Customs Broker Permit User Fee Payment for 2026

On December 2, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection published in the Federal Register (90 FR 55319) Customs Broker Permit User Fee Payment for 2026. The $185.38 fee is due by January 30, 2026.

Customs Broker Permit User Fee Payment for 2025

CBP has given to Customs Brokers that the annual user fee that is assessed for each permit held by a customs broker, whether an individual, partnership, association, or corporation, is due no later than January 31, 2025. Pursuant to fee adjustments required by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations, the customs broker permit user fee payable for calendar year 2025 will be $180.57.

More information HERE

Continuing Education Requirement for Licensed Customs Brokers

On November 1, 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection published in the Federal Register (89 FR 87387) Continuing Education Requirement for Licensed Customs Brokers.

SUMMARY: This document announces that individual customs broker license holders may begin completing qualified continuing broker education courses on January 1, 2025 (compliance date) and, accordingly, 20 credits as the prorated number of required credit hours for the triennial period beginning on February 1, 2024, and ending on January 31, 2027. Further, this notice announces the criteria that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) used to select qualified accreditors, the list of CBP-selected qualified accreditors, and the period of award for these accreditors.

DATES: Individual brokers may begin completing qualified continuing broker education courses on January 1, 2025. The initial three-year period of award for CBP-selected qualified accreditors will be from June 2, 2024, through June 1, 2027.

Request for Proposals for Customs Brokers Continuing Education Accreditors Issued in SAM

The Final Rule Continuing Education for Licensed Customs Brokers was published on June 23, 2023 (88 FR 41224). In that Final Rule, CBP noted that it would publish a Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit submissions from parties interested in becoming a recognized accreditor. The accreditor(s) ultimately chosen by CBP will receive, review, and provide decisions to education providers on whether their offerings will be eligible for the new continuing education credits requirement.

The RFP has been issued in the System for Award Management (SAM). To review the RFP, visit the SAM website at www.SAM.gov. On the Search tab, type in “broker education” in the provided search field. You can also search by the Notice ID: 70B06C24R00000030. All instructions for submitting information are included in the RFP. CBP is accepting RFP submissions until March 7, 2024.

Read more HERE.

Modernization of the Customs Broker Regulations

On October 18, 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection published in the Federal Register (87 FR 63268) Modernization of the Customs Broker Regulations

SUMMARY: This document adopts as final, with changes, proposed amendments to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations modernizing the customs broker regulations. CBP is transitioning all customs brokers to a single national permit and expanding the scope of the national permit authority to allow national permit holders to conduct any type of customs business throughout the customs territory of the United States. To accomplish this, CBP is eliminating broker districts and district permits, which in turn removes the need for the maintenance of district offices, and district permit waivers. CBP is also updating, among other changes, the responsible supervision and control oversight framework, ensuring that customs business is conducted within the United States, and requiring that a customs broker have direct communication with an importer. These changes are designed to enable customs brokers to meet the challenges of the modern operating environment while maintaining a high level of service in customs business. Further, CBP is increasing fees for the broker license application to recover some of the costs associated with the review of customs broker license applications and the necessary vetting of individuals and business entities (i.e., partnerships, associations, and corporations). Additionally, CBP is announcing the deployment of a new online system, the eCBP Portal, for processing broker submissions and electronic payments. Lastly, CBP is publishing a concurrent final rule document to eliminate all references to customs broker district permit user fees (see ``Elimination of Customs Broker District Permit Fee'' RIN 1515-AE43) to align with the changes made in this final rule document.

DATES: This final rule is effective December 19, 2022.

Elimination of Customs Broker District Permit Fee and Modernization of the Customs Broker Regulations; Final Rules

On October 18, 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection published in the Federal Register (87 FR 63262) Elimination of Customs Broker District Permit Fee and Modernization of the Customs Broker Regulations; Final Rules

Modernization of the Customs Broker Regulations (19 CFR 111) Proposed Changes

On June 8, 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the publication of the Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs) for the long-awaited update to 19 CFR 111. The NPRM for the Modernization of the Customs Broker Regulations (85 FR 34836) and the NPRM for the Elimination of the Customs Broker District Permit Fee (85 FR 34549) were published on June 5, 2020. The comment period for both NPRMs ended on August 4, 2020.

