On August 13, 2019, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published in the Federal Register a general notice that announces that CBP is conducting a test of new functionalities related to the electronic entry filing for low-valued shipments through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). The Section 321 de minimis administrative exemption admits free from duty and tax, shipments of merchandise (other than bona-fide gifts and certain personal and household goods) imported by one person on one day having an aggregate fair retail value in the country of shipment of not more than $800.
During this test, an owner, or purchaser of a Section 321 low-valued shipment or, when appropriately designated, a customs broker appointed by an owner, purchaser, or consignee, will be able to file a new type of informal entry in ACE for Section 321 low-valued shipments. Section 321 low-valued shipments subject to Partner Government Agency (PGA) requirements will also be able to be entered using this new Section 321 informal entry type. The notice provides a description of the test, the requirements for filing the new informal entry type, and the regulations that will be waived for test participants. CBP invites public comment concerning the test program. The test will be known as the ACE Entry Type 86 Test and will commence no earlier than September 28, 2019 and will continue until concluded by an announcement published in the Federal Register. Comments will be accepted throughout the duration of the test.
