This updated USPS Compliance with U.S. Census Bureau Regulations Field Information Kit contains the following items:
n Overview.
n Frequently Asked Questions.
n Electronic Shipping Options.
n Stand-Up Talk for All Appropriate Employees.
n Talking Points for Acceptance Associates.
n Images of Sample Updated Customs Forms (see Figures 1 and 2):
n PS Form 2976, Customs Declaration CN22 — Sender’s Declaration (green label). PS Form 2976 is used for First-Class Mail International® items and Priority Mail International® Flat Rate Envelopes, provided the mailed items are valued at $400 or less and do not required an export license.
n PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note — CP 72. PS Form 2976-A is used for all other items.
Overview
The United States Postal Service® is implementing steps to assist customers in complying with new U.S. Census Bureau regulations. These regulations require electronic filing of export information through the Census Bureau’s Automated Export System (AES) website (www.aesdirect.gov) for various international shipments in instances when a Shipper’s Export Declaration (SED) was previously required as well as certain domestic and exempt shipments. In addition, the Postal Service™ is adding standards to harmonize with other aspects of the Census Bureau rules. As part of the Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau’s Foreign Trade Division is required to maintain statistical data on items exported from the United States.
In 2008, the Postal Service implemented standards to account for the small percentage of customers who are now required to file information electronically. The Census Bureau’s electronic filing requirement replaces the former SED. These standards pertain to packages containing any single type of goods valued at more than $2,500 or contents that require an export license under U.S. law. The standards also apply to shipments to certain terrorist-sponsoring countries (currently Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria), regardless of value or licensing, except for gift parcels and humanitarian donations allowed by the Department of Commerce. When applicable, the customer must present the confirmation number of the electronic filing, referred to as an Internal Transaction Number (ITN) or Proof of Filing Citation (PFC), on PS Form 2976-A at the time of mailing.
With this update, customers mailing exempt shipments are now directed to write or select an Exemption and Exclusion Legend code on PS Form 2976 or PS Form 2976-A. Most shipments are likely to be exempt from the Census Bureau’s filing requirements. Exempt shipments include shipments without an export license for which each type of good is $2,500 or less, nonlicensed shipments to Canada regardless of value, and authorized gift parcels or humanitarian donations (marked as “GFT” on the customs form) to Cuba, North Korea, or Sudan.
In addition to outbound international mailings, the Census Bureau’s filing rules and exemptions cover shipments of goods between the United States and Puerto Rico, from the United States or Puerto Rico to the U.S. Virgin Islands, and to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Palau. The customer may still need to file export information with the Census Bureau’s AESDirect website before mailing, but does not need to present a Proof of Filing Citation or Exemption and Exclusion Legend code upon mailing unless using PS Form 2976-A.
To the extent possible, the Postal Service is responsible for making customers aware of these Census Bureau Regulations. However, if the item being shipped does not include one of the codes on the customs form, the Postal Service employee is to advise the customer of his or her responsibility and accept the shipment unless it is clear that the customer needs to file information with the Census Bureau (please refer to the “red flag” situations in the Stand-Up Talk in this article). The Postal Service is also required to capture the confirmation code — PFC — when it is presented, and electronically submit the information to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The various sections of this Postal Bulletin Field Information Kit discuss policy changes and compliance procedures. The Kit also includes images of the current customs forms (PS Form 2976 and PS Form 2976-A).
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why does the U.S. Census Bureau collect data about exports?
A. Congress specifically directed data to be collected by the U.S. Census Bureau on traffic in goods exported from the United States, as well as goods shipped between the United States and its overseas territories. These official statistics offer important insight into the United States’ economy, and they can be instrumental to economic analysis and planning by businesses, economists, and other members of the public. In addition, the data assist the U.S. government in enforcing export rules that serve national security and foreign policy purposes.
Q. What is the Postal Service’s role in the Census Bureau collection of export data?
A. The Census Bureau’s collection of export data covers goods shipped not only through commercial channels but also through the mail. This ensures that the statistics relied on by businesses and policymakers are complete and accurate. It also helps the U.S. government to maintain a high level of security in the mail. The Postal Service is not directly responsible for generating and providing data to the Census Bureau. However, the Postal Service is adjusting its standards and processes to increase customer convenience in complying with the Census Bureau’s rules and to help customers avoid unintended violations.
