Collapse to view only § 141.16 - Disposition of documents.

§ 141.11 - Evidence of right to make entry for importations by common carrier.

(a) Merchandise not released directly to carrier. Except where merchandise is released directly to the carrier in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section, one of the following types of evidence of the right to make entry shall be filed in connection with the entry of merchandise imported by common carrier:

(1) A bill of lading or air waybill, presented by the holder thereof, properly endorsed when endorsement is required under the law. A nonnegotiable bill of lading, or air waybill, may not be endorsed by the named consignee to give someone else the right to make entry. If the person making entry intends to use the original bill of lading or air waybill to obtain a duplicate bill of lading, duplicate air waybill, or carrier's certificate from the carrier, the exchange shall be made before the entry is filed, and the duplicate bill of lading, duplicate air waybill, or carrier's certificate shall be used to make entry in accordance with paragraph (a) (3) or (4) of this section. For purposes of this part, the rights of the consignor relating to an air waybill as prescribed by the Warsaw Convention (49 Stat. 3017) shall be protected.

(2) An extract from a bill of lading or air waybill certified to be genuine by the carrier bringing the merchandise to the port of entry. Customs officers shall not certify extracts from bills of lading or air waybills.

(3) A certified duplicate bill of lading or air waybill, with the carrier's certificate being in substantially the following form:

Duplicate Bill Of Lading or Air Waybill Certificate __________, 19—

The undersigned carrier, bringing the within-described merchandise to this port, hereby certifies that this signed copy of the bill of lading or air waybill is genuine and may be used for the purpose of making Customs entry as provided for in section 484(i), Tariff Act of 1930.

(Name of carrier) (Agent)

(4) A carrier's certificate, which may be executed on the official entry form, or, in appropriate cases, by means of a rubber-stamped or typewritten combined carrier's certificate and release order with one signature on a copy of the bill of lading, airway bill, shipping receipt, or other comparable document. The rubber-stamped or typewritten certificate shall be in substantially the following form, which may be varied to include any of the qualifications on release shown in § 141.111(d):

Date ____________

The undersigned carrier, to whom or upon whose order the articles described herein or in the attached document must be released, hereby certifies that the consignee named in this document is the owner or consignee of such articles within the purview of section 484(h), Tariff Act of 1930. In accordance with the provisions of section 484(j), Tariff Act of 1930, authority is hereby given to release the articles covered by the aforementioned statement to such consignee.

(Name of carrier) (Agent)

(5) A blanket carrier's release order on an appropriately modified bill of lading or air waybill covering any or all shipments which will arrive at the port on the carrier's conveyance during the period specified in the release order.

(6) A shipping receipt or other document presented in lieu of a bill of lading or air waybill shall be accepted as authority for making entry only if it bears a carrier's certificate in accordance with paragraph (a)(4) of this section, or if entry is made by the actual consignee in person or in his name by a duly authorized agent.

(b) Merchandise released directly to carrier. Where, in accordance with subsection (j) of section 484, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1484), merchandise is released from Customs custody (either under immediate delivery procedures in accordance with the provisions of subpart C of part 142 of this chapter, or after an entry has been filed in accordance with subpart A of part 142 of this chapter, or after an entry summary, which shall serve as both the entry and entry summary has been filed with estimated duties attached where appropriate in accordance with subpart B of part 142 of this chapter), to the carrier by whom the merchandise was brought to the port, the delivery of the merchandise by the carrier to the person filing the entry summary with estimated duties attached shall be deemed to be the certification required by subsection (h), section 484, Tariff Act of 1930. Customs responsibility under this optional entry procedure is limited to the collection of duties, and constitutes no representation whatsoever regarding the right of any person to obtain possession of the merchandise from the carrier. Consequently, no Customs official shall be liable to any person in respect to the delivery of merchandise released from Customs custody in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph.

[T.D. 73-175, 38 FR 17447, July 2, 1973, as amended by T.D. 78-394, 43 FR 49787, Oct. 25, 1978; T.D. 82-224, 47 FR 53727, Nov. 29, 1982; T.D. 87-75, 52 FR 20068, May 29, 1987; T.D. 90-87, 55 FR 47052, Nov. 9, 1990; T.D. 97-82, 62 FR 51770, Oct. 3, 1997]

§ 141.12 - Right to make entry of importations by other than common carrier.

When merchandise is not imported by a common carrier, possession of the merchandise at the time of arrival in the United States shall be deemed sufficient evidence of the right to make entry.