Modernization of the Customs Broker Regulations (19 CFR 111) Proposed Changes 

Some of the proposed changes are listed below: 

 Establish one national permit for each broker

• Eliminate the district permit and transition to a single permit framework (national permit) that operates at the national level within the customs territory of the United States
• Eliminate the need for brokers to request permit waivers and maintain district offices

 Broker Fee Changes and Electronic Payment

• Increase the license application fee for individual and organization license applications to better align application fees to CBP's processing expenses
• Expand payment options for brokers to include electronic fee payment

 Broker Reporting and Electronic Data Interface (ACE)

• Enhance the ACE broker portal and streamline broker reporting

 Customs Business within the U.S. Customs Territory and Knowledgeable Point of Contact

• Require that customs business be conducted within the customs territory of the United States
• Require that brokers designate a knowledgeable point of contact to be available to CBP during and outside of normal operating hours to respond to customs business issues

 Broker/Client Relationship

• Require brokers to obtain a customs power of attorney directly from the importer of record/drawback claimant, not via a freight forwarder
• Report to CBP when brokers terminate representation of a client as a result of determining that the client is attempting to defraud or otherwise commit any criminal act against the U.S. Government
• Require brokers to advise the client on the proper corrective actions required and retain a record of broker communication with the client in cases of noncompliance, error or omission

 Responsible Supervision and Control  Requirements

• Require brokers to submit a supervision plan with a national permit application to detail how the entity intends to exercise Responsible Supervision and Control
• Update and add factors related to Responsible Supervision and Control to reflect the transition to a national permit framework
• Require brokers to employ a sufficient number of licensed brokers to ensure Responsible Supervision and Control over their customs business

 Cyber Security and Records Requirements

• Require brokers to maintain records, including electronic records, within U.S. customs territory
• Require brokers to notify CBP when there has been a breach of electronic or physical broker records and provide the compromised importer of record numbers

CBP Will Require Continuing Education for Customs Brokers

In a Federal Register Notice scheduled to be published September 10, 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection proposes required Continuing Education for Licensed Customs Brokers

The continuing education requirment had be discussed for some time and formally presented to the trade in December 2020. At that time Agathon Associates submitted comments which appear to have been taken into consideration in the proposed rule,

Reminder: FTZ Identifier Format Change Deployment Date is April 24, 2021

As a reminder, the FTZ Identifier Format Change will be deployed to the Production Environment (PROD) on April 24, 2021. Trade participants may test the functionality in the Certification Environment (CERT) until the functionality deploys to PROD.

Background: The Entry Summary Create/Update transaction (AE) will be changing to accept an expanded 9-character FTZ ID format. In that transaction, to accommodate the expanded length, the Foreign Trade Zone Identifier (currently 11-Reccord positions 54-60) will be moving to the 11-Record positions 63-71 (currently ‘Filler’). The repositioned data element will accommodate the new 9-character ID as well as the legacy 5- and 7-character versions of the ID. The transition will be a hard cutover when the change is implemented in CERT and PROD; the FTZ ID will no longer be recognized in positions 54-60 of the 11-Record.

In addition, once the transition occurs, the output of the Entry Summary Query (JD) will return (when full output requested) a Foreign Trade Zone Identifier of 5-, 7-, or 9-character length in the 11-Record positions 63-71.

CATAIR changes have been posted to CBP.gov under the ‘Drafts for Future Capabilities’ tab. Upon deployment of this functionality, the CATAIR will be posted under the “Chapters” tab.

Questions or concerns should be directed to Entry Summary, Accounts & Revenue Division (ESAR) at esar@cbp.dhs.gov.

Agathon Associates Comments on Proposal for Continuing Education for Customs Brokers

SUMMARY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is considering the amendment of its regulations to mandate continuing education for licensed customs brokers. CBP is seeking comments on a potential framework of continuing education requirements for licensed customs brokers in order to assess the current situation among members of the customs broker industry and analyze the potential impact of such a framework on customs brokers.

Agathon Associates submitted the following comments.

I am a Licensed Customs Broker (License # 30179). I have been licensed since June 4, 2014.

I support the proposal for continuing education requirements for brokers, provided the requirements do not impose a significant financial burden on small business such as mine.

I am a consultant in international trade, and I acquired my license as a credential to validate my competence to clients, potential clients, and CBP officers. My business model is to examine a client's current import activity and determine whether they are using to the correct HTSUS classifications, are otherwise in compliance with the regulations, and whether there are potential cost savings through use of free trade agreements, preference programs, the miscellaneous tariff bill, foreign-trade ones, and, when they were in effect, Section 301 exclusions. In the course of my evaluation of their programs, I find errors which have resulted in under-payment or over-payment of duties. I also find misconceptions as to the rules for the various tariff mitigation provisions. I find errors and omissions due to (1) brokers relying on inaccurate information from a client who does not understand the regulation, (2) brokers relying on information from the exporter, who may understand the regulations in the exporting country, but not the U.S. regulations, and (3) brokers not keeping current on the ever-changing regulations.