Q. What do the new Census Bureau rules mean to
mailers?
A. The Census Bureau rules have no significant impact on most mailers. Some mailers, however, need to file export information through the Census Bureau’s Automated Export System (AES) or AESDirect website before mailing. This group of mailers is essentially the same as those who previously would have had to fill out a Shipper’s Export Declaration, which the AES filing method replaces. After filing, these mailers will need to present a Proof of Filing Citation (PFC) — a type of confirmation number — upon mailing. All other mailers should write or select an Exemption and Exclusion Legend code indicating why a filing is not required. Exempt mailpieces may still be accepted without this code, however.
Q. What information will mailers filing via AES have to provide to the Postal Service when they submit their shipment for mailing?
A. The mailer must provide the PFC, which the mailer gets from the AESDirect website. The PFC is the filing confirmation number that the mailer provides on the updated PS Form 2976-A before submitting the mailing. A PFC is not required on PF Form 2976-A if the mailing is exempt: customers with exempt shipments should write or select an appropriate Exemption and Exclusion Legend code on the customs form indicating why a filing was not required. A PFC is also not required if the AES is not available for technical reasons; in that case, the mailer must include the appropriate AES Downtime Citation on PS Form 2976-A before acceptance. An AES Downtime Citation includes the word “AESDOWN,” the mailer’s AES Filer ID, and the date.
Q. What is the penalty for failing to file required export information?
A. The Postal Service does not levy penalties for failing to file required export information. However, mailers that do not comply with the Census Bureau’s rules may be subject to civil and criminal penalties under the Foreign Trade Regulations. Examples of noncompliance include delayed filing, failure to file, filing false or misleading information, and using the AES system to further any illegal activity. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, and the Census Bureau share responsibility for investigating violations and imposing penalties.
Q. Will failure to file required export information adversely affect the delivery of the mail?
A. Yes. Shipments may be held by U.S. Customs and Border Protection as a result of noncompliance and, as a consequence, may be delayed.
Q. Will mailers be subject to a fine if they do not provide an Exemption and Exclusion Legend code?
A. No, assuming that the item is actually exempt. The Exemption and Exclusion Legend code informs U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other authorities that the item does not require filing and could ensure the item is not delayed.
Q. How do mailers know if they will need an export
license?
A. A small percentage of exports require filing an export license application — the requirement for filing depends on the contents, the destination country, the recipient, and the ultimate use of the items by the recipient. To determine if a mailer’s shipment requires a license, the mailer should go to www.bis.doc.gov or call the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Exporter Services, at 202-482-4811. Postal Service employees in USPS’s Western Area can tell their mailers that they can also reach the Office of Exporter Services at 949-660-0144 or 408-998-8806.
Q. How can a mailer file on the AESDirect website to obtain a PFC if the system is down?
A. If required to file export information but www.aesdirect.gov is unavailable, a mailer can still ship the goods if the mailer provides the appropriate AES Downtime Citation. An AES Downtime Citation includes the word “AESDOWN,” the mailer’s AES Filer ID, and the date: for example, “AESDOWN 123456789 09/30/2009.” For more information, mailers should call the Census Bureau at 800-549-0595, Option 1.
Q. Which Exemption and Exclusion Legend code should a mailer use if each type of goods being mailed to Canada is worth $2,500 or less, and the item doesn’t require an export license?
A. On PS Form 2976, the mailer should select NOEEI 30.37(a). On PS Form 2976-A, the mailer may write either “NOEEI 30.37(a)” or “NOEEI 30.36” in block 11. It does not matter which code the mailer writes on PS Form 2976-A.
Q. A customer is mailing an item to Canada with at least one type of contents worth more than $2,500. Does the mailer need to file anything or present a confirmation code?
A. No. Unless the item requires an export license, all nonlicensed items to Canada are exempt from the Census Bureau’s filing requirements, regardless of value. The mailer should write “NOEEI 30.36” in block 11 on PS Form 2976-A to indicate that the mailer’s Canada-bound shipment is exempt.
