ESAR A1 Account: Broker

I.Description

The Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Secure Data Portal account functionality has been available to brokers since 2004. With the August 2007 implementation of Entry Summary, Accounts, and Revenue (ESAR) A1, brokers will see both enhancements and expansions to their existing account functionality. This expanded functionality will allow brokers to have access to more reference information within their account, and to increase the amount of account information they are able to provide in order to comply with their 19 CFR 111 reporting responsibilities.

II.Functionality

Using the ACE Portal, brokers will have the ability to view, sort, and print account lists by name and numberand access an expanded number of reference files, including expanded Harmonized Tariff Schedule views, port and country codes, currency and gold conversion information.

Brokers will also be able to update their organization, license, and permit information. This expanded capability will allow brokers to satisfythe reporting requirements set forth in 19 CFR 111.

A broker, Trade Account Owner (TAO) only,may also view any related blanket licenses, permits, and certificates (LPCs) posted by participating government agencies (PGAs) on goods that they routinely process. To date, the following PGAsthat have a potential impact on importershave expressed an interest in participating in the LPC functionality:

Agricultural Marketing Service
Food Safety Inspection Service
National Highway Safety Transportation Administration
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Office of Foreign Assets Control
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
Alcohol, Tobacco Tax, and Trade Bureau

Brokers will nowalso be able to initiate a CBP Form 5106(Importer ID Input Record), on behalf of a new importer. They will also be able to update the CBP Form 5106 data for importers who file using single entry bonds.

Brokers who have been affordedcross account access by their ACE portal account clients will be able to view the respective account information of eachclient, with a single sign-on and password. Information on cross account access will be the subject of a subsequent information notice.

Brokers will continue to have the capability to run reports throughthe ACE Secure Data Portal. Users will find that running reports and extracting their Customs data from ACE is easier because the reportsare now more customizable. This is due to recent enhancements of thereporting tool. With the implementation of A1, ACE accounts willalso have the ability to schedule large bulk data download reportsthat can be tailored to meet their business needs.

Broker accounts will also have access to the following new reportswith A1:

AM 5098 – Broker’s Local and National Permits on an Annual Basis

AM 5278 – Broker Employee List

AM 5288 – Filer Code

AM 5288 – Filer POCs

AM 5289 – Open Broker Permit

AM 5294 – List of Permit User Fees by Port Broker

III.Benefits toBrokers

By establishing an ACE portal account, a brokerwill be able to view and update any information that is maintained in the account. Brokers will have access to a Business Activity Log (BAL), allowing them to communicate with or respond to CBP on compliance and operational issues. Abroker may also use the BAL to attach scanned or electronic information to the account, as deemed appropriate by CBP or theTAO, andtrack any compliance issues using the Action Plan. Finally, brokers can view the expanded reference data on-line to minimize cross referencing the same information in other automated or manual files.

The expanded broker functionality will allow brokers to satisfy their individual or organizational reporting requirements as set forth in 19 CFR 111. These additional capabilities include: the ability to report changes to organizational, employee, qualifier, and permit information; the ability to report changes to thebroker’s name; and an automated means to comply with the broker’s next triennial report (due in February 2009).

Access to LPC information will permit a broker to verify that the correct information is part of the entry or entry summary package, as appropriate. In the case where the broker is also the filer, the broker will be able to use the Portal to create and update (for single entry bond filers only) Importer ID information.

All portal accounts will be able to access important information regarding any ACE updates via their “News” view Additional benefits to brokersinclude: 1) the ability to track who made changes in account information, and 2) the ability to establish quick links with frequently used web-sites without exiting their account view.

IV.How Do I Become an Account?

A revised ACE Application and instructions will be posted on CBP.gov in the ACE: Modernization Information Systems section in the near future. Brokersdesiring to become an ACE Portal Account will be required to complete the ACE Application, as they currently do.

Once the request to become an account is received and approved by CBP, the account will be created in ACE. The brokerwill be subsequently contacted with information on how to access and update the account information.

V.Additional Information

As of July 31, 2007, interested trade members are able to take an introductory Web-Based Training (WBT) Course on ESAR A1 functionality. The course, “Enhanced ACE Accounts and Master Data,” is highly recommended for anyone interested in understanding the new functionality.

The link to the training is posted on CBP.gov/ACE: ModernizationInformation Systems or you can access it directly through the Internet byenteringURL: https://nemo.customs.gov/ace_online. The user nameis user01 and the password is 1Password.Please note that both the user name and password are case sensitive.