U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced plans to advance a test allowing for the payment of certain commercial vessel taxes and fees with electronic methods, including credit cards.
CBP states that a pilot test launched in December 2017 permitted online payment through the Mobile Collections & Receipts system and developed electronic receipts for the following taxes and fees: regular and special tonnage tax; light money; Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act user fees, including the prepayment of the annual COBRA fee; Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection fees; and navigation fees. It was limited to commercial vessels arriving at one of four designated ports of entry: Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif.; New Orleans, La.; Gulfport, Miss.; and, Mobile, Ala.
CBP is now implementing phase two of the MCR test, which will authorize entities to electronically pay the above types of commercial vessel taxes and fees for vessels arriving at any maritime port of entry.
Phase two will begin no earlier than Jan. 16 and continue for two years. However, participation is voluntary and CBP will continue to accept payments by cash or check at ports of entry.
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