CSMS Message: 98-001041

ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE 98-0989, DATED OCTOBER 29, 1998, WAS PUBLISHED TO
ADVISE A DELAY IN THE READINESS OF ACS PROGRAMMING TO RECEIVE TYPE '09'
RECONCILIATION SUMMARIES DUE TO CHANGES REQUIRED FOR THE CALCULATION OF
ENTRY-BY-ENTRY INTEREST. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE RECONCILIATION
PROTOTYPE ITSELF IS DELAYED. THE PROTOTYPE STARTED ON SCHEDULE ON
OCTOBER 1, 1998.

RECONCILIATION IS A TWO-PART PROCESS. THE FIRST STEP IS THAT IMPORTERS
FILE ENTRY SUMMARIES WITH ELECTRONIC FLAGS INDICATING THAT THEY WILL
LATER BE RECONCILED. THIS FIRST PART OF THE PROCESS WENT INTO PRODUCTION
ON SCHEDULE ON OCTOBER 1, 1998.

THE SECOND STEP IS THE FILING OF THE TYPE '09' RECONCILIATION ENTRY, WHICH
PROVIDES COMPLETED/CORRECTED INFORMATION AND MONETARY ADJUSTMENTS TO THE
PREVIOUSLY FILED ENTRIES. MOST COMMONLY, THIS RECONCILIATION WILL BE
FILED MANY MONTHS LATER THAN THE EARLIEST SUMMARIES FLAGGED.

IN THE FIRST MONTH ALONE, OVER 20,000 IMPORT ENTRY SUMMARIES WERE FLAGGED
FOR RECONCILIATION. APPLICATIONS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROTOTYPE ARE
STILL BEING ACCEPTED. THE DELAY IN THE PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION AFFECTS
ONLY THE FINALIZING OF THE DATA ON THESE ENTRIES, SOMETHING MOST IMPORTERS
WILL NOT BE READY TO DO UNTIL AT LEAST ONE YEAR FROM NOW.

AGAIN, THE PROTOTYPE IS UNDERWAY, ENTRIES MAY BE FLAGGED, AND THE TESTING
OF THE PROCESS OF FILING THE RECONCILIATION ENTRY IS ANTICIPATED TO BE
AVAILABLE IN DECEMBER, 1998.

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS MESSAGE, OR RECONCILIATION IN GENERAL, MAY BE
DIRECTED TO DON LUTHER, U.S. CUSTOMS HEADQUARTERS, 202-927-0915.