Mobile Collections & Receipts (MCR): Implementation of Phase Two, 86912-86915 [2023-27626]
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 240 / Friday, December 15, 2023 / Notices
Name of Committee: National Institute on
Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Initial
Review Group; Neuroscience and Behavior
Study Section.
Date: March 1, 2024.
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: National Institute of Health,
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism, 6700B Rockledge Drive,
Bethesda, MD 20892.
Contact Person: Beata Buzas, Ph.D.,
Scientific Review Officer, Extramural Project
Review Branch, Office of Extramural
Activities, National Institute on Alcohol
Abuse and Alcoholism, 6700B Rockledge
Drive, Room 2116, MSC 6902, Bethesda, MD
20892, 301–443–0800, bbuzas@mail.nih.gov.
(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program Nos. 93.273, Alcohol Research
Programs, National Institutes of Health, HHS)
Dated: December 12, 2023.
Melanie J. Pantoja,
Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory
Committee Policy.
[FR Doc. 2023–27581 Filed 12–14–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Dated: December 11, 2023.
Melanie J. Pantoja,
Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory
Committee Policy.
National Institutes of Health
National Institute of Mental Health;
Notice of Closed Meetings
[FR Doc. 2023–27518 Filed 12–14–23; 8:45 am]
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Pursuant to section 1009 of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended, notice is hereby given of the
following meetings.
The meetings will be closed to the
public in accordance with the
provisions set forth in sections
552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), title 5 U.S.C.,
as amended. The grant applications and
the discussions could disclose
confidential trade secrets or commercial
property such as patentable material,
and personal information concerning
individuals associated with the grant
applications, the disclosure of which
would constitute a clearly unwarranted
invasion of personal privacy.
Name of Committee: National Institute of
Mental Health Special Emphasis Panel;
Suicide Prevention.
Date: December 18, 2023.
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: National Institutes of Health,
Neuroscience Center, 6001 Executive
Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20852 (Virtual
Meeting).
Contact Person: Nicholas Gaiano, Ph.D.,
Review Branch Chief, Division of Extramural
Activities, National Institute of Mental
Health, National Institutes of Health,
Neuroscience Center, 6001 Executive
Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20892–9606, 301–
443–2742, nick.gaiano@nih.gov.
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This meeting is to evaluate an application
that needed to be deferred from a prior
review meeting. The timing of that deferral
and the need to have this review completed
in the same council round has resulted in an
accelerated timeline.
Name of Committee: National Institute of
Mental Health Special Emphasis Panel;
Jointly Sponsored Institutional Predoctoral
Training Programs in the Neurosciences
(T32).
Date: December 19, 2023.
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: National Institutes of Health,
Neuroscience Center, 6001 Executive
Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20852 (Virtual
Meeting).
Contact Person: Jasenka Borzan, Ph.D.,
Scientific Review Officer, Division of
Extramural Activities, National Institutes of
Mental Health, 6001 Executive Blvd.,
Neuroscience Center, Bethesda, MD 20892,
301–435–1260, jasenka.borzan@nih.gov.
This is a review meeting for 3 deferred
applications from this council round. The
applications could not be discussed at the
original meeting because one of the assigned
reviewers was not present.
(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program No. 93.242, Mental Health Research
Grants, National Institutes of Health, HHS)
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Mobile Collections & Receipts (MCR):
Implementation of Phase Two
U.S. Customs and Border
Protection; U.S Department of
Homeland Security.
ACTION: General notice.
AGENCY:
U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) is conducting a test to
allow for the payment of certain
commercial vessel taxes and fees with
electronic methods, including credit
cards. Payment can be made through the
existing Mobile Collections & Receipts
(MCR) system’s payment portal at eCBP
(https://e.cbp.dhs.gov) or at the ports of
entry for any commercial vessel arriving
at a maritime port of entry. Participation
in the test is voluntary. CBP will
continue to accept payments by cash or
check at the ports of entry. This notice
describes the test and invites public
comment on any aspect of the test.
DATES: The test will begin no earlier
than January 16, 2024 and will continue
SUMMARY:
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for two years. Comments concerning
this notice and all aspects of the test
may be submitted at any time during the
test to the address set forth below.
ADDRESSES: Written comments
concerning any aspect of the test should
be submitted to the CBP Revenue
Modernization Office at revmod@
cbp.dhs.gov. In the subject line of your
email please indicate ‘‘Comment on
Mobile Collections & Receipts Test.’’
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Clint Kiehl, Rev Mod Program Manager,
Office of Finance, U.S. Customs and
Border Protection, via email at
clinton.kiehl@cbp.dhs.gov or by
telephone at (317) 677–4579.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
A. Mobile Collections & Receipts (MCR)
System
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) is committed to modernizing the
payment and processing of various taxes
and fees paid by the public. In
furtherance of this goal, CBP developed
the Mobile Collections & Receipts
(MCR) system.1 The MCR system
calculates the amount of taxes and fees
due based on information pulled from
other CBP databases electronically or
entered by an authorized CBP employee.