§ 141.13 - Right to make entry of abandoned or salvaged merchandise.

Underwriters of abandoned merchandise or salvors of merchandise saved from a wreck who are unable to produce a bill of lading, air waybill, certified duplicate bill of lading or air waybill, or carrier's certificate, shall produce evidence satisfactory to the port director of their right to act.

[T.D. 78-394, 43 FR 49787, Oct. 25, 1978]

§ 141.14 - Deceased or insolvent consignees and court-appointed administrators.

The executor or administrator of the estate of a deceased consignee, the receiver or other legal representative of an insolvent consignee, or the representative appointed in any action or proceeding at law to act for a consignee shall not be permitted to make entry unless he produces a duly endorsed bill of lading or air waybill, a carrier's certificate, or a duplicate bill of lading or air waybill, executed in accordance with subsections (h) or (i) of section 484, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1484), showing him to be the consignee for Customs purposes.

[T.D. 78-394, 43 FR 49787, Oct. 25, 1978]

§ 141.15 - Bond for production of bill of lading or air waybill.

(a) When appropriate. If the person desiring to make entry is unable to present a bill of lading, air waybill, or other evidence of right to make entry in accordance with § 141.11, the port director may accept a bond for the production of a bill of lading or air waybill under the provisions of section 484(c), Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1484(c)). The bond shall be for the production of a bill of lading or air waybill, unless the person making entry intends to produce a carrier's certificate or certified duplicate bill of lading or air waybill. In that case, no bond is required because section 484(c) does not apply to entries made on a carrier's certificate or certified duplicate bill of lading or air waybill. If the port director is in doubt as to the propriety of accepting entry on a bond for the production of a bill of lading or air waybill, he shall request authority to do so from the Commissioner of Customs.

(b) Form. The bond shall be on Customs Form 301 and contain the bond conditions set forth in § 113.69 of this chapter.

(c) Documents acceptable to satisfy bond. A bond given for the production of a bill of lading or air waybill shall be considered as canceled upon production of a bill of lading or air waybill, and may be considered as satisfied but shall not be canceled upon the production of a carrier's certificate or certified duplicate bill of lading or air waybill.

[T.D. 73-175, 38 FR 17447, July 2, 1973, as amended by T.D. 78-394, 43 FR 49788, Oct. 25, 1978; T.D. 84-213, 49 FR 41184, Oct. 19, 1984]

§ 141.16 - Disposition of documents.

(a) Bill of lading or air waybill. When the return of the bill of lading or air waybill to the person making entry is requested in accordance with section 484(j), Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1484(j)), the port director shall obtain a receipt showing sufficient data from the bill of lading or air waybill to completely identify it and enable the auditor to verify the production of proper evidence of the right to make entry. The receipt shall also show any freight charges and weights that appear on the bill of lading or air waybill. The port director shall then return the bill of lading or air waybill to the person making entry with a notation thereon to the effect that entry has been made for the merchandise.

(b) Other documents. When any of the other documents specified in § 141.11(a) (2) through (6) is used in making entry, it shall be retained by the port director as evidence that the person making entry is authorized to do so.

[T.D. 73-175, 38 FR 17447, July 2, 1973, as amended by T.D. 78-394, 43 FR 49788, Oct. 25, 1978]

§ 141.17 - Entry by nonresident consignee.

A nonresident consignee has the right to make entry, but any bond taken in connection with the entry shall have a resident corporate surety or, when a carnet issued under part 114 of this chapter is used as an entry form, an approved resident guaranteeing association.

§ 141.18 - Entry by nonresident corporation.

A nonresident corporation (i.e., one which is not incorporated within the customs territory of the United States or in the Virgin Islands of the United States) may not enter merchandise for consumption unless it:

(a) Has a resident agent in the State where the port of entry is located who is authorized to accept service of process against that corporation or, in the case of an entry filed from a remote location pursuant to subpart E of part 143 of this chapter, has a resident agent authorized to accept service of process against that corporation either in the State where the port of entry is located or in the State from which the remote location filing originates; and

(b) Files a bond on CBP Form 301, containing the bond conditions set forth in § 113.62 of this chapter having a resident corporate surety to secure the payment of any increased and additional duties which may be found due.

[T.D. 73-175, 38 FR 17447, July 2, 1973, as amended by T.D. 84-213, 49 FR 41184, Oct. 19, 1984; CBP Dec. 09-47, 74 FR 69018, Dec. 30, 2009]

§ 141.19 - Declaration of entry.

