Texas Administrative Code
Title 34 - PUBLIC FINANCE
Part 1 - COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
Chapter 3 - TAX ADMINISTRATION
Subchapter O - STATE AND LOCAL SALES AND USE TAXES
Section 3.360 - Customs Brokers
Current through Reg. 50, No. 13; March 28, 2025
(a) Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this section, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
(b) Certification of exports. Only a licensed customs broker or an authorized employee of a licensed customs broker may fully or partially prepare, issue, and/or sign a valid export certification form as provided for in this section and in § 3.323 of this title (relating to Imports and Exports). A retailer who receives documentation that is valid under this section certifying that delivery was made to a point outside of the territorial limits of the United States should refer to § 3.323(e) of this title for information regarding refunds. A licensed customs broker, or an authorized employee of the customs broker, may issue an export certification form only if the customs broker or authorized employee:
(c) Texas Customs Broker License; prerequisites. A person may apply to the comptroller for a Texas Customs Broker License, which is a license to issue export certification forms for the purpose of claiming exemption from Texas sales and use taxes. To obtain a license, a person must:
(d) Form of application. The comptroller will prescribe an application form for a Texas Customs Broker License, which must include or be accompanied by the following:
(e) Annual customs broker license and fee. An annual customs broker's license issued under this section continues in effect through December 31st each year unless canceled by the customs broker or suspended or revoked by the comptroller before the expiration date. All expired, canceled, suspended, or revoked licenses must be immediately returned to the comptroller or they will be subject to confiscation. The annual license fee is non-refundable but the fee may be prorated on a calendar year $75 per-quarter basis as follows:
(f) Display of license. An original Texas Customs Broker License must be prominently displayed at each place of business of the customs broker where export certification forms are fully or partially prepared.
(g) Locations outside the United States. No Texas Customs Broker Licenses will be issued for locations beyond the territorial limits of the State of Texas.
(h) Bond or security. A licensed customs broker is required to post a bond or security in the amount of $5,000, plus an additional $1,000 for each place of business from which the customs broker intends to issue export certification forms.
(i) Verification contractors. A licensed customs broker may enter into a written contract with a verification contractor to facilitate the monitoring of exports certified by the customs broker. A verification contractor may authorize by power of attorney their full-time or part-time employee to perform verification services on their behalf. A verification contractor may not fully or partially prepare, issue, and/or sign export certification forms and may not affix export certification stamps to export certification forms. A verification contractor's contract must be submitted to and approved by the comptroller before the verification contractor may perform export verification services.
(j) Export certification stamps. The comptroller will produce or have produced export certification stamps to be affixed to export certification forms.
(k) Preparation of documentation. The comptroller will maintain a password-protected website that a licensed customs broker, or an authorized employee of a licensed customs broker, must use to prepare export certification forms.
(l) Reports required. A licensed customs broker is required to file a report quarterly on a form prescribed by the comptroller.
(m) Records required. A licensed customs broker must maintain books and records that include, at a minimum, the following:
(n) Examination of records. A licensed customs broker must make all required records available for examination by the comptroller. The comptroller will issue written notice of routine examination of records at least 15 days prior to the date of examination. No advance notice will be issued if the comptroller determines that notice could jeopardize the proper enforcement of the tax laws and the comptroller's rules. The examination will take place at the customs broker's principal place of business unless the comptroller agrees to examine the records at another location.
(o) Retention of records. A licensed customs broker must retain records for a period of at least two years from the date of the document, the date of completion (if the required record is a contract), or the date of final entry (if the required record is a list or ledger). Copies of export certification forms must be retained for at least two years after the date the customs broker or the customs broker's authorized employee signs the form, regardless of the date of export. For other documents with multiple dates, the two-year period for retention begins on the latest date reflected on the document.
(p) Export certification form and contents. The export certification forms issued by a licensed customs broker must be substantially in the form recommended by the comptroller. A separate form must be completed for each seller. A maximum of six invoices from a single seller may be listed on a single export certification form only if all the listed items were exported at the same place, on the same date, and at the same time. The required information must be completed in English on the face of the form, in addition to any other language in which the form is completed. The comptroller may immediately confiscate from any person an export certification form that is incomplete on its face, indecipherable, fraudulent, or otherwise in violation of this section. An export certification form must, at a minimum, reflect the following information:
(q) License denial, suspension, and revocation. The comptroller may deny, suspend, or revoke a Texas Customs Broker License for cause.
(r) Form of export certification. An export certification form must be substantially in the form of a Licensed Customs Broker Export Certification. Copies of the form may be obtained from the Comptroller of Public Accounts, Tax Policy Division, or be requested by calling 1-800-252-5555.