The MCR system then automatically
populates an electronic receipt, which is
a single, combined electronic equivalent
of two separate paper forms—CBP Form
368 Collection Receipt (CBP Form 368)
and CBP Form 1002 Certificate of
Payment of Tonnage Tax (CBP Form
1002). This notice refers to this
electronic receipt as the electronic Form
368/1002. The MCR system sends the
electronic Form 368/1002 via email to
the entity responsible for payment.
The MCR system also allows the
public to pay applicable taxes and fees
through electronic methods, such as
online or through Europay, Mastercard
and Visa (EMV) card readers, which
enables contactless payments through
various methods, including credit cards
and digital wallets. For online payment,
MCR’s public-facing payment website is
located at the eCBP portal (https://
e.cbp.dhs.gov), which directs the entity
making the payment to complete the
transaction on Pay.gov.2 Currently, the
MCR system, through eCBP and its
interface with Pay.gov, allows the
1 For more information on the Mobile Collections
and Receipts initiative, visit: https://www.cbp.gov/
trade/priority-issues/revenue/revenuemodernization/automation-368-and-1002-receipts.
2 Pay.gov is a website managed by the Department
of the Treasury that enables entities to make online
payments to the federal government using various
forms of payment.
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public to make payments related to the
Customs Broker License Exam and
Triennial Status Report, with additional
fees to be added in the future.
The MCR system largely replaced
what is a paper-based, manual, and
burdensome process for the calculation
and processing of payments. Under the
manual process, CBP officers (CBPOs)
and other authorized CBP employees are
required to manually calculate the
amount due for a particular transaction,
manually complete a paper version of
CBP Forms 368 and 1002 (if applicable),
and manually enter the payment
information in CBP’s systems after
collecting payment.3 See, e.g., sections
4.23 and 24.2 of title 19 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (19 CFR 4.23, 24.2).
Since the implementation of MCR for
the calculation and processing of certain
maritime fees, maritime ports have
adopted MCR and generally no longer
use the manual method.
B. Phase One of the MCR Test
Phase One of the MCR test, the Mobile
Collections and Receipts (MCR) Pilot,
was announced on December 8, 2017, in
the Federal Register (82 FR 58008)
(2017 MCR Pilot). The 2017 MCR Pilot
allowed for the electronic payment of
and receipt generation for certain
commercial vessel taxes and fees
through the MCR system. 82 FR at
58008. Specifically, the 2017 MCR Pilot
permitted online payment and
developed electronic receipts for the
following taxes and fees: regular and
special tonnage tax; light money;
Consolidated Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act (COBRA) user fees,
including the prepayment of the annual
COBRA fee; Agriculture Quarantine and
Inspection (AQI) Fees; and navigation
fees. See 82 FR at 58010. However,
when CBP began operating the MCR
system and issuing electronic receipts,
CBP was unable to begin accepting
online payments for these specified
commercial vessel taxes and fees.
The 2017 MCR Pilot was limited to
commercial vessels arriving at one of
four designated ports of entry: Los
Angeles-Long Beach, California; New
Orleans, Louisiana; Gulfport,
Mississippi; and, Mobile, Alabama. See
82 FR at 58010. Any entity responsible
for the payment of the taxes and fees for
vessels arriving at one of the four
designated ports of entry could
participate in the 2017 MCR Pilot by
providing the processing CBPO or other
authorized CBP employee with an email
3 For additional details on the paper-based
process for commercial vessel taxes and fees, see
the notice published in the Federal Register (82 FR
58008) on December 8, 2017, announcing the 2017
MCR Pilot.
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address. 82 FR at 58009. The MCR
system generated an electronic version
of Forms 368 and 1002 and sent an
electronic copy via email to the entity
responsible for payment. 82 FR 58009.
The 2017 MCR Pilot Notice was also the
first time that CBP announced the
implementation of the MCR system in
the Federal Register and described the
electronic receipt process, including the
creation and issuance of electronic
versions of Forms 368 and 1002, and the
use of electronic devices that CBP
employees could use to access the MCR
system outside the port office. See 82 FR
at 58009.
CBP is now able to accept online
payments and is implementing Phase
Two of the MCR test, which will
authorize entities to pay commercial
vessel taxes and fees online, in order to
allow these entities to fully benefit from
the efficiencies of the MCR system.
C. Purpose of the MCR Test: Phase Two
CBP regulations currently restrict the
payment methods available for various
taxes and fees. For example, in general,
CBP will accept payment of Customs
duties, taxes, fees, interest, and other
charges with cash or check only. See 19
CFR 24.1 and 24.2. Payment with a
credit or charge card is limited to noncommercial entries. 19 CFR 24.1(a)(7).
