Customs Brokers

Office of Trade’s Broker Management Branch, in conjunction with Revenue Modernization’s Electronic Payment Options project (ePO/eCBP), will begin accepting submissions of the annual user fee payment via the eCBP portal starting December 2, 2024, through the January 31, 2025, due date which was published in a Federal Register Notice on November 22, 2024.

All national permit holders should visit the eCBP portal to submit their required annual user fee. Login using authentication from Login.gov and provide the user fee payment to fulfill the requirement. Payment receipting ensures that the permitted broker has documentation of compliance.

Effective October 1, 2024, the COBRA fee (USER FEE) for permits is $180.57. The annual user fee amount owed for each active permit issued on or before December 31, 2024 is $180.57 and should be submitted through the eCBP portal no later than January 31, 2025.

Failure to submit the annual permit user fee by the due date will result in permit revocation by operation of law.

For more information see FAQs and Permit User Fee Quick Reference Guides at: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/ecbp. 

For eCBP portal technical assistance, contact the Rev Mod Service Desk (RMSD) at revmodservicedesk@cbp.dhs.gov or call 1-800-366-8732 Ext 4670.

Candidates looking for information on the current CBLE should reference the CBLE Information webpage.

Overview

CBP recognized the need to modernize the CBLE and set the goal to develop and administer a modern, consistent, and reliable exam that accurately tests examinees on the knowledge required for conducting Customs business in the modern environment. To achieve this goal, CBP will seek to:

1. Improve the examinee experience;
2. Align exam content to required industry knowledge;
3. Increase the reliability of initial exam results;
4. Ensure fairness across exam administrations; and
5. Provide a consistent exam across administrations.

Since then, CBP has completed a benchmarking study analyzing public and private examinations to identify best practices in exam creation, administration, and post-exam review.

CBP then presented its vision for a modern exam and findings from the benchmarking study to the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) Broker Modernization Working Group (BMWG). Over a seven-month period, CBP and COAC BMWG held eight workshops and developed the seven CBLE recommendations finalized on June 26th, 2024.

Now, CBP is taking steps to implement best practices and achieve its vision for a modern exam. Before changes are made to the exam, CBP will publish detailed information on CBP.gov and make additional resources available.

All CBLE Modernization questions can be sent to brokermanagement@cbp.dhs.gov. Please include “CBLE Modernization” in the subject line to ensure a timely response.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published the Continuing Education for Licensed Customs Brokers Final Rule. Please see our new Broker Continuing Education page for additional information. 

The Customs broker regulations in part 111 of title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations (19 CFR 111) have been subject to review by the broker community, CBP, and the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Council (COAC) for several years. During this time, CBP solicited feedback from the trade community through webinars, port meetings and trade association meetings, aiming to promote transparency and collaboration while modernizing regulations to reflect the role of the broker in today’s business environment.  

In the April 2016 COAC public meeting, the COAC Broker Regulations Working Group (BRWG) made 37 recommendations to modernize 19 CFR 111. The COAC BRWG included participants from the trade community and CBP representatives. BRWG Recommendations focused on the following areas: the evolving role of the broker; confidentiality, cybersecurity and record retention; responsible supervision and control and employee reporting; and licensing and permits. Included in those recommendations were a proposed single, national permit for brokers, as well as electronic process changes.  

The two Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs), published June 5, 2020, reflected many of these recommendations and proposed changes to align the broker regulations with contemporary business practices in the electronic environment. Considering the proposed changes and public comments received in response to the NPRMs, CBP published two Final Rules on October 18, 2022, Modernization of the Customs Broker Regulations (87 FR 63267) and Elimination of Customs Broker District Permit Fee (87 FR 63262). These rules modernize the customs broker regulations and provide resource optimization for both industry and CBP and will update compliance requirements to protect revenue and strengthen CBP’s knowledge of importers.  

Key changes in the Final Rules include:

• Creating a new term and definition for "Processing Center" 
• Transitioning to a national permit framework
• Increasing license application fees and expanding forms of payment
• Codifying that U.S. customs business is conducted within the U.S. customs territory 
• Revising regulations regarding the broker/client relationship 
• Updating the responsible supervision and control oversight framework 
• Strengthening cyber security and records requirements
• Modernizing broker reporting and Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) capabilities through the broker account portal 
• Changing broker exam and licensing processes 

For more information on the Customs Broker Modernization Regulations 19 CFR 111.

For frequently asked questions on the Customs Broker Modernization Regulations 19 CFR 111.

Fee Updated Calendar Year 2024

Effective October 1, 2023, the COBRA Fee for permits (USER FEE) is $174.80 (was $163.71)
Effective October 1, 2023, the broker application finger printing fee remains $11.25

• Find a Permitted Broker
• Filer Code Lists

• Validating the Power of Attorney
• Broker Compliance:  Misuse of Licenses and Filer Codes
• Guidance Fact Sheet for the trade on Entry Type 86 filings
• Employing a Person Convicted of a Felony
• Broker Fee Schedule
• National Permits
• Privacy Act Statement - CBP Form 342A
• Frequently Asked Questions