(a) Every export warehouse proprietor shall at the times specified in this subpart make a true and accurate inventory of products held on TTB Form 5220.3 (3373).

(b) This inventory shall be subject to verification by an appropriate TTB officer. A copy of each inventory shall be retained by the export warehouse proprietor for 3 years following the close of the calendar year in which the inventory is made and shall be made available for inspection by any appropriate TTB officer upon request.

An opening inventory shall be made by the export warehouse proprietor at the time of commencing business. The date of commencing business under this part shall be the effective date indicated on the permit issued under § 44.93. A similar inventory shall be made by the export warehouse proprietor when he files a superseding bond. The date of such inventory shall be the effective date of such superseding bond.

A special inventory shall be made by the export warehouse proprietor whenever required by any appropriate TTB officer.

A closing inventory shall be made by the export warehouse proprietor when he transfers ownership or concludes business. Where the proprietor transfers ownership the closing inventory shall be made as of the day preceding the date of the opening inventory of the successor.

Every export warehouse proprietor shall place and keep, on the outside of the building in which his warehouse is located, or at the entrance of his warehouse, where it can be plainly seen, a sign, in plain and legible letters, exhibiting the name under which he operates and (a) the type of business (“Export Warehouse Proprietor”) or (b) the number of the permit issued to the export warehouse proprietor under this part.

Export warehouse premises may only be used for the storage of tobacco products and cigarette papers and tubes, upon which the Internal Revenue tax has not been paid, for subsequent removal under this part, and for the storage of processed tobacco pending export.

(a) In general. Each export warehouse proprietor must keep in the warehouse complete and concise records that show the:

(1) Number of containers;

(2) Unit type (for example: cartons, cases);

(3) Kinds of articles (for example: small cigarettes);

(4) Name of manufacturer and brand; and

(5) Quantity of tobacco products and cigarette papers and tubes, and any processed tobacco received, removed, transferred, destroyed, lost, or returned to manufacturers or to customs bonded warehouse proprietors.

(b) Other records; form and retention. In addition to the records specified in paragraph (a) of this section, the export warehouse proprietor must retain a copy of each TTB F 5200.14 from a manufacturer, another export warehouse proprietor, or a customs warehouse proprietor, from whom tobacco products or cigarette papers or tubes were received, as well as a copy of each TTB F 5200.14 covering the tobacco products and cigarette papers and tubes removed from the warehouse. The entries for each day in the records maintained under this section must be made by the close of the business day following the day on which the transactions occur. No particular form of records is prescribed, but the information required must be readily ascertainable. The copies of TTB F 5200.14 and other records must be retained for 3 years following the close of the calendar year in which the shipments were received or removed and must be made available for inspection by any appropriate TTB officer upon request.

Every export warehouse proprietor shall make a report on Form 5220.4 of all tobacco products, cigarette papers and tubes, and any processed tobacco on hand, received, removed, transferred, and lost or destroyed. Such report shall be made at the times specified in this subpart and shall be made whether or not any operations or transactions occurred during the period covered by the report. A copy of each report shall be retained by the export warehouse proprietor at his warehouse for 3 years following the close of the calendar year covered in such reports, and made available for inspection by any appropriate TTB officer upon his request.

An opening report, covering the period from the date of the opening inventory, or inventory made in connection with a superseding bond, to the end of the month, shall be made on or before the 20th day following the end of the month in which the business was commenced.

A report for each full month shall be made on or before the 20th day following the end of the month covered in the report.

A special report, covering the unreported period to the day preceding the date of any special inventory required by an appropriate TTB officer, shall be made with such inventory. Another report, covering the period from the date of such inventory to the end of the month, shall be made on or before the 20th day following the end of the month in which the inventory was made.

A closing report, covering the period from the first of the month to the date of the closing inventory, or the day preceding the date of an inventory made in connection with a superseding bond, shall be made with such inventory.

Remission of the tax liability on tobacco products, and cigarette papers and tubes may be extended to the export warehouse proprietor liable for the tax where such articles in bond are lost (otherwise than by theft) or destroyed, by fire, casualty, or act of God, while in the possession or ownership of such proprietor. Where articles are so lost or destroyed the proprietor shall report promptly such fact, and the circumstances, to the appropriate TTB officer. If the proprietor wishes to be relieved of the tax liability, the proprietor must prepare and file a claim on TTB Form 5620.8. The nature, date, place, and extent of the loss or destruction must be stated in such claim. The claim must be accompanied by such evidence as is necessary to establish to the satisfaction of the appropriate TTB officer that the claim is valid. When the appropriate TTB officer has acted on the claim, such officer will return a copy of TTB Form 5620.8 to the proprietor as notice of such action. The proprietor must keep the copy of TTB Form 5620.8 for 3 years following the close of the calendar year in which the claim is filed.

A claim for abatement of the unpaid portion of the assessment of any tax on tobacco products, and cigarette papers and tubes, or any liability in respect of such tax, alleged to be excessive in amount, assessed after the expiration of the period of limitation applicable thereto, or erroneously or illegally assessed, shall be filed on Form 5620.8. Such claim shall set forth the reasons relied upon for the allowance of the claim and shall be supported by such evidence as is necessary to establish to the satisfaction of the appropriate TTB officer that the claim is valid.

The taxes paid on tobacco products, and cigarette papers and tubes may be refunded (without interest) to an export warehouse proprietor on proof satisfactory to the appropriate TTB officer that the claimant proprietor paid the tax on such articles which were after taxpayment lost (otherwise than by theft) or destroyed, by fire, casualty, or act of God, while in the possession or ownership of such export warehouse proprietor, or withdrawn by him from the market. Any claim for refund under this section shall be prepared on Form 5620.8, in duplicate, and shall include a statement that the tax imposed by 26 U.S.C. 7652 or chapter 52, was paid in respect to the articles covered by the claim, and that the articles were lost, destroyed, or withdrawn from the market within 6 months preceding the date the claim is filed. The claim must be filed on TTB Form 5620.8 and supported by such evidence as is necessary to establish to the satisfaction of the appropriate TTB officer that the claim is valid. The duplicate of the claim shall be retained by the export warehouse proprietor for 3 years following the close of the calendar year in which the claim is filed. Where an export warehouse proprietor has paid the tax on tobacco products, or cigarette papers or tubes, he may file claim for refund of an overpayment of tax under subpart A of part 46 of this chapter if, at the time the tax was paid, these articles had been exported, destroyed, or otherwise disposed of in such a manner that tax was not due and payable.