Additionally, a CBPO who collects
payment for an amount over $100 in the
form of a government check, personal
check, traveler’s check, or money order
must obtain the approval and signature
of the CBPO in charge in order to accept
the payment. See 19 CFR 24.1(b)(2).
Phase Two of the MCR test will allow
CBP to test the feasibility of accepting
electronic payment options for five
categories of commercial vessel taxes
and fees that cannot be paid
electronically under CBP’s current
regulations. The five categories of
commercial vessel taxes and fees are:
tonnage tax (regular and special) and
light money (19 CFR 4.20), Consolidated
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
(COBRA) user fees (19 CFR 24.22(b)),
Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection
(AQI) fees (7 CFR 354.3(b)), and
navigation fees (19 CFR 4.98). By CBP’s
allowing for electronic payments of
these commercial vessel taxes and fees,
vessel owners/operators and vessel
agents will be able to take full advantage
of the MCR system. This will provide
numerous benefits for CBP and the
trade. For example, the MCR system
reduces the number of mistakes in the
calculation of taxes and fees due
because the MCR system can implement
any changes to the fee calculations
quickly and efficiently for all ports.
Additionally, the MCR system
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eliminates the need for CBP employees
to manually enter information into
CBP’s systems or to perform other tasks
necessary to maintain the security or
inventory of the paper versions of CBP
Forms 368 and 1002. This enables CBP
employees to spend less time on
administrative tasks and more time
focusing on higher priority mission
support activities.
II. MCR Test: Phase Two
Phase Two of the MCR test will allow
for the electronic payment of certain
vessel maritime taxes and fees for
commercial vessels. Payment through
electronic methods will be voluntary
and CBP will continue to accept cash or
check payments consistent with current
requirements and practice. The
collection of payments under Phase
Two will operate largely the same as
described in the initial 2017 MCR Pilot,
except that Phase Two will allow for
electronic payments for vessels arriving
at any maritime port of entry (as
opposed to the four ports of entry
designated in the 2017 MCR Pilot) and
will include online payments and using
an EMV card reader at the port. Details
of Phase Two of the MCR test are
provided below.
A. Participation in the Test
Any commercial vessel agent or other
entity responsible for payment of
commercial vessel taxes and fees may
participate in the test. No application is
required to participate. However, in
order to receive notification emails from
the MCR system, a commercial vessel
agent or other entity submitting
payment must register an email address
with the CBPO or other authorized CBP
employee processing the vessel arrival
in the MCR system. When a commercial
vessel arrives at a port of entry, the
vessel’s agent or other entity wishing to
receive email notifications or receive the
electronic Form 368/1002 will be able to
confirm any email addresses with an
authorized CBP employee and provide
additional email addresses for receipt of
electronic receipts.
B. Eligible Taxes and Fees
Phase Two allows for the electronic
payment of the following commercial
vessel taxes and fees: tonnage tax
(regular and special) and light money
(19 CFR 4.20), Consolidated Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)
user fees (19 CFR 24.22(b)), Agriculture
Quarantine and Inspection (AQI) fees (7
CFR 354.3(b)), and navigation fees (19
CFR 4.98).
Additionally, CBPOs and other
authorized CBP employees, at the time
of inspection, will have the option to
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add applicable non-commercial fees and
taxes for which credit or charge cards
have been authorized by the
Commissioner of CBP pursuant to 19
CFR 24.1(a)(7) to the vessel’s overall
transaction. Such non-commercial fees
and taxes are not part of Phase Two of
the MCR test.4 However, for the
convenience of the vessel owner/agent
and CBP, all taxes and fees, whether
authorized for electronic payment by
this MCR test or by current regulations,
can be combined for purposes of making
a single payment and receipt.
CBP may further expand the MCR test
in the future to allow for the electronic
payment of additional commercial taxes
and fees. Any expansion of Phase Two
of the MCR test will be announced in
the Federal Register.
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C. Electronic Payment Process at the
Ports of Entry
The MCR system will automatically
identify the commercial vessels that are
due to arrive at the designated ports of
entry. The CBPO or other authorized
CBP employee will use the MCR system
to then determine whether the arrival
information submitted to CBP through
approved electronic data interchange
systems is sufficient to calculate the
applicable maritime taxes and fees due
for each commercial vessel. If there is
not sufficient information, the CBPO or
other authorized CBP employee can
obtain the necessary information at the
time of inspection or payment.