I agree with CBP "that through government-provided, online education opportunities alone, an individual license holder can obtain 40 hours of continuing education over 3 years." While "Credit could be given to established corporate training, courses offered by customs brokers associations," as recognized by CBP, I strongly urge that any non-government-provided education by optional. (1) Non-governmental providers change considerable fees for their educational programs, which, if mandatory, would be a substantial burden on small business. (2) Education offered by non-government providers would not have the assurance of accuracy that government provided education would afford brokers. (3) Accepting non-government provided programs could risk the government appearing to favor some providers over others. (4) Mandatory education offered by non-government entities could result in small businesses paying their larger competitors for training. I am a broker in a small business and would be able to avail myself of internet-based training, however, for the reasons noted above, I strongly prefer to access government-provided training.

Customs Seek Comments on Proposal for Continuing Education Requirement for Brokers

SUMMARY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is considering the amendment of its regulations to mandate continuing education for licensed customs brokers. CBP is seeking comments on a potential framework of continuing education requirements for licensed customs brokers in order to assess the current situation among members of the customs broker industry and analyze the potential impact of such a framework on customs brokers.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 28, 2020.

You can read the proposal in the October 28, 2020, Federal Register (85 FR 68260).

Customs Broker Fee of $144.74 Due January 25

REMINDER to customs brokers that the annual user fee that is assessed for each permit held by a broker, whether it may be an individual, partnership, association, or corporation, is due by January 25, 2019. Pursuant to fee adjustments required by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) and CBP regulations, the annual user fee payable in calendar year 2019 will be $144.74.

Customs Brokers User Fee Payment for 2018

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security has given notice to customs brokers that the annual user fee that is assessed for each permit held by a broker, whether it may be an individual, partnership, association, or corporation, is due by January 26, 2018. Pursuant to fee adjustments required by the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act and CBP regulations, the annual user fee for calendar year 2018 will be $141.70.

CBP Announces Changes to Broker Exam

In today's Federal Register, U.S. Customs and Border Protection ("CBP") announced a proposal to amend the CBP regulations concerning the customs broker's examination provisions. Specifically, this document proposes to transition to a computer automated customs broker examination, increase the examination fee to cover the increased cost of delivering the exam, and adjust the dates of the examination to account for the fiscal year transition period and payment schedule requirements.

Here are some of the changes proposed:

• Transition from paper exam to electronic Exam,
• The exam will be moved from the first Monday of April and October to the fourth Monday of April and October,
• The fee for taking the exam will double, from $200 to $390, and
• A never used provision for a special exam outside of the regularly scheduled semi-annual exams will be eliminated.

MORE INFORMATION

To allow for greater flexibility in test administration and for the transition from a paper and pencil format to computer automated exams, CBP proposes to remove the word ``written'' before examination in paragraph (a)(4) (19 CFR 111.11(a)(4)). The automated examination will be held at private testing centers and administered by professional proctors. These spaces will each be equipped with computers programed to accommodate the examination while blocking web access. Examinees are only permitted access to those resources allowed to be brought into the examination as listed on cbp.gov. Examination automation presents many benefits for both the applicant as well as CBP. First, automation will provide faster notification of test scores to the examinee. In addition, CBP expects examination automation to help standardize the testing environment and equipment for all examinees across the country. For CBP, automation decreases the staff and administrative resources necessary to conduct the examination.

The regulations currently provide that examinations will be given on the first Monday in April and October. In the past few years, CBP has started the new fiscal year operating under a Continuing Resolution passed by the U.S. Congress. This fiscal uncertainty has created a logistical challenge in meeting the payment schedule required by the OPM. To allow more time between the start of the fiscal year and the October examination, CBP proposes to adjust the examination dates to the fourth Monday in April and October.

The current examination fee is $200. (19 CFR 111.13(b).) As part of the review of the customs brokers regulations, CBP conducted a fee study and determined that a fee of $390 is necessary to recover the costs associated with administering the customs broker license examination. A fee study documenting the proposed fee change, entitled ``Customs Broker License Examination Fee Study,'' has been included in the docket of this rulemaking (Docket No. USCBP-2016-0059). The examination fee has remained at $200 since 2000 and has not been adjusted to account for inflation. In addition, the cost to deliver the examination is expected to increase. CBP has relied upon port staff to administer the examination using mainly government facilities and a few hotel sites. With automated examinations, CBP will need to hire proctors and reserve testing centers. As a result, CBP proposes to increase the examination fee from $200 to $390.

Comments must be received on or before November 14, 2016.

See the Federal Register notice HERE