(a) Surety bonds required under the provisions of this part may be given only with corporate sureties holding certificates of authority from the Secretary of the Treasury as acceptable sureties on Federal bonds. Each bond and each extension of coverage of bond shall at the time of filing be accompanied by a power of attorney authorizing the agent or officer who executed the bond to so act on behalf of the surety. The appropriate TTB officer who is authorized to approve the bond may, whenever he deems it necessary, require additional evidence of the authority of the agent or officer to execute the bond or extension of coverage of bond. The power of attorney shall be prepared on a form provided by the surety company and executed under the corporate seal of the company. If the power of attorney submitted is other than a manually signed document it shall be accompanied by a certificate of its validity. Limitations concerning corporate sureties are prescribed by the Secretary in Treasury Department Circular No. 570, as revised. The surety shall have no interest whatever in the business covered by the bond.

(b) Treasury Department Circular No. 570 (Companies Holding Certificates of Authority as Acceptable Sureties on Federal Bonds and as Acceptable Reinsuring Companies) is published in the Federal Register annually as of the first workday in July. As they occur, interim revisions of the circular are published in the Federal Register. Copies may be obtained from the Audit Staff, Bureau of Government Financial Operations, Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC 20226.

(61 Stat. 649, 72 Stat. 1421, as amended; 31 U.S.C. 9304, 9306; 26 U.S.C. 5711; 5 U.S.C. 552(a) (80 Stat. 383, as amended)) [T.D. 6961, 33 FR 9488, June 28, 1968. Redesignated at 40 FR 16835, Apr. 15, 1975 and amended by T.D. ATF-92, 46 FR 46921, Sept. 23, 1981]

In lieu of corporate surety the manufacturer of tobacco products may pledge and deposit, as security for his bond, securities which are transferable and are guaranteed as to both interest and principal by the United States, in accordance with the provisions of 31 CFR part 225.

(61 Stat. 650, 72 Stat. 1421; 6 U.S.C.9301, 9303; 26 U.S.C. 5711)

The amount of the bond of a manufacturer of tobacco products shall be not less than the total amount of tax liability on all tobacco products manufactured in his factory, received in bond from other factories and from export warehouses, and released to him in bond from customs custody, during any calendar month. Where the amount of any bond is no longer sufficient and the bond is in less than the maximum amount, the manufacturer shall immediately file a strengthening or superseding bond as required by this subpart. The amount of any such bond (or the total amount including strengthening bonds, if any) need not exceed $250,000 for a manufacturer producing or receiving cigarettes in bond; need not exceed $150,000 for a manufacturer producing or receiving cigars, smokeless tobacco, pipe tobacco, or roll-your-own tobacco in bond; and need not exceed $250,000 for a manufacturer producing or receiving any combination of tobacco products in bond. The bond of a manufacturer of tobacco products shall in no case be less than $1,000.

[T.D. ATF-232, 51 FR 28080, Aug. 5, 1986; T.D. ATF-243, 51 FR 43194, Dec. 1, 1986, as amended by T.D. ATF-289, 54 FR 48839, Nov. 27, 1989; T.D. ATF-424, 64 FR 71931, Dec. 22, 1999]

In the case of a blanket bond filed under the provisions of § 40.67, where the total amount of individual bonds otherwise required for the factories under § 40.133 does not exceed $250,000, such blanket bond shall be not less than the total amount of such individual bonds. Where the total amount of such individual bonds required is in excess of $250,000 but not in excess of $500,000, the amount of the blanket bond shall be not less than $250,000 plus 50 percent of such total amount which is in excess of $250,000. Where the total amount of such individual bonds required is in excess of $500,000 the amount of the blanket bond shall be not less than $375,000 plus 25 percent of such total amount which is in excess of $500,000.

(72 Stat. 1421; 26 U.S.C. 5711)

Where the amount of any bond is no longer sufficient under the provisions of § 40.133 or § 40.134, the manufacturer shall immediately file a strengthening bond in an appropriate amount with the same surety as that on the bond already in effect, unless a superseding bond is filed pursuant to § 40.136. Strengthening bonds will not be approved where any notation is made thereon which is intended, or which may be construed, as a release of any former bond, or as limiting the amount of either bond to less than its full amount.

(72 Stat. 1421; 26 U.S.C. 5711)

A manufacturer of tobacco products shall immediately file a new bond to supersede his current bond when

(a) The corporate surety on the current bond becomes insolvent,

(b) The appropriate TTB officer approves a request from the surety on the current bond to terminate his liability under the bond,

(c) Payment of any liability under a bond is made by the surety thereon,

(d) The amount of the bond is no longer sufficient under the provisions of § 40.133 or § 40.134 and a strengthening bond has not been filed, or

(e) The appropriate TTB officer considers such a superseding bond necessary for the protection of the revenue.

Where a bond is not filed as required under the provisions of this section the manufacturer shall discontinue forthwith the operations to which such bond relates. (72 Stat. 1421: 26 U.S.C. 5711)

An extension of coverage of bond shall be manifested on TTB F 5200.18 by the manufacturer of tobacco products and by the surety on the bond with the same formality and proof of authority as required for the execution of the bond.

(72 Stat. 1421; 26 U.S.C. 5711)

No person shall commence operations under any bond, nor extend his operations, until he receives from the appropriate TTB officer notice of his approval of the bond or of an appropriate extension of coverage of the bond required under this part.

(72 Stat. 1421; 26 U.S.C. 5711)

Any bond required by this part may be terminated by the appropriate TTB officer as to liability for future operations (a) pursuant to application by the surety as provided in the bond, (b) on approval of a superseding bond, or (c) when operations by the manufacturer are permanently discontinued in accordance with subpart J. After a bond is terminated the surety shall remain bound with respect to any liability for unpaid taxes, penalties, and interest, not in excess of the amount of the bond, incurred by the manufacturer prior to the termination date.

(72 Stat. 1421; 26 U.S.C. 5711) [T.D. 6840, 30 FR 9311, July 27, 1965. Redesignated at 40 FR 16835, Apr. 15, 1975]

Securities of the United States pledged and deposited as provided in § 40.132 shall be released only in accordance with the provisions of 31 CFR part 225. Such securities will not be released by the appropriate TTB officer until liability under the bond for which they were pledged has been terminated. When the appropriate TTB officer is satisfied that they may be released, he shall fix the date or dates on which a part or all of such securities may be released. At any time prior to the release of such securities, the appropriate TTB officer may extend the date of release for such additional length of time as he deems necessary.

(61 Stat. 650, 72 Stat. 1421; 31 U.S.C. 9301, 9303, 26 U.S.C. 5711)