Once the CBPO has sufficient
information, the vessel agent or carrier
will be asked whether the agent or
carrier wants to pay online or with the
EMV card reader, which accepts various
forms of payment, including credit
cards and digital wallet payments at the
point of collection. If online payment is
selected, CBP will send a notification
email to the relevant carrier or vessel
agent at the email address they
registered with eCBP. The notification
email will state that the applicable taxes
and fees have been calculated for a
specific commercial vessel and payment
can now be made on the eCBP payment
portal. The entity responsible for
payment will then have the opportunity
to log on to the MCR system’s customerfacing eCBP payment portal, review the
calculated amount of taxes and fees due,
and, through eCBP’s interface with
4 Examples of non-commercial fees that may be
applicable to a particular vessel include duties for
passenger or crew baggage, excise taxes imposed on
crew and passengers, and immigration fees
applicable to crew and passengers, such as fees for
port of entry parole of crewmembers. A complete
list of the eligible fees will be available at the MCR
website (https://www.cbp.gov/trade/priority-issues/
revenue/revenue-modernization).
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17:57 Dec 14, 2023
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Pay.gov, submit payment online through
Pay.gov with a credit or debit card, or
any other payment option available on
Pay.gov at the time of payment.
Alternatively, the entity responsible for
payment may pay using an EMV card
reader. Additionally, for test
participants who make payment online,
through the EMV card reader, or by
check or money order, CBPOs will not
be required to obtain the signature of the
CBPO in charge, as is otherwise
required for payments over $100 made
with a government check, personal
check, traveler’s check, or money order
pursuant to 19 CFR 24.1(b)(2).
After payment is accepted, the MCR
system will send an electronic Form
368/1002 to the email address/addresses
provided by the entity that made the
payment. Electronic payments will be
accepted up to the time the vessel is
cleared by CBP. Payments required for
CBP clearance must be made before
clearance is granted. In all situations,
CBPOs and other authorized CBP
employees will have the ability to
review, amend, or add data as needed to
accurately calculate applicable taxes
and fees prior to entering or clearing a
vessel.
Payment though electronic methods,
including credit cards, is voluntary.
Throughout the test, commercial vessel
agents and other entities responsible for
payment for commercial vessel taxes
and fees will continue to be able to pay
by cash or check in accordance with
current requirements. CBP will provide
the electronic Form 368/1002 as a
receipt for all payments made by test
participants, regardless of whether
payment was made in person by cash or
check, online, or in-person using a card
reader. However, the port office will
provide paper copies of electronic Form
368/1002 upon request.
This test will not affect the amount of
taxes and fees due or the requirement
that all applicable fees must be paid
prior to CBP issuing a clearance
certificate. Additionally, vessel
operators will continue to be required to
present paper copies of Forms 368 and
1002 as proof of payment at subsequent
ports and entries. This means that vessel
owners/operators must print out the
electronic Form 368/1002 to present it
to CBP.
D. Eligible Ports of Entry
Phase Two of the MCR test allows for
electronic payments for commercial
vessels arriving at any of the U.S.
maritime ports of entry.
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E. Duration of the Test
The test will begin no earlier than
January 16, 2024 and will continue for
two years.
III. Privacy
CBP will ensure that all Privacy Act
requirements and applicable policies are
adhered to during the implementation
of this test.
IV. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)) requires that
CBP consider the impact of paperwork
and other information collection
burdens imposed on the public. 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 the
Office of Management and Budget.
There is no information collection
associated with this test, so the
provisions of the PRA do not apply.
V. Authorization for the Test
This test is being conducted in
accordance with 19 CFR 101.9(a), which
authorizes the Commissioner to impose
requirements different from those
specified in the CBP regulations for the
purposes of conducting a test program
or procedure designed to evaluate the
effectiveness of new technology or
operational procedures regarding the
processing of passengers, vessels, or
merchandise. Consequently, the
regulatory provisions set forth in
chapter 1 of title 19 of the CFR will be
suspended to the extent that they
conflict with the terms of this test. Such
regulatory suspension will remain in
effect for the duration of this test and
will only apply to test participants; the
regulatory provisions remain in effect
for all non-test participants.
As explained above, for participants
in this test, CBP will waive the
requirements to pay commercial vessel
taxes and fees with cash or check, as
required by 19 CFR 24.1, at the time of
arrival or when the applicable service is
provided, if the participant has paid all
applicable taxes and fees electronically
pursuant the procedures of this test and
prior to the time the vessel is cleared by
CBP. The test also permits CBPOs to
process the payment of over $100 made
by check, money order, online, or
through the EMV card reader without
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obtaining authorization from the CBP
officer in charge.
Jeffrey Caine,
CBP Chief Financial Officer and Assistant
Commissioner, Office of Finance, U.S.
Customs and Border Protection.
[FR Doc. 2023–27626 Filed 12–14–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111–14–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management
Agency
[Docket ID FEMA–2023–0002; Internal
Agency Docket No. FEMA–B–2394]
Changes in Flood Hazard
Determinations
Federal Emergency
Management Agency, Department of
Homeland Security.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This notice lists communities
where the addition or modification of
Base Flood Elevations (BFEs), base flood
depths, Special Flood Hazard Area
(SFHA) boundaries or zone
designations, or the regulatory floodway
(hereinafter referred to as flood hazard
determinations), as shown on the Flood
Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and
where applicable, in the supporting
Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports,
prepared by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) for each
community, is appropriate because of
new scientific or technical data. The
FIRM, and where applicable, portions of
the FIS report, have been revised to
reflect these flood hazard
determinations through issuance of a
Letter of Map Revision (LOMR), in
accordance with Federal Regulations.
