Client Alerts & Insights

Benesch COVID-19 Resource Center: Customs Duty Payment Extensions Available For COVID-19 Emergency

March 21, 2020

Authored By:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) issued bulletin CSMS #42097586 on March 20, 2020, advising that payment of import duties may be deferred under certain circumstances due to the COVID-19 outbreak.  Specifically, importers may request additional days for payment of estimated duties, taxes, and fees in response to the emergency.  Those requests will be approved on a case-by-case basis.  Any importer wishing to file any such a request at this time is instructed to do so via e-mail to the CBP Office of Trade, Trade Policy and Programs at the address OTentrysummary@cbp.dhs.gov

A copy of the bulletin is available at the link below here.

CBP has also indicated that a more comprehensive and longer term extension policy may be forthcoming.  Additional detail regarding this or an expanded program will be published as a Notice in the Federal Register.

Jonathan Todd is a Partner in Benesch’s Transportation & Logistics Practice Group.  He is a licensed U.S. Customs Broker in addition to an attorney.  You may reach Jonathan at 216-363-4658 or jtodd@beneschlaw.com.

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