Preparing for ACE Reautomation/Redesign of the Entry Process Under ESAR Release A2 (Part II - Account Setup, Payments)
In February 2006, two members of the trade community prepared a pamphlet entitled "Trade User's Guide for ACE-ESAR Release A2," in order to help current ABI/ACS customs brokers, self-filers, and their automation vendors focus on significant changes they might experience as ACE ESAR (Entry Summary, Accounts, Revenue, also referred to as ACE Release 5) is rolled out.
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(Although these two individuals are members of the Trade Support Network (TSN), they note that their pamphlet is not approved, endorsed, or sanctioned in any way by CBP or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).)
This is Part II of a multi-part series of summaries of this pamphlet and contains excerpts from the pamphlet's sections on the operational changes associated with account setup and the payment of duties, taxes, and fees (DTF). See future issues of ITT for additional summaries.
The authors state that the pamphlet focuses on what entry preparers and filers will need to prepare for the substantial changes coming with ESAR Release A2; currently expected in early 2008. Trade sources have previously stated that the byword for ESAR A2 should be "reautomate or perish" in light of the reautomation and, in some cases, redesign of the entry process which will occur with ESAR A2.
Account Setup
Portal accounts
Importers who become ACE portal accounts can allow brokers to access their information.Importers will have a choice of becoming an ACE Secure Data Portal account with all the associated requirements and benefits. Importers can give brokers access to all or part of its information.
Cross account access to importer portal accounts by brokers with portal accounts, etc.Customs brokers will find it advantageous to set up their own ACE Secure Data Portal account as early as possible for the following reasons:
- it is required for participation in periodic monthly statement (PMS) for both entries filed in the broker's name and for non-portal account clients
- will have access through the broker's portal to client's information for entries where the broker was the filer (valuable reports, validation of information)
- allows brokers participation in cross account processing. This is where a broker can have access to multiple clients' portals utilizing the ACE Secure Data Portal and one user ID and password.
(The broker will log onto their account and be presented with a list of importer accounts that have given them access to their information. The broker selects the account from the list and can then work with the information. Brokers will only be allowed to work on one account at a time. The broker will have the ability to switch from one import account to another.)
Account Master Data
As part of the initial implementation of ACE ESAR, CBP, in ESAR Drop (Release) A1 (October 2006) will be setting up ACE master files. These files will be available through existing ABI transactions and the Secure Data Portal (referred to as the portal). The pamphlet notes that the portal functionality will allow create, update, and read capabilities, including accounts master data (profiles) and name, address, point of contact.
Payment of Duties, Taxes, and Other Fees
ACE will allow for the current methods of duty payment - individual entry payments, daily statement, and PMS.
Under ACE, PMS (which is currently operating on the ACS platform) will be enhanced and refined.
Under ACE, both Daily Financial Statements and PMS payment process will be entirely separate from the operational processing.
When a post-summary correction (PSC) results in an increase or refund, and the PSC is accepted in the same month as the underlying entries, the amount will be reflected on the same PMS statement, essentially acting as an offset. The pamphlet notes that this could relieve a lot of the 520(a) requests.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 06/22/06 news, 06062205, for Part I.)
Trade User's Guide for ACE-ESAR Release 2 pamphlet (dated 02/09/06) available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com.