The currently effective community
number is shown in the table below and
must be used for all new policies and
renewals.
DATES: These flood hazard
determinations will be finalized on the
SUMMARY:
State and county
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Arizona:
Pima ...............
Pinal ...............
VerDate Sep<11>2014
dates listed in the table below and
revise the FIRM panels and FIS report
in effect prior to this determination for
the listed communities.
From the date of the second
publication of notification of these
changes in a newspaper of local
circulation, any person has 90 days in
which to request through the
community that the Deputy Associate
Administrator for Insurance and
Mitigation reconsider the changes. The
flood hazard determination information
may be changed during the 90-day
period.
ADDRESSES: The affected communities
are listed in the table below. Revised
flood hazard information for each
community is available for inspection at
both the online location and the
respective community map repository
address listed in the table below.
Additionally, the current effective FIRM
and FIS report for each community are
accessible online through the FEMA
Map Service Center at https://
msc.fema.gov for comparison.
Submit comments and/or appeals to
the Chief Executive Officer of the
community as listed in the table below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick
Sacbibit, Chief, Engineering Services
Branch, Federal Insurance and
Mitigation Administration, FEMA, 400
C Street SW, Washington, DC 20472,
(202) 646–7659, or (email)
patrick.sacbibit@fema.dhs.gov; or visit
the FEMA Mapping and Insurance
eXchange (FMIX) online at https://
www.floodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/fmx_
main.html.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
specific flood hazard determinations are
not described for each community in
this notice. However, the online
location and local community map
repository address where the flood
hazard determination information is
available for inspection is provided.
Any request for reconsideration of
flood hazard determinations must be
submitted to the Chief Executive Officer
Location and
case No.
Chief executive
officer of community
Community map
repository
Town of Marana
(22–09–
1156P).
The Honorable Ed Honea,
Mayor, Town of
Marana, 11555 West
Civic Center Drive,
Marana, AZ 85653.
The Honorable Julia
Wheatley, Mayor, Town
of Queen Creek, 22358
South Ellsworth Road,
Queen Creek, AZ
85142.
Engineering Department,
Marana Municipal Complex, 11555 West Civic
Center Drive, Marana,
AZ 85653.
Town Hall, 22358 South
Ellsworth Road, Queen
Creek, AZ 85142.
Town of Queen
Creek (22–09–
0772P).
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86915
of the community as listed in the table
below.
The modifications are made pursuant
to section 201 of the Flood Disaster
Protection Act of 1973, 42 U.S.C. 4105,
and are in accordance with the National
Flood Insurance Act of 1968, 42 U.S.C.
4001 et seq., and with 44 CFR part 65.
The FIRM and FIS report are the basis
of the floodplain management measures
that the community is required either to
adopt or to show evidence of having in
effect in order to qualify or remain
qualified for participation in the
National Flood Insurance Program
(NFIP).
These flood hazard determinations,
together with the floodplain
management criteria required by 44 CFR
60.3, are the minimum that are required.
They should not be construed to mean
that the community must change any
existing ordinances that are more
stringent in their floodplain
management requirements. The
community may at any time enact
stricter requirements of its own or
pursuant to policies established by other
Federal, State, or regional entities. The
flood hazard determinations are in
accordance with 44 CFR 65.4.
The affected communities are listed in
the following table. Flood hazard
determination information for each
community is available for inspection at
both the online location and the
respective community map repository
address listed in the table below.
Additionally, the current effective FIRM
and FIS report for each community are
accessible online through the FEMA
Map Service Center at https://
msc.fema.gov for comparison.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No.
97.022, ‘‘Flood Insurance.’’)
Nicholas A. Shufro,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Risk
Management, Federal Emergency
Management Agency, Department of
Homeland Security.
Online location of
letter of map revision
Date of
modification
Community
No.
https://msc.fema.gov/portal/
advanceSearch.
Feb. 16, 2024 ....
040118
https://msc.fema.gov/portal/
advanceSearch.
Feb. 16, 2024 ....
040132
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 240 (Friday, December 15, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86912-86915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27626]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Mobile Collections & Receipts (MCR): Implementation of Phase Two
AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S Department of Homeland
Security.
ACTION: General notice.
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SUMMARY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is conducting a test
to allow for the payment of certain commercial vessel taxes and fees
with electronic methods, including credit cards. Payment can be made
through the existing Mobile Collections & Receipts (MCR) system's
payment portal at eCBP (https://e.cbp.dhs.gov) or at the ports of entry
for any commercial vessel arriving at a maritime port of entry.