Q. Are there special rules for countries subject to sanctions and embargoes?
A. Yes. All customers mailing goods to certain terrorist-sponsoring countries listed in the Export Administration Regulations (currently Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria) must file export information on the Census Bureau’s AES website before mailing, with one significant exception — filing is not required for certain exports of “gift parcels and humanitarian donations” authorized by the Department of Commerce and subject to various limits described in the Export Administration Regulations. Customers mailing these items do not need to file information with the Census Bureau, but they must write “GFT” and “NOEEI 30.37(h)” on PS Form 2976 or PS Form 2976-A and “GIFT — Export License Not Required” on the outside of the package. Currently, “NOEEI 30.37(h)” should be used only for gift parcels being mailed to Cuba, North Korea, or Sudan; gift parcels and humanitarian donations are currently not authorized to Iran or Syria. The customer is responsible for ensuring that the item complies with all requirements for gift parcels and humanitarian donations to these countries, or the customer may risk civil and criminal penalties imposed by the Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or other authorities.
Q. Are there situations when a retail associate shouldn’t accept a mailpiece without a PFC?
A. In most cases, a mailpiece that lacks a PFC or an Exemption and Exclusion Legend code is probably exempt and should be accepted. In certain circumstances, however, the mailpiece cannot be accepted in good faith, and the customer should be advised of the need to comply with filing requirements before mailing. Here are three “red flags” to watch for:
1. Any single line-item on the customs form with a value over $2,500.
Electronic filing is required if any “type of goods” in the shipment has a value over $2,500. This does not mean the total value of the mailpiece, nor does it mean the value of any individual article within the mailpiece. Although it may not necessarily correspond to the specific meaning of “type of goods” under the Census Bureau rules, a single line-item of contents listed on the customs form with a value over $2,500 should be a “red flag” that warrants advising the customer.
2. Indications of an export license.
All shipments that require an export license from the U.S. Commerce Department, U.S. Treasury Department, or U.S. State Department require electronic filing. The mailer, not Postal Service personnel, is responsible for determining whether the mailer needs to get an export license before mailing. Postal Service personnel should not concern themselves with whether a mailer should have gotten an export license. However, if a mailer’s customs form or other documentation indicates that the mailer actually obtained an export license, the mailer should be directed to file information with the Census Bureau before mailing.
3. Goods mailed to Cuba, North Korea, or Sudan, unless “GFT” is written on the customs form and/or “GIFT — Export License Not Required” is written on the addressee side of the mailpiece.
The Census Bureau requires that all shipments of goods to countries listed in the Export Administration Regulations as terrorist-sponsoring countries require electronic filing. Currently, these countries are Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria. However, there is an exception for items mailed as “gift parcels” to Cuba, North Korea, or Sudan under conditions set by the U.S. Commerce Department. Mailers of gift parcel items must write “GFT” on the customs form and “GIFT — Export License Not Required” on the addressee side of the mailpiece. Hence, these items are exempt from the Census Bureau’s filing requirement. If a Postal Service employee encounters an item not bearing these markings, first ask whether the mailer has complied with the Commerce Department’s requirements for a “gift parcel,” or whether the mailing falls outside those rules. (For example, certain consumer electronics items may be sent to Cuba, or certain publications, such as bibles, may be exported anywhere without regard to the gift parcel rules.) If the mailpiece is actually a gift parcel, advise the customer about the need to mark it appropriately. If it is not, the mailpiece should not be accepted until the customer presents a Proof of Filing Citation or AES Downtime Citation that indicates electronic filing with the Census Bureau.
Q. What do “NOEEI” and the numerical part of the exemption code stand for?
A. Each exemption code begins with the acronym “NOEEI,” which stands for “No Electronic Export Information.” The numerical code after “NOEEI” refers to the section in the Census Bureau’s regulations that establishes why the shipment is exempt from filing requirements.
Q. How can customers access the Census Bureau’s AESDirect website if they need to file export information and get a confirmation code?
A. Customers can access the AESDirect website from any computer with Internet access. It is the customer’s responsibility to comply with export regulations before mailing. Post Office™ facilities do not have terminals that enable customers’ Internet access.
Q. What are the Census Bureau’s requirements for shipments to the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico?
