Liquidation means the final computation or ascertainment of duties on entries for consumption or drawback entries.

All entries covering imported merchandise, except temporary importation bond entries and those for transportation in bond or for immediate exportation, shall be liquidated. Vessel repair entries are not subject to liquidation under this part (see § 4.14(i)(3) of this chapter).

(a) Value. In the computation of duty on entries, ad valorem rates shall be applied to the values in even dollars, fractional parts of a dollar less than 50 cents being disregarded and 50 cents or more being considered as $1, with all merchandise in the same invoice subject to the same rate of duty to be treated as a unit. However, the total dutiable value of the invoice shall not be increased or decreased by more than the rounding of the total dutiable value to an even dollar. When necessary, fractional parts of a dollar, whether more or less than 50 cents, shall be dropped or taken up as whole dollars in order to avoid such an increase or decrease. If in such cases it is necessary to drop fractional parts of a dollar amounting to 50 cents or more, the lower fractions shall be dropped, and if it is necessary to take up as whole dollars fractional parts less than 50 cents, the larger fractions shall be taken. In the case of two equal fractions, the one subject to the lower rate of duty shall be dropped or taken up, as the case may be. In determining a rate of duty dependent upon value, fractional parts of a dollar shall be considered.

(b) Quantities subject to specific duty. Except in the case of alcoholic beverages treated under § 159.4, if a rate of duty is specific and $1 or less per unit, fractional quantities, if less than one-half, shall be disregarded, and if one-half or more shall be treated as a whole unit. Subject to the same exception, if a specific rate is more than $1 per unit, duty shall be assessed upon the exact quantity with any fractional part expressed in the form of a decimal extended to two places.

(a) Quantities subject to duties. Customs duties and internal revenue taxes on alcoholic beverages provided for in headings 2207 and 2208, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), (19 U.S.C. 1202), and subject to internal revenue taxes shall be collected only on the number of proof gallons and fractional parts thereof, entered or withdrawn for consumption. No internal revenue tax shall be collected on distilled spirits in bulk which have been transferred to Internal Revenue bonded premises in accordance with § 141.102(b) of this chapter. Customs duties and internal revenue taxes on alcoholic beverages other than subheadings 2206.00.30 and 2206.00.90, HTSUS, and distilled spirits provided for in headings 2207 and 2208, shall be collected only on the number of wine gallons and fractional parts thereof, entered or withdrawn for consumption.

(b) Computation of duties. In the computation of Customs duties on alcoholic beverages provided for in headings 2207 and 2208 (19 U.S.C. 1202), which are also subject to internal revenue taxes, the methods prescribed for the computation of internal revenue taxes on such beverages shall be followed. The following methods apply to the specific beverages shown:

(1) Distilled spirits. The quantity of distilled spirits imported in barrels, kegs, or similar containers shall be ascertained in accordance with the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Where distilled spirits are imported in bottles, jugs, or similar containers, Customs duties and taxes shall be collected on the exact quantity contained in each case or other outer container, fractional parts of a gallon being carried out to three decimal places utilizing the proof gallon method of computation.

(2) Wine. Customs duties and taxes on wines shall be on the basis of a wine gallon of liquid measure equivalent to 231 cubic inches and shall be paid proportionally on all fractional parts of a wine gallon. Fractions of less than one-tenth gallon shall be converted to the nearest one-tenth gallon, and five-hundredths gallon shall be converted to the next full one-tenth gallon.

(3) Beer and similar fermented beverages. Customs duties and taxes on beer, ale, porter, stout, and other similar fermented beverages, including sake, of any name or description containing one-half of 1 percent or more of alcohol by volume, brewed or produced from malt, wholly or in part, or from any substitute therefor, shall be collected in accordance with section 5051(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (26 U.S.C. 5051(a)).

The internal revenue taxes imposed on cigars, cigarettes, and cigarette papers and tubes under section 5701 or 7652, Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (26 U.S.C. 5701 or 7652), are determined in accordance with section 5703 of that Code (26 U.S.C. 5703) at the time of removal; that is, on the quantity removed from Customs custody under the entry or withdrawal for consumption. The Customs duties, unlike those on alcoholic beverages, do not necessarily apply only to such quantities.

(a) Difference under $20 in original liquidation. When there is a net difference of less than $20 between the total amount of duties, fees, taxes, and interest assessed in the liquidation of any entry (other than an informal, mail, or baggage entry) and the total amount of estimated duties, fees, and taxes deposited, including any supplemental deposit, the difference will be disregarded and the entry endorsed “as entered.” In the case of an informal, mail, or baggage entry, the amount of duties, fees, and taxes computed by a CBP officer when the entry is prepared by, or filed with, him will be considered the liquidated assessment.

(b) Difference under $20 in reliquidation. When there is a net difference of less than $20 between the total amount of duties, fees, taxes, and interest found due in the reliquidation of any entry and the total amount of duties, fees, taxes, and interest assessed in the prior liquidation of the entry, the difference will be disregarded except in the following cases:

(1) Reliquidation at importer's request. When reliquidation of any entry is made at the importer's request, such as reliquidation following the allowance of a protest under section 514, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1514), or, for entries made before December 18, 2004, a request for correction under section 520(c), Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1520(c)), any refund determined to be due will be refunded even if less than $20.