Participation in the test is voluntary. CBP will continue to accept
payments by cash or check at the ports of entry. This notice describes
the test and invites public comment on any aspect of the test.
DATES: The test will begin no earlier than January 16, 2024 and will
continue for two years. Comments concerning this notice and all aspects
of the test may be submitted at any time during the test to the address
set forth below.
ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning any aspect of the test should be
submitted to the CBP Revenue Modernization Office at
[email protected]. In the subject line of your email please indicate
``Comment on Mobile Collections & Receipts Test.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clint Kiehl, Rev Mod Program Manager,
Office of Finance, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, via email at
[email protected] or by telephone at (317) 677-4579.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
A. Mobile Collections & Receipts (MCR) System
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is committed to
modernizing the payment and processing of various taxes and fees paid
by the public. In furtherance of this goal, CBP developed the Mobile
Collections & Receipts (MCR) system.\1\ The MCR system calculates the
amount of taxes and fees due based on information pulled from other CBP
databases electronically or entered by an authorized CBP employee. The
MCR system then automatically populates an electronic receipt, which is
a single, combined electronic equivalent of two separate paper forms--
CBP Form 368 Collection Receipt (CBP Form 368) and CBP Form 1002
Certificate of Payment of Tonnage Tax (CBP Form 1002). This notice
refers to this electronic receipt as the electronic Form 368/1002. The
MCR system sends the electronic Form 368/1002 via email to the entity
responsible for payment.
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\1\ For more information on the Mobile Collections and Receipts
initiative, visit: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/priority-issues/revenue/revenue-modernization/automation-368-and-1002-receipts.
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The MCR system also allows the public to pay applicable taxes and
fees through electronic methods, such as online or through Europay,
Mastercard and Visa (EMV) card readers, which enables contactless
payments through various methods, including credit cards and digital
wallets. For online payment, MCR's public-facing payment website is
located at the eCBP portal (https://e.cbp.dhs.gov), which directs the
entity making the payment to complete the transaction on Pay.gov.\2\
Currently, the MCR system, through eCBP and its interface with Pay.gov,
allows the
[[Page 86913]]
public to make payments related to the Customs Broker License Exam and
Triennial Status Report, with additional fees to be added in the
future.
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\2\ Pay.gov is a website managed by the Department of the
Treasury that enables entities to make online payments to the
federal government using various forms of payment.
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The MCR system largely replaced what is a paper-based, manual, and
burdensome process for the calculation and processing of payments.
Under the manual process, CBP officers (CBPOs) and other authorized CBP
employees are required to manually calculate the amount due for a
particular transaction, manually complete a paper version of CBP Forms
368 and 1002 (if applicable), and manually enter the payment
information in CBP's systems after collecting payment.\3\ See, e.g.,
sections 4.23 and 24.2 of title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations
(19 CFR 4.23, 24.2). Since the implementation of MCR for the
calculation and processing of certain maritime fees, maritime ports
have adopted MCR and generally no longer use the manual method.
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\3\ For additional details on the paper-based process for
commercial vessel taxes and fees, see the notice published in the
Federal Register (82 FR 58008) on December 8, 2017, announcing the
2017 MCR Pilot.
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B. Phase One of the MCR Test
Phase One of the MCR test, the Mobile Collections and Receipts
(MCR) Pilot, was announced on December 8, 2017, in the Federal Register
(82 FR 58008) (2017 MCR Pilot). The 2017 MCR Pilot allowed for the
electronic payment of and receipt generation for certain commercial
vessel taxes and fees through the MCR system. 82 FR at 58008.
Specifically, the 2017 MCR Pilot permitted online payment and developed
electronic receipts for the following taxes and fees: regular and
special tonnage tax; light money; Consolidated Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act (COBRA) user fees, including the prepayment of the
annual COBRA fee; Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection (AQI) Fees; and
navigation fees. See 82 FR at 58010. However, when CBP began operating
the MCR system and issuing electronic receipts, CBP was unable to begin
accepting online payments for these specified commercial vessel taxes
and fees.
The 2017 MCR Pilot was limited to commercial vessels arriving at
one of four designated ports of entry: Los Angeles-Long Beach,
California; New Orleans, Louisiana; Gulfport, Mississippi; and, Mobile,
Alabama. See 82 FR at 58010. Any entity responsible for the payment of
the taxes and fees for vessels arriving at one of the four designated
ports of entry could participate in the 2017 MCR Pilot by providing the
processing CBPO or other authorized CBP employee with an email address.
82 FR at 58009. The MCR system generated an electronic version of Forms
368 and 1002 and sent an electronic copy via email to the entity
responsible for payment. 82 FR 58009. The 2017 MCR Pilot Notice was
also the first time that CBP announced the implementation of the MCR
system in the Federal Register and described the electronic receipt
process, including the creation and issuance of electronic versions of
Forms 368 and 1002, and the use of electronic devices that CBP
employees could use to access the MCR system outside the port office.