A. The Census Bureau’s requirements for electronic filing of export information apply to certain shipments between the United States and Puerto Rico and from the United States or Puerto Rico to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Specifically, customers must file information on the AES website when any type of goods in the shipment is valued at more than $2,500. Unless PS Form 2976 or 2976-A is required, customers are not required to present a PFC or Exemption and Exclusion Legend code at mailing. Incidentally, shipments to other U.S. overseas territories, such as Guam and American Samoa, are excluded from the Census Bureau’s rules.
Q. Customers can send domestic mail to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Palau. Does that means the Census Bureau rules don’t apply?
A. No, the Census Bureau rules do apply to shipments of goods to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Palau. Although these destinations are “treated as domestic” in the Postal Service’s delivery network, these are not U.S. overseas territories; they are actually foreign countries, and so the Census Bureau’s export rules apply to customers mailing goods to them just as they do to other outbound international mail. However, goods mailed from the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Palau to the United States are not subject to the Census Bureau’s rules.
Q. Does a USPS retail associate’s entering the data from the customs form at the retail counter satisfy the Census Bureau filing requirement?
A. No. The Census Bureau filing in AES is a separate filing that must be done by the customer for shipments that require it. The filing must be done before mailing, because the customer needs to write the PFC — the confirmation code from the filing — on the PS Form 2976 or 2976-A that the customer gives to the USPS associate.
Q. Where do customers write the PFC, AES Downtime Citation, or Exemption and Exclusion Legend code on older versions of USPS customs forms?
A. PFCs, AES Downtime Citations, or Exemption and Exclusion Legend codes should be placed as follows:
n On the May 2009 and January 2009 editions of PS Form 2976-A, customers should write one PFC, AES Downtime Citation, or Exemption and Exclusion Legend code in block 11.
n On editions of PS Form 2976-A printed prior to January 2009, customers should write one PFC, AES Downtime Citation, or Exemption and Exclusion Legend code at the top of the form or in any clear space. Avoid writing over the barcode on the form.
n On the September 2009 edition of PS Form 2976, customers should check “NOEEI § 30.37(a)” or “NOEEI § 30.37(h)” in block 7 of the form, depending on the applicable Exemption and Exclusion Legend code. Exception: For authorized consumer communications devices, computers, and software (CCD) items sent to Cuba that require electronic filing, in block 7 of the form, customers should write one PFC or AES Downtime Citation and also completely obliterate the check boxes and text referring to NOEEI § 30.37(a) and NOEEI 30.37(h).
n On editions of PS Form 2976 printed before September 2009, customers should write one applicable Exemption and Exclusion Legend code (“30.37(a)” or “30.37(h)”) in the margin on the green portion of the form. For CCD items sent to Cuba that require electronic filing (see the Individual Country Listing for Cuba), customers should write one PFC or AES Downtime Citation in the margin on the green portion of the form.
n On Label 11FGG1, Global Express Guaranteed International Air Waybill (Mailing Label), printed before August 2008, customers should write “NOEEI 30.37(a)” next to the sender’s signature. Current versions of Label 11FGG1 have this exemption legend included on the mailing label.
Q. What if customers still have questions?
A. Customers who need assistance or more information about filing on the AESDirect website can contact the U.S. Census Bureau on its toll-free hotline at 800-549-0595.
Electronic Shipping Options
The USPS offers multiple shipping options for customers preparing international packages. Customers who prepare international packages online save time and money too. Here’s how:
n Pay online and receive a discount at www.usps.com/clicknship.
n Complete your customs form and print your shipping label to meet the new U.S. Census Bureau requirements.
n Order free eco-friendly packaging and plastic pouch, PS Form 2976-E, to attach your shipping label and PS Form 2976-A.
n Request Free Carrier Pickup™ service on USPS.com®.
n Track certain international shipments.
Customers who just want to prepare a customs form and/or shipping label can save time. Here’s how:
n Visit http://webapps.usps.com/customsforms.
n Select the appropriate PS Form.
n Complete it online and print.
n Prepare your shipping label.
n Attach documents to your package using the plastic pouch, PS Form 2976-E.
n Bring the package into the Post Office for acceptance.