(a) Declaration by consignee. The consignee in whose name an entry is made under the provisions of section 484, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1484), shall execute the declaration specified in section 485(a), Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1485(a)) on:

(1) The entry summary for merchandise entered for consumption, for warehouse, or for temporary importation under bond, or

(2) The rewarehouse or the bonded manufacturing warehouse entry.

The declaration need not be under oath. When the consignee is a partnership, any partner may execute the declaration, and when the consignee is a corporation any officer of the corporation may execute the declaration.

(b) Declaration by agent of consignee—(1) Authorized agent with knowledge of the facts. When entry is made in a consignee's name by an agent who has knowledge of the facts and who is authorized under a proper power of attorney by that consignee to make declarations in accordance with section 485(f), Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1485(f)), a declaration on the entry or entry summary executed by that agent is sufficient and no bond to produce a declaration of the consignee is required.

(2) Other agents. When entry is made in a consignee's name by an agent who does not meet the qualifications in paragraph (b)(1) of this section either:

(i) A declaration of the consignee on Customs Form 3347-A shall be filed with the entry documentation or entry summary or

(ii) A charge for the production of the declaration shall be made against the bond on Customs Form 301, containing the bond conditions set forth in § 113.62 of this chapter. No separate bond of the agent shall be required, since a charge against the bond on Customs Form 301, containing the bond conditions set forth in § 113.62 of this chapter satisfies the requirements of section 485(c), Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1485(c)).

(3) Nominal consignee. A nominal consignee who makes entry in his own name is not considered an agent within the purview of section 485(c), Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1485(c)), and he shall execute a declaration in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section.

(c) Books, newspapers, and periodicals. In the case of successive importations of books, magazines, newspapers, and periodicals within the scope of section 485(b), Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1485(b)), one declaration filed at the time of arrival of the first importation will be sufficient.

[T.D. 73-175, 38 FR 17447, July 2, 1973, as amended by T.D. 79-221, 44 FR 46816, June 4, 1979; T.D. 84-213, 49 FR 41184, Oct. 19, 1984]

§ 141.20 - Actual owner's declaration and superseding bond of actual owner.

(a) Filing—(1) Declaration of owner. A consignee in whose name an entry summary for consumption, warehouse, or temporary importation under bond is filed, or in whose name a rewarehouse entry or a manufacturing warehouse entry is made, and who desires, under the provisions of section 485(d), Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1485(d)), to be relieved from statutory liability for the payment of increased and additional duties shall declare at the time of the filing of the entry summary or entry documentation, as provided in § 141.19(a), that he is not the actual owner of the merchandise, furnish the name and address of the owner, and file with CBP, either at the port of entry or electronically within 90 days from the time of entry (see § 141.68) a declaration of the actual owner of the merchandise acknowledging that the actual owner will pay all additional and increased duties. The declaration of owner shall be filed on Customs Form 3347.

(2) Bond of actual owner. If the consignee desires to be relieved from contractual liability for the payment of increased and additional duties voluntarily assumed by him under the single-entry bond which he filed in connection with the entry documentation and/or entry summary, or under his continuous bond against which the entry and/or entry summary is charged, he shall file a bond of the actual owner on Customs Form 301, containing the bond conditions set forth in § 113.62 of this chapter, with CBP, either at the port of entry or electronically within 90 days from the time of entry.

(b) Appropriate party to execute and file. Neither the declaration of the actual owner nor the bond of the actual owner shall be accepted unless executed by the actual owner or his duly authorized agent, and filed by the nominal consignee or his duly authorized agent.

(c) Nonresident actual owner. If the actual owner is a nonresident, the actual owner's declaration shall not be accepted as compliance with section 485(d), Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1485(d)), unless there is filed therewith the owner's bond on Customs Form 301, containing the bond conditions set forth in § 113.62 of this chapter, with a resident corporate surety.

(d) Filing of declaration of owner for purposes other than relief from liability. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the nominal consignee from filing the actual owner's declaration without the superseding bond for purposes other than relief from statutory liability for the payment of increased and additional duties under the provisions of section 485(d), Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1485(d)).

[T.D. 73-175, 38 FR 17447, July 2, 1973, as amended by T.D. 74-212, 39 FR 28420, Aug. 7, 1974; T.D. 79-221, 44 FR 46816, Aug. 9, 1979; T.D. 84-213, 49 FR 41184, Oct. 19, 1984]