See 82 FR at 58009.
CBP is now able to accept online payments and is implementing Phase
Two of the MCR test, which will authorize entities to pay commercial
vessel taxes and fees online, in order to allow these entities to fully
benefit from the efficiencies of the MCR system.
C. Purpose of the MCR Test: Phase Two
CBP regulations currently restrict the payment methods available
for various taxes and fees. For example, in general, CBP will accept
payment of Customs duties, taxes, fees, interest, and other charges
with cash or check only. See 19 CFR 24.1 and 24.2. Payment with a
credit or charge card is limited to non-commercial entries. 19 CFR
24.1(a)(7). Additionally, a CBPO who collects payment for an amount
over $100 in the form of a government check, personal check, traveler's
check, or money order must obtain the approval and signature of the
CBPO in charge in order to accept the payment. See 19 CFR 24.1(b)(2).
Phase Two of the MCR test will allow CBP to test the feasibility of
accepting electronic payment options for five categories of commercial
vessel taxes and fees that cannot be paid electronically under CBP's
current regulations. The five categories of commercial vessel taxes and
fees are: tonnage tax (regular and special) and light money (19 CFR
4.20), Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) user fees
(19 CFR 24.22(b)), Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection (AQI) fees (7
CFR 354.3(b)), and navigation fees (19 CFR 4.98). By CBP's allowing for
electronic payments of these commercial vessel taxes and fees, vessel
owners/operators and vessel agents will be able to take full advantage
of the MCR system. This will provide numerous benefits for CBP and the
trade. For example, the MCR system reduces the number of mistakes in
the calculation of taxes and fees due because the MCR system can
implement any changes to the fee calculations quickly and efficiently
for all ports. Additionally, the MCR system eliminates the need for CBP
employees to manually enter information into CBP's systems or to
perform other tasks necessary to maintain the security or inventory of
the paper versions of CBP Forms 368 and 1002. This enables CBP
employees to spend less time on administrative tasks and more time
focusing on higher priority mission support activities.
II. MCR Test: Phase Two
Phase Two of the MCR test will allow for the electronic payment of
certain vessel maritime taxes and fees for commercial vessels. Payment
through electronic methods will be voluntary and CBP will continue to
accept cash or check payments consistent with current requirements and
practice. The collection of payments under Phase Two will operate
largely the same as described in the initial 2017 MCR Pilot, except
that Phase Two will allow for electronic payments for vessels arriving
at any maritime port of entry (as opposed to the four ports of entry
designated in the 2017 MCR Pilot) and will include online payments and
using an EMV card reader at the port. Details of Phase Two of the MCR
test are provided below.
A. Participation in the Test
Any commercial vessel agent or other entity responsible for payment
of commercial vessel taxes and fees may participate in the test. No
application is required to participate. However, in order to receive
notification emails from the MCR system, a commercial vessel agent or
other entity submitting payment must register an email address with the
CBPO or other authorized CBP employee processing the vessel arrival in
the MCR system. When a commercial vessel arrives at a port of entry,
the vessel's agent or other entity wishing to receive email
notifications or receive the electronic Form 368/1002 will be able to
confirm any email addresses with an authorized CBP employee and provide
additional email addresses for receipt of electronic receipts.
B. Eligible Taxes and Fees
Phase Two allows for the electronic payment of the following
commercial vessel taxes and fees: tonnage tax (regular and special) and
light money (19 CFR 4.20), Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation
Act (COBRA) user fees (19 CFR 24.22(b)), Agriculture Quarantine and
Inspection (AQI) fees (7 CFR 354.3(b)), and navigation fees (19 CFR
4.98).
Additionally, CBPOs and other authorized CBP employees, at the time
of inspection, will have the option to
[[Page 86914]]
add applicable non-commercial fees and taxes for which credit or charge
cards have been authorized by the Commissioner of CBP pursuant to 19
CFR 24.1(a)(7) to the vessel's overall transaction. Such non-commercial
fees and taxes are not part of Phase Two of the MCR test.\4\ However,
for the convenience of the vessel owner/agent and CBP, all taxes and
fees, whether authorized for electronic payment by this MCR test or by
current regulations, can be combined for purposes of making a single
payment and receipt.
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\4\ Examples of non-commercial fees that may be applicable to a
particular vessel include duties for passenger or crew baggage,
excise taxes imposed on crew and passengers, and immigration fees
applicable to crew and passengers, such as fees for port of entry
parole of crewmembers. A complete list of the eligible fees will be
available at the MCR website (https://www.cbp.gov/trade/priority-issues/revenue/revenue-modernization).
