Q:	Can I use the same ACH payer number for more than one bank account?
A:	No. Each bank account must have a unique ACH payer number.

Q:

How soon after my ACH payment authorization is accepted will my bank account be debited?

A:

ACH transactions will usually, but not necessarily always, be debited from the payer's account two business days from the date the ACH payment transmission is accepted. Business days now include federal holidays and bank holidays. Because banking institutions perform "electronic sweeps" at different times, it is not possible to guarantee that exactly two business days will elapse between the time of ACH payment authorization and the actual debit. The precise timing of an individual debit is determined solely by the ACH payer's bank. Certain payers' banks have been found, although infrequently, to debit accounts on Saturdays and Sundays. To avoid potential problems, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Revenue Division, very strongly urges all ACH payers to ensure that sufficient funds are available at the time each and every ACH payment transaction is authorized.

Q:	How will I recognize the ACH debit on my bank statement?
A:	The debit amount on your statement will have a U.S. Customs and Border Protection notation. If your bank uses the CCD+ format, your statement will include the CBP statement number.

ACH Debit Questions

Q:	Is my bank account information stored in the CBP system?
A:	No. For security reasons, CBP does not store bank account information in ACS. CBP keeps only your ACH payer number. The National Finance Center and the ACH processor bank have your account information.

Q:	I am an importer who uses several brokers. Do I need an ACH payer number for each broker?
A:	No. The same payer number can be given to each broker. Each broker's payment will be noted separately on your bank statement. There are no consolidated debits.

Q:	Can I use the same ACH payer number for more than one bank account?
A:	No. Each bank account must have a unique ACH payer number.

Q:

How soon after my ACH payment authorization is accepted will my bank account be debited?

A:

ACH transactions will usually, but not necessarily always, be debited from the payer's account two business days from the date the ACH payment transmission is accepted. Business days now include federal holidays and bank holidays. Because banking institutions perform "electronic sweeps" at different times, it is not possible to guarantee that exactly two business days will elapse between the time of ACH payment authorization and the actual debit. The precise timing of an individual debit is determined solely by the ACH payer's bank. Certain payers' banks have been found, although infrequently, to debit accounts on Saturdays and Sundays. To avoid potential problems, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection National Finance Center very strongly urges all ACH payers to ensure that sufficient funds are available at the time each and every ACH payment transaction is authorized.

Q:	How will I recognize the ACH debit on my bank statement?
A:	The debit amount on your statement will have a U.S. Customs and Border Protection notation. If your bank uses the CCD+ format, your statement will include the CBP statement number.

ACH Credit Questions

Q:	How do I notify my financial institution to originate a transmission?
A:	The financial industry provides methods for initiating the ACH Credit transaction, including telephone, PC dial-up, and floppy disk options. Your financial institution will help you determine which method is best for you.

Q:	How do I determine when to initiate my ACH Credit transaction?
A:	You must originate your transaction at least one-two days prior to the payment due date. (Some banks take two days to process your transaction so please discuss with your bank.) You control the settlement date. You must obtain statement number and amount due from your broker/filer. You need to contact your broker/filer and decide how to best be notified of your payment obligations.

Q:

Will I be notified that CBP received my payment?

A:

The transaction should be listed on the statement that you receive from your financial institution. The final statement, available through the Automated Broker Interface (ABI) on the first business day after the statement is paid, lists all paid entry summaries and serves as payment confirmation for statement payers. For example: Payment date is 5-4-00 broker will receive final statement on 5-5-00 if all information is correct. If an error has occurred on the addendum record and CBP will have to manually apply your payment the broker will receive the final one business day after payment has been applied. For example: Payment date is 5-4-00 an error was on addendum record CBP manually applied payment on 5-5-00 broker will receive final statement on 5-8-00.

Q:	How will I be notified if there is a problem?
A:	Your financial institution will receive an electronic message if the transmission failed between your bank and CBP bank. If the transmission is successful, no message is returned.

