
the client.
    (c) Minimum information that the customs broker must collect from 
the client. The customs broker must collect, at minimum, the following 
information, if applicable, from the client to allow the customs broker 
to verify the client's identity when the customs broker, as required by 
Sec.  141.46 of this chapter, obtains a power of attorney:
    (1) The client's name;
    (2) For a client who is an individual, the client's date of birth;
    (3) For a client that is a partnership, corporation, or 
association, the grantor's date of birth;

[[Page 40317]]

    (4) For a client that is a partnership, corporation, or 
association, the client's trade or fictitious names;
    (5) The address of the client's physical location (for a client 
that is a partnership, corporation, or association, the physical 
location would be the client's headquarters) and telephone number;
    (6) The client's email address and business website;
    (7) A copy of the grantor's unexpired government-issued photo 
identification;
    (8) The client's Internal Revenue Service (IRS) number, employer 
identification number (EIN), or importer of record (IOR) number;
    (9) The client's publicly available business identification number;
    (10) A recent credit report;
    (11) A copy of the client's business registration and license with 
state authorities; and
    (12) The grantor's authorization to execute power of attorney on 
behalf of client.
    (d) Verification of information by customs broker. Before 
transacting customs business on behalf of a client, the customs broker 
must authenticate the client's identity by verifying all the 
information collected from the client pursuant to paragraph (c) of this 
section. The customs broker must verify all the information collected 
from the client or the inapplicability of the information to that 
client. The customs broker also must check to determine whether the 
client is named as a sanctioned or restricted person or entity by the 
U.S. Government, or if the client is suspended or debarred from doing 
business with the U.S. Government. The means of verification are at the 
customs broker's discretion; however, the broker must use as many of 
the recommended verification means as necessary to be reasonably 
certain as to the client's identity. These means include:
    (1) A check of the appropriate websites to determine whether the 
client is named as a sanctioned or restricted person or entity by the 
U.S. Government, or if the client is suspended or debarred from doing 
business with the U.S. Government;
    (2) An in-person review of the grantor's government-issued photo 
identification;
    (3) An in-person client meeting;
    (4) An in-person visit of the client's place of business;
    (5) A review of the client's Articles of Incorporation;
    (6) A query of publicly available information, business information 
and credit reporting entities, Federal, state, and local databases or 
websites and any other relevant trade or business sources.
    (e) Establishment of policies, procedures and internal controls. 
All customs brokers must implement policies, procedures, and internal 
controls to identify and verify a client's identity before transacting 
customs business on behalf of that client. The policies, procedures, 
and internal controls must also fulfill the recordkeeping requirements 
in paragraph (f) of this section, particularly the requirement for 
updating information and records, and reverifying the client's 
identity.
    (f) Recordkeeping. All customs brokers must make, retain, and 
update records containing the required information used to identify and 
to verify the client's identity.
    (1) Identification records. At a minimum, customs brokers must 
retain any information collected pursuant to paragraph (c) of this 
section, including any identifying information presented to the customs 
broker, as well as any certifications the client has made.
    (2) Verification records. At a minimum, customs brokers must retain 
descriptions of any documents relied upon, any non-documentary methods 
relied upon, any results of measures undertaken, and any resolution of 
discrepancies used to verify the client's identity as required by 
paragraph (d) of this section. The verification records must indicate 
which information collected pursuant to paragraph (c) was verified, who 
performed the verification, and the date the verification was 
performed.
    (3) Compliance with other recordkeeping provisions. All customs 
brokers must comply with the recordkeeping provisions of this part, 
part 141 of this chapter, and part 163 of this chapter. The 
identification and verification records must be retained and made 
available upon request for CBP examination in accordance with parts 
111, 141, and 163 of this chapter. The required retention period for 
the identification and verification records is the same period as is 
required for a power of attorney in Sec. Sec.  111.23 and 163.4 of this 
chapter.
    (4) Updating information. All customs brokers must implement 
procedures to update the records required in this section and to 
reverify the information collected from the client pursuant to the 
procedures set forth in paragraph (d) annually to ensure that the 
information is accurate, timely, and complete.
    (g) Penalties for noncompliance. Failure to collect, verify, 
secure, retain, update, or make available for inspection the 
information required in this section is grounds for a monetary penalty 
to be assessed against the customs broker not to exceed $10,000 per 
client in accordance with 19 U.S.C. 1641(d)(2)(A), or revocation or 
suspension of the customs broker's license or permit in accordance with 
19 U.S.C. 1641(d)(2)(B).
    (h) Timing of verifications. (1) Prospective clients. For all 
prospective clients, customs brokers must verify the information 
required in this section before the customs broker may begin to 
transact customs business on behalf of that client. The customs broker 
must comply with all the requirements in this section for that client 
including updating all records and information.
    (2) Existing clients. For existing clients with a power of attorney 
issued by a partnership, customs brokers must, within two years of the 
final rule being effective, update and verify the information required 
in this section. For all other existing clients, customs brokers must, 
within three years of the final rule being effective, update and verify 
the information required in this section. By these dates, the customs 
broker must have complied with all the requirements in this section, 
including the updating of all records and information, and must 
continue to comply.
    (3) Reverification. Reverification must occur annually after the 
initial verification required by this section.

    Dated: August 6, 2019.
Kevin K. McAleenan,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-17179 Filed 8-13-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9111-14-P