CBP seeks 50% fee hike for express waybills
Express delivery companies should pay a $1 customs processing fee, up from the current fee of 66 cents, for each international letter or parcel shipment brought into the country, the U.S. government proposed Friday.
The Customs and Border Protection agency said raising the fee to the maximum amount allowed by customs statute is necessary to properly cover its costs for processing individual air waybills on location at express sortation centers. The new fee structure brings reimbursements and costs closer into alignment after years of below-cost service. The agency said it only recovered 70 percent to 78 percent of its costs through the existing fee structure during the fiscal 2004-2005 period. The deficit is expected to widen in 2006 to $8.1 million from $6.4 million as costs for wages and other items increase.
CBP estimates it will cost 52 cents to process each air waybill in 2006. CBP only retains half of the proceeds. The other half of the fee is distributed to the U.S. Treasury as import revenue.
Comments on the proposed rule must be received by Aug. 28.
For more information, see the Federal Register notice at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-12067.pdf