(2) Court decision. Any refund or increase determined to be due as the result of the reliquidation of an entry in accordance with a court decision and judgment order will be refunded or collected as the case may be.

(c) Difference of $20 or more collected or refunded. If there is a difference of $20 or more between the duties, fees, taxes, and interest assessed in the liquidation of an entry and the total estimated duties, fees, and taxes deposited, or between the total duties, fees, taxes, and interest assessed in the reliquidation of an entry and those assessed in the prior liquidation, the entry will be endorsed to show the difference and bills or refund checks will be issued.

(d) Customs duties and fees and internal revenue taxes and interest netted for $20 limit. The assessments of customs duties and fees and internal revenue taxes and interest will be separately stated on the entry at the time of liquidation, but the amounts of any differences will be netted when applying the $20 minimum for issuance of a bill or refund check.

The liquidation of the original warehouse entry shall be followed in determining the liability for duties on a rewarehouse entry, except in the following cases:

(a) Merchandise excluded from liquidation of original warehouse entry. When any of the following types of merchandise are withdrawn from warehouse for transportation to another port, they will be excluded from the liquidation of the original warehouse entry, and the liability for duties will be determined by a liquidation of the rewarehouse entry made at the port where the merchandise is withdrawn for consumption or for exportation:

(1) Alcoholic beverages provided for in headings 2203 through 2208, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) (19 U.S.C. 1202), and subject to internal revenue taxes;

(2) Cigars, cigarettes, and cigarette papers and tubes subject to internal revenue taxes;

(3) Tariff-rate quota merchandise; and

(4) Wool or hair subject to duty at a rate per clean kilogram under Chapter 51, HTSUS.

(b) Reliquidation required by change in rate. When a rate of customs duty or tax is changed by an act of Congress or a proclamation of the President, any necessary reliquidation of customs duty or tax on merchandise covered by a rewarehouse entry which may be required by reason of the change in rate will be made by the Center director on the effective date of the change.

(c) Shortage, irregular delivery, nondelivery, and other cases. In cases involving shortage, irregular delivery, or nondelivery under the original warehouse withdrawal for transportation, or in other cases when the Center director is of the opinion that circumstances make it inadvisable to follow the liquidation of the original warehouse entry, he will make an appropriate adjustment in the amount of duties to be assessed under the rewarehouse entry.

Allowance in duties for any merchandise which is lost, stolen, destroyed, injured, abandoned, or short-shipped will be made in accordance with the provisions of part 158 of this chapter.

(a) Notice of liquidation. Notice of liquidation of formal entries will be provided on CBP's public Web site, www.cbp.gov.

(b) Posting of notice. The notice of liquidation will be posted for the information of importers in a conspicuous place on www.cbp.gov in such a manner that it can readily be located and consulted by all interested persons.

(c) Date of liquidation—(1) Generally. The notice of liquidation will be dated with the date it is posted electronically on www.cbp.gov for the information of importers. This electronic posting will be deemed the legal evidence of liquidation. The notice of liquidation will be maintained on www.cbp.gov for a minimum of 15 months from the date of posting.

(2) Exception: Entries liquidated by operation of law. (i) Entries liquidated by operation of law at the expiration of the time limitations prescribed in section 504, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1504), and set out in §§ 159.11 and 159.12, will be deemed liquidated as of the date of expiration of the appropriate statutory period and will be posted on www.cbp.gov when CBP determines that each entry has liquidated by operation of law and will be dated with the date of liquidation by operation of law.

(ii) For liquidation notices that were posted or lodged in the customhouse, pursuant to section 514, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1514) and part 174 of this chapter, a protest of a decision relating to an entry made before December 18, 2004, must be filed within 90 days from the date of liquidation of an entry by operation of law or within 90 days from the date the bulletin notice thereof was posted or lodged in the customhouse, or, in the case of a protest of a decision relating to an entry made on or after December 18, 2004, within 180 days from the date of liquidation of an entry by operation of law.

(iii) For liquidation notices posted on www.cbp.gov, pursuant to section 514, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1514) and part 174 of this chapter, a protest of a decision relating to an entry made before December 18, 2004, must be filed within 90 days from the date of liquidation of an entry by operation of law or within 90 days from the date notice thereof is posted on www.cbp.gov, or, in the case of a protest of a decision relating to an entry made on or after December 18, 2004, within 180 days from the date of liquidation of an entry by operation of law.

(d) Courtesy notice of liquidation. CBP will endeavor to provide the entry filer or its agent and the surety on an entry with a courtesy notice of liquidation for all electronically filed entries liquidated by CBP or deemed liquidated by operation of law. The courtesy notice of liquidation that CBP will endeavor to provide will be electronically transmitted pursuant to a CBP authorized electronic data interchange system if the entry was filed electronically in accordance with part 143 of this chapter. This notice will serve as an informal, courtesy notice and not as a direct, formal, and decisive notice of liquidation.

