In yesterday’s Federal Register, US Customs announced an upcoming National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) test of the Remote Location Filing (RLF) program. Under the RLF program, self-filing importers, and customs brokers with a national permit and RLF approval, may file entries electronically from a remote location other than the port where the cargo is being entered.
The NCAP test, which is in furtherance of CBP’s Trade Transformation modernization initiatives, especially ACE, is slated to go live on August 12, 2015 through an unspecified end date. Key highlights of the test are:
- Adding entry type 52 (government – dutiable) to those eligible for RLF procedures (types 01, 03 and 11)
- Expanding the port locations where RLF entires may be filed
- Requiring the electronic transmission of invoices using the Document Image System (DIS)
- Mandating that single transaction bonds be transmitted using eBond for RLF entries that require these bonds
It is important to note that only ACE entries that are certified for ACE cargo release from summary may be submitted under the test.
US Customs invites the public to submit comments on any aspect of the test through the duration of the test.