Q:	What happens if there is an error on the addendum record?
A:	If information sent on the addendum record does not match CBP computer information, you will be notified via fax of the problem and asked to provide additional information so the payment can be applied and to ensure that future payments do not result in the same error happening again.

Q:

What happens if there is a discrepancy in the payment amount?

A:

CBP cannot reverse the transmission. If the payment exceeds the amount due, CBP applies the payment and refunds the excess to your company. Refunds are made through the existing Treasury check disbursement process, not through ACH. If payment is less than the amount due, you will be notified via fax of the amount due and will need to send additional balance through the ACH system. Once additional amount due is received then your statement can be paid. CBP can not partially pay statements. Statements will be credited as of the collection date that the complete payment is received.

Q:	If I am a current ACH Debit participant, what are my options?
A:	Choose the process that best suits the payment type. You can use all available features of both ACH Credit and Debit.

Q:	What happens if I double pay a statement through ACH Credit?
A:	CBP will receive both payments and your company will be refunded through the normal refund process for the duplicate payment. You should not initiate a reversal through your bank.

Q:	What happens if I initiate a reversal through the ACH process?
A:	The CBP bank does not accept reversals of previous transactions as CBP has already received and processed the duplicate payment for a refund to your company.

ACH Refund Questions

Q:	What if my checks normally go in care of my broker? Can my electronic payment go in care of my broker?
A:	No. The electronic payment will go directly to the bank account that was provided to us on the ACH Vendor/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form. If you maintain a CF 4811 on file with CBP, your Courtesy Notice of Liquidation (CF 4333-A) will continue to be mailed to your broker.

Q:

What if my Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) has several suffixes? Will I have to submit an ACH Vendor/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form for each suffix?

A:

Yes, if you want your refunds deposited into separate accounts for each Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) suffix, we will need a separate ACH Vendor/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form for each suffix. If you want all refunds for all IR number suffixes to go to one account, then only submit one ACH Vendor/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form and attach a list of each suffix you wish to include for ACH refunds.

Q:	Can I use my CBP Assigned Number for my Vendor ID?
A:	No, we can only accept your Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) or Social Security Number (SSN) for your Vendor ID.

Q:	When will my refund be electronically deposited into my account?
A:	The refund will be deposited into your account two business days from the liquidation date. Normally, the liquidation date is Friday (unless Friday is a holiday) so the refund will be deposited into your account on Tuesday.

Q:	If I have several refunds due, will I get one lump sum?
A:	No, you will not receive one lump sum. You will receive a separate transmission for each refund owed. CBP will use the CCD+ (Cash Concentration or Disbursement Plus) ACH format, which contains a single payment and a single addendum record.

Q:	How will I know I received my refund payment?
A:	The payment information, provided by CBP, includes the routing instructions, the payee identifier and the refund amount. You and your bank should agree how and when the payment information will be provided to your company.

Q:	How will I know what the refund is for?
A:	The addenda record will identify the payment. The addenda record, depending upon the type of payment, includes information such as the entry/collection document number, liquidation date, interest amount, and the reason for the refund. You and your bank should agree how and when the addendum information will be provided to your company.

Q:	What should I do if my banking information changes after I sign up for this program?
A:	Notify us immediately at (317) 298-1200, extension 1178. We will send you another ACH Vendor/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form for you and your bank to make the necessary changes. Return the completed form to the address or fax number indicated on the form and we will update your records.

Q:	What if I do not notify CBP of banking changes? What happens to my refund?
A:	We will make an attempt to contact you when we are notified by our bank that your electronic payment was not received successfully. Please note this may cause a delay of any future refund payments if we cannot reach you timely. If we cannot reach you, your refund payments will revert back to paper checks that will be mailed through the U.S. Postal Service.

Q:	Who should I call if I have questions about this program?
A:	U.S. Customs and Border Protection Revenue Division/Programs Branch 6650 Telecom Drive, Suite 100 Indianapolis, IN 46278 Phone: (317) 298-1200, ext. 1178