CBP Issues Fact Sheet on ACE ESAR (Entry Summary, Accounts, and Revenue)

(Trades sources have previously stated that entry preparers and filers will need to prepare for the substantial changes coming with ESAR A2, and that its byword 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.)

CBP states that it plans to deliver enhanced account management features and integrated data for financial and entry summary processing in the following three initial phases:

First Phase (A1): 2007

ACE portal. Those who establish ACE portal accounts - enabling them to use the Internet-based ACE Secure Data Portal, a customized, secure Web site - will be provided electronic access to account-related master, reference, and transactional data submitted to CBP.

Surety and FTZ accounts; CBP form 5106. New account types will be created. Some of the new ACE participants in the first phase will include sureties and Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) operators. Also, CBP Form 5106 (Importer ID Input Record) may be submitted and updated electronically via the portal or the Automated Broker Interface (ABI).

Blanket permits, etc. on ACE portal. Participating Government Agencies (PGAs) will gain the ability to store blanket License, Permits, and Certificate (LPC) data at an account level using the ACE Secure Data Portal.

Broker data at national level. Broker data (exam, license and permit information) will be available at a national level. Broker data will be maintained and available to broker management offices and the broker management branch through ACE.

Single user ID and password. No longer will industry users need to maintain multiple user-identification numbers (IDs) and passwords to access multiple ACE accounts. ACE users will need only one user ID and password, which will improve the system's user security and accessibility.

Automated merging of accounts. The process for merging accounts within the ACE Secure Data Portal will be automated, thus making the process much easier, and eliminating the need for a systems administrator to move data.

Truck drivers accounts. Truck drivers will be able to create and maintain their own accounts, or assign the creation and maintenance function to a service provider, carrier, broker, or importer.

Second Phase (A2): 2008

Near real time financial status; Pay.Gov. The CBP financial system will be integrated, enabling CBP officials to obtain near real time access to the financial status of an entry summary. The flexibility of payment options will also be expanded, giving the trade community the option of secure electronic payment via Pay.Gov.

Weekly consolidated refunds. Refund payments will be consolidated, as opposed to the current system of transactions on a per transaction basis and will be distributed weekly.

e-Bonds via ABI. Filers of electronic bonds (e-Bonds) will be able to transmit bonds using the ABI, giving filers more control over the issuance and validation of their bonds.

Entry summaries - electronic movement to various locations. Entry summary processing will also be made more efficient, as summaries will be able to be moved electronically from one physical CBP location to another.

Electronic paperless entry summary corrections. An electronic paperless entry summary correction process will be introduced to allow a filer to make post-entry summary corrections prior to liquidation.

Reconciliation notification enhanced. The reconciliation notification process will be enhanced to include flag notations at the specific line item level, rather than the current general notation at the header of the entry summary. Reconciliation procedures will also be expanded to include antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CV) duty entries.

Trade override code for Census warnings. A new census warning process will be implemented, through which the trade community can electronically correct census warnings by the submission of an override code.

Scanned document submission. Scanning technology will be enabled, leading to significant cost savings associated with document submission, storage, and retrieval for both CBP and the trade community.

Third Phase (A3): 2010

Automated drawback process. For the first time, the drawback process will be automated.

Protest filing modernized/streamlined. The process for filing protests will be modernized and streamlined through an electronic system, allowing CBP to respond to protests faster, leading to greater efficiency in turnaround time.

Automated ACE IASS - multiple releases/monthly basis. An automated ACE Importer Activity Summary Statement (IASS) will be an option for the filing of statistical and revenue data for multiple releases on a monthly basis. With ACE, the process will be automated and summaries will be able to be filed on an aggregate basis. It will protect importers' interest in maintaining cash flows, and it will give importers needed flexibility to structure their logistical practices.

Once Three Phases are Completed, ESAR Will be Fully Integrated

CBP states that, at the end of the third phase, the ESAR features of ACE will be fully integrated into the official trade processing system for more than 350 ports in the U.S. and other facilities around the world.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 08/24/06 news, 06082405 for most recent BP summary of trade user's guide for ACE-ESAR Release A2.

See ITT's Online Archives or 08/25/06 news, 06082505, for BP summary of CBP presentations from its ACE Exchange Conference, with links to ESAR A1 & ESAR A2 presentations.)

CBP fact sheet (dated 10/06) available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/newsroom/fact_sheets/trade/esar_cbp_factsht.ctt/esar_cbp_factsht.pdf