Periodic Monthly Statement (PMS)

What is a periodic monthly statement (PMS)?

The periodic monthly statement is a payment option that is a part of CBP's Automated Clearing House (ACH). This payment option allows the importer to pay customs fees, duties, and taxes electronically once a month, on the 15th working business day, for shipments that cleared Customs the previous month, interest free. This means that the importer would no longer have to pay duties, taxes and fees on a transactional basis, which could increase cash flow.

How do you sign up for the periodic statement?

If you are an importer with an existing ACE account you will be able to request the PMS payment option. If you do not have an existing ACE account you will be eligible to participate through Flexport, who has an ACE account.

What do you need to use the statement?

Importers typically need a continuous customs bond and a payment setup through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). CBP can suspend participants who pay late, so build the due date into your cash planning.

Because you pay all of a month's entries at once, keep your records organized so you can reconcile the statement against each entry. Ask your customs broker who requests the statement and how payment works.

Related terms: Continuous Customs Bond and Customs Broker.

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