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CBP may further expand the MCR test in the future to allow for the
electronic payment of additional commercial taxes and fees. Any
expansion of Phase Two of the MCR test will be announced in the Federal
Register.
C. Electronic Payment Process at the Ports of Entry
The MCR system will automatically identify the commercial vessels
that are due to arrive at the designated ports of entry. The CBPO or
other authorized CBP employee will use the MCR system to then determine
whether the arrival information submitted to CBP through approved
electronic data interchange systems is sufficient to calculate the
applicable maritime taxes and fees due for each commercial vessel. If
there is not sufficient information, the CBPO or other authorized CBP
employee can obtain the necessary information at the time of inspection
or payment.
Once the CBPO has sufficient information, the vessel agent or
carrier will be asked whether the agent or carrier wants to pay online
or with the EMV card reader, which accepts various forms of payment,
including credit cards and digital wallet payments at the point of
collection. If online payment is selected, CBP will send a notification
email to the relevant carrier or vessel agent at the email address they
registered with eCBP. The notification email will state that the
applicable taxes and fees have been calculated for a specific
commercial vessel and payment can now be made on the eCBP payment
portal. The entity responsible for payment will then have the
opportunity to log on to the MCR system's customer-facing eCBP payment
portal, review the calculated amount of taxes and fees due, and,
through eCBP's interface with Pay.gov, submit payment online through
Pay.gov with a credit or debit card, or any other payment option
available on Pay.gov at the time of payment. Alternatively, the entity
responsible for payment may pay using an EMV card reader. Additionally,
for test participants who make payment online, through the EMV card
reader, or by check or money order, CBPOs will not be required to
obtain the signature of the CBPO in charge, as is otherwise required
for payments over $100 made with a government check, personal check,
traveler's check, or money order pursuant to 19 CFR 24.1(b)(2).
After payment is accepted, the MCR system will send an electronic
Form 368/1002 to the email address/addresses provided by the entity
that made the payment. Electronic payments will be accepted up to the
time the vessel is cleared by CBP. Payments required for CBP clearance
must be made before clearance is granted. In all situations, CBPOs and
other authorized CBP employees will have the ability to review, amend,
or add data as needed to accurately calculate applicable taxes and fees
prior to entering or clearing a vessel.
Payment though electronic methods, including credit cards, is
voluntary. Throughout the test, commercial vessel agents and other
entities responsible for payment for commercial vessel taxes and fees
will continue to be able to pay by cash or check in accordance with
current requirements. CBP will provide the electronic Form 368/1002 as
a receipt for all payments made by test participants, regardless of
whether payment was made in person by cash or check, online, or in-
person using a card reader. However, the port office will provide paper
copies of electronic Form 368/1002 upon request.
This test will not affect the amount of taxes and fees due or the
requirement that all applicable fees must be paid prior to CBP issuing
a clearance certificate. Additionally, vessel operators will continue
to be required to present paper copies of Forms 368 and 1002 as proof
of payment at subsequent ports and entries. This means that vessel
owners/operators must print out the electronic Form 368/1002 to present
it to CBP.
D. Eligible Ports of Entry
Phase Two of the MCR test allows for electronic payments for
commercial vessels arriving at any of the U.S. maritime ports of entry.
E. Duration of the Test
The test will begin no earlier than January 16, 2024 and will
continue for two years.
III. Privacy
CBP will ensure that all Privacy Act requirements and applicable
policies are adhered to during the implementation of this test.
IV. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d))
requires that CBP consider the impact of paperwork and other
information collection burdens imposed on the public. 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 the Office of Management and Budget. There
is no information collection associated with this test, so the
provisions of the PRA do not apply.
V. Authorization for the Test
This test is being conducted in accordance with 19 CFR 101.9(a),
which authorizes the Commissioner to impose requirements different from
those specified in the CBP regulations for the purposes of conducting a
test program or procedure designed to evaluate the effectiveness of new
technology or operational procedures regarding the processing of
passengers, vessels, or merchandise. Consequently, the regulatory
provisions set forth in chapter 1 of title 19 of the CFR will be
suspended to the extent that they conflict with the terms of this test.
Such regulatory suspension will remain in effect for the duration of
this test and will only apply to test participants; the regulatory
provisions remain in effect for all non-test participants.
As explained above, for participants in this test, CBP will waive
the requirements to pay commercial vessel taxes and fees with cash or
check, as required by 19 CFR 24.1, at the time of arrival or when the
applicable service is provided, if the participant has paid all
applicable taxes and fees electronically pursuant the procedures of
this test and prior to the time the vessel is cleared by CBP. The test
also permits CBPOs to process the payment of over $100 made by check,
money order, online, or through the EMV card reader without
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obtaining authorization from the CBP officer in charge.
Jeffrey Caine,
CBP Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Commissioner, Office of
Finance, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
[FR Doc. 2023-27626 Filed 12-14-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P