Stand-Up Talk for All Appropriate Employees
New Foreign Trade Regulations issued by the U.S. Census Bureau require Postal Service revisions to its mailing standards and customs label requirements. These revisions affect customers mailing items internationally, between the United States and Puerto Rico, to the U.S. Virgin Islands, and to the Freely Associated States (the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Palau). These standards do not apply to items mailed to, from, or between Army Post Offices (APOs), Fleet Post Offices (FPOs), Diplomatic Post Offices (DPOs), or overseas U.S. territories other than Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Certain customers who ship goods to the destinations listed above must electronically file export information through the Census Bureau’s Automated Export System (AES). These customers are required to include on PS Form 2976-A the confirmation number provided by the Census Bureau, which is referred to as a Proof of Filing Citation (PFC). All other customers whose shipments are exempt should write or select an appropriate Exemption and Exclusion Legend code on PS Form 2976 or 2976-A.
The responsibility of the U.S. Postal Service is to check, prior to acceptance, whether mailpieces requiring a customs form have either a PFC or an Exemption and Exclusion Legend code notated on the customs form. If so, USPS® associates should enter this information along with the rest of the information from the customs form. Except in limited circumstances when it is clear that a PFC is required, USPS retail associates should accept items even if they do not include a PFC or Exemption and Exclusion Legend code, while advising the customer of his or her responsibility. The Postal Service is also required to capture PFC numbers and electronically submit the information along with other customs declaration data to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. When an item does not require a customs form, the Postal Service cannot capture the PFC or Exemption/Exclusion Legend, but the customer is still responsible for any necessary filing with the Census Bureau.
Exemption and Exclusion Legends
Most mailpieces will be exempt from the Census Bureau’s rules. To facilitate processing by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, customers should write or select an appropriate Exemption and Exclusion Legend code that indicates the reason for the lack of filing. For example, “NOEEI 30.37(a)” confirms that no type of goods within the mailpiece is worth more than $2,500, and “NOEEI 30.36” is for any mailpieces to Canada. However, Postal Service personnel can and should accept items without an Exemption and Exclusion Legend code, unless they notice one of three “red flags.”
“Red Flags” for Items That Require a PFC Number
In most cases, a mailpiece that lacks a Proof of Filing Citation or Exemption and Exclusion Legend code is probably exempt and should be accepted. In certain circumstances, however, the customer’s need to file information with the Census Bureau is so apparent that the mailpiece cannot be accepted in good faith. In these cases, the customer should be advised of the need to comply with filing requirements before mailing, and the Postal Service should not accept the item until the customer presents a PFC. Here are three things to watch for:
1. Any single line-item on the customs form with a value over $2,500.
Electronic filing is required if any “type of goods” in the shipment has a value over $2,500. This does not mean the total value of the mailpiece, nor does it mean the value of any individual article within the mailpiece. Although it might not exactly correspond to the specific meaning of “type of goods” under the Census Bureau rules, a single line-item of contents listed on PS Form 2976 or 2976-A with a value over $2,500 should be a “red flag” that warrants advising the customer.
2. Indications of an export license.
All shipments that require an export license from the U.S. Commerce Department, U.S. Treasury Department, or U.S. State Department require electronic filing. Mailers, not Postal Service personnel, are responsible for determining whether the mailer needs to get an export license before mailing. Postal Service personnel should not concern themselves with whether a mailer should have gotten an export license. However, if a mailer’s customs form or other documentation indicates that the mailer actually obtained an export license, the mailer should be directed to file information with the Census Bureau before mailing.
3. Goods mailed to Cuba, North Korea, or Sudan, unless “GFT” is written on the customs form and/or “GIFT — Export License Not Required” is written on the addressee side of the mailpiece.
The Census Bureau requires that all shipments of goods to countries listed in the Export Administration Regulations as terrorist-sponsoring countries require electronic filing. Currently, these countries are Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria. However, there is an exception for items mailed as “gift parcels” to Cuba, North Korea, or Sudan under conditions set by the U.S. Commerce Department. Mailers of gift parcel items must write “GFT” on the customs form and “GIFT — Export License Not Required” on the addressee side of the mailpiece. Hence, these items are exempt from the Census Bureau’s filing requirement. If a Postal Service employee encounters an item not bearing these markings, first ask whether the mailer has complied with the Commerce Department’s requirements for a “gift parcel” or whether the mailing falls outside those rules. (For example, certain consumer electronics items may be sent to Cuba, or certain publications, such as bibles, may be exported anywhere without regard to the gift parcel rules.) If the mailpiece is actually a gift parcel, advise the customer about the need to mark it appropriately. If it is not, the mailpiece should not be accepted until the customer presents a Proof of Filing Citation or AES Downtime Citation that indicates electronic filing with the Census Bureau.
