CBP proposes electronic payment of harbor maintenance fees

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has proposed new procedures by which harbor maintenance fee payments may be electronically submitted to the agency.

The harbor maintenance fee was created by the 1986 Water Resources Development Act. The purpose of the fee, which is equivalent to 0.125 percent of a commercial cargo's declared value, is to help the government defray the costs of harbor maintenance.

CBP proposes allowing the payer to establish an Internet account through the government's Web site: www.pay.gov to make harbor maintenance fee payments or request refunds.

The agency said it would continue to accept quarterly harbor maintenance fee payments and refund requests through the mail.

CBP also proposed to clarify its regulations to state that each harbor maintenance fee quarterly payment, whether paper or electronic, include a CBP Form 349 (HMF Quarterly Summary Report).

The agency will accept public comments regarding the proposed changes until Oct. 6.