(a) Usual date of liquidation. Except in the cases provided for in paragraph (b) of this section, the effective date of liquidation for informal, mail, and baggage entries will be:

(1) The date of payment by the importer of duties due on the entry;

(2) The date of release by CBP or the postmaster when the merchandise is released under such an entry free of duty; and

(3) The date a free entry is accepted for articles released under a special permit for immediate delivery under part 142 of this chapter.

(b) Date of liquidation when duty cannot be determined at time of entry. When the proper rate or amount of duty cannot be determined at the time of entry because the merchandise is subject to a tariff-rate quota, because of a missing document which, if for free entry, is not produced prior to the release of the merchandise to the importer, or because of any other reason, the printed notice of liquidation appearing on the receipt issued for any money collected on the entry will be voided. When the tariff status of the merchandise either as dutiable or free is finally ascertained it will be noted on the entry. The effective date of liquidation will be the date of the notice of liquidation required by paragraph (c)(3) of this section.

(c) Notice of liquidation—(1) Dutiable entries. Where duties are paid on an entry in accordance with paragraph (a)(1) of this section, notice of liquidation is furnished by a suitable printed statement appearing on the receipt issued for duties collected. No other notice of liquidation will be given, but notice of reliquidation of any such entry will be given in the place and manner specified in § 159.9(b).

(2) Free entries. Notice of liquidation is furnished by release of the merchandise under a free entry in accordance with paragraph (a)(2) of this section, or by acceptance of the free entry in accordance with paragraph (a)(3) of this section after release under a special permit for immediate delivery. No further notice of the liquidation of such entries will be given.

(3) Entries where duty cannot be determined at time of entry. When the proper rate or amount of duty cannot be determined at the time of entry as set forth in paragraph (b) of this section, notice of liquidation will be given in the manner specified in § 159.9 for formal entries.

(a) Time limit generally. Except as provided in § 159.12, an entry not liquidated within one year from the date of entry of the merchandise, or the date of final withdrawal of all merchandise covered by a warehouse entry, will be deemed liquidated by operation of law at the rate of duty, value, quantity, and amount of duties asserted by the importer of record. Notice of liquidation will be given electronically as provided in §§ 159.9 and 159.10(c)(3) of this part. CBP will endeavor to provide a courtesy notice of liquidation in accordance with § 159.9(d).

(b) Applicability. The provisions of this section and § 159.12 will apply to entries of merchandise for consumption or withdrawals of merchandise for consumption made on or after April 1, 1979.

(a) Reasons—(1) Extension. The Center director may extend the 1-year statutory period for liquidation for an additional period not to exceed 1 year if:

(i) Information needed by CBP. Information needed by CBP for the proper appraisement or classification of the merchandise is not available, or

(ii) Importer's request. The importer requests an extension in writing before the statutory period expires and shows good cause why the extension should be granted. “Good cause” is demonstrated when the importer satisfies the Center director that more time is needed to present to CBP information which will affect the pending action, or there is a similar question under review by CBP.

(2) Suspension. The 1-year liquidation period may be suspended as required by statute or court order.

(b) Notice of extension. If the Center director extends the time for liquidation, as provided in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the official notice of extension and reasons therefor will be posted on www.cbp.gov. The notice of extension will be maintained on www.cbp.gov for a minimum of 15 months from the date of posting. The Center director will also endeavor to transmit a courtesy notice of extension to the entry filer or its agent and the surety on an entry through a CBP-authorized electronic data interchange system.

(c) Notice of suspension. If the liquidation of an entry is suspended as required by statute or court order, as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, the official notice of suspension will be posted on www.cbp.gov. The notice of suspension will be maintained on www.cbp.gov for a minimum of 15 months from the date of posting. The Center director will also endeavor to transmit a courtesy notice of suspension to the entry filer or its agent and the surety on an entry through a CBP-authorized electronic data interchange system.

(d) Additional extensions—(1) Information needed by CBP. If an extension has been granted because CBP needs more information and the Center director thereafter determines that more time is needed, he may extend the time for liquidation for an additional period not to exceed 1 year provided he issues the notice required by paragraph (b) of this section before termination of the prior extension period.

(2) At importer's request. If the statutory period has been extended for one year at the importer's request, and the importer thereafter determines that additional time is necessary, it may request another extension in writing before the original extension expires, giving reasons for its request. If the Center director finds that good cause (as defined in paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section) exists, the official notice of extension extending the time for liquidation for an additional period not to exceed one year will be posted on www.cbp.gov, and CBP will provide courtesy notice of the extension to the entry filer or its agent and the surety on an entry through a CBP-authorized electronic data interchange system.

(e) Limitation on extensions. The total time for which extensions may be granted by the Center director may not exceed 3 years.

(f) Time limitation. An entry not liquidated within four years from either the date of entry, or the date of final withdrawal of all the merchandise covered by a warehouse entry, will be deemed liquidated by operation of law at the rate of duty, value, quantity, and amount of duty asserted by the importer of record, unless liquidation continues to be suspended by statute or court order. CBP will endeavor to provide a courtesy notice of liquidation, in accordance with § 159.9(d), in addition to the notice specified in § 159.9(c)(2)(i).