Talking Points on What is Changing for Acceptance Associates
n The U.S. Census Bureau now requires certain mailers to file information electronically with the U.S. Census Bureau through the Automated Export System (AES). Specifically, these requirements concern mailers of international shipments containing the same type of goods worth more than $2,500, items requiring an export license, and items to certain countries that are not marked as gift parcels or humanitarian donations. Customers can access the AES system at www.aesdirect.gov.
n When a mailer files export information with the U.S. Census Bureau, the mailer receives a confirmation number, also known as a Proof of Filing Citation (PFC). The mailer will need to indicate the PFC on PS Form 2976-A in block 11. The Postal Service needs to capture the PFC and transmit it to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
n All other customers should select or write an appropriate Exemption and Exclusion Legend code on PS Form 2976 or 2976-A. However, the Postal Service can still accept mailpieces that are exempt from filing but do not have an Exemption and Exclusion Legend code.
n All of these rules apply to international mail, as well as the following:
n Mail between the United States and Puerto Rico
n Mail from the United States and Puerto Rico to the U.S. Virgin Islands
n Mail to the Freely Associated States (the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Palau).
n They do not apply to the following:
n Mail to Army Post Offices (APOs), Fleet Post Offices (FPOs), and Diplomatic Post Offices (DPOs).
n Mail to, from, or between overseas U.S. territories other than Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (e.g., Guam and American Samoa).
n When a customer is not required to use PS Form 2976 or 2976-A, the customer might still need to file export information by way of the AESDirect website. However, the customer would not need to present the Postal Service with a PFC or an Exemption and Exclusion Legend code
n The Exemption and Exclusion Legend code indicates the reason that filing is not required. Listed below for reference are the most common Exemption and Exclusion Legend codes:
n NOEEI 30.37(a): Value of each class of goods is $2,500 or less when an export license is not required.
n NOEEI 30.36: Shipments destined to Canada, regardless of value, when an export license is not required.
n NOEEI 30.37(h): Authorized shipments of gift parcels or humanitarian donations to certain terrorist-sponsoring countries identified in the Export Administration Regulations (currently Cuba, North Korea, and Sudan are eligible destinations).
n Offices entering customs information in either the POS ONE or ACE version of the eCustoms CBPMAN application will be prompted to enter information from block 11, and if the mailer has provided this information, the office should enter it.
n If the customer does not complete this field, Postal Service personnel can still accept the package except in very limited situations when it is clear that a PFC is required. It is the mailer’s responsibility to provide this information to avoid any delays in the delivery of the shipment.
Customers who need assistance or more information on AES filing requirements can contact the U.S. Census Bureau on its toll-free hotline at 800-549-0595.
Images of Sample Updated Customs Forms
Figure 1
PS Form 2976 (September 2009 version)
Note: Customers should check the appropriate box in block 7 on PS Form 2976. On older forms, write one Exemption and Exclusion Legend on the green portion of the form.
Figure 2
PS Form 2976-A (May 2009 version)
Note: After successfully filing electronic export information, AESDirect will provide an alphanumeric Internal Transaction Number (ITN) of PFC as confirmation. The PFC consists of the letters “AES” followed by the ITN: for example, “AES X20080930987654.” The customer must enter the PFC in block 11. On older forms, write the PFC at the top of the form or in any clear space.
If www.aesdirect.gov is unavailable, customers may ship the good, but they must provide the appropriate downtime citation. This citation includes the word “AESDOWN,” the AES filer ID, and the date — for example, AESDOWN 123456789 10/22/2009. The customer must enter the AESDOWN in block 11. On older forms, write the PFC at the top of the form or in any clear space.
If filing is not required, write one Exemption and Exclusion Legend in block 11. On older forms, write the PFC at the top of the form or in any clear space. Avoid writing over the barcode on the form.
— International Marketing, Global Business, 10-22-09
