CustomsBrokerLicenseExam

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April 2025, question 2

Broker Compliance · Penalties, recordkeeping and prior disclosure

A customs broker recently imported merchandise into the customs territory of the United States and transmitted the entry records for this merchandise to CBP. If copies of these entry records are retained by CBP, which of the following statements is TRUE?

  1. CBP maintains the copies and the customs broker does not need to retain their own copies of the submitted records.
  2. The customs broker is required to maintain copies of the submitted records.
  3. The customs broker is required to request the return of the submitted records from CBP.
  4. CBP will notify the customs broker when they can destroy their copies of the submitted records.
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CBP's answer: B. B: The customs broker is required to maintain copies of the submitted records.

Section 163.3 says entry records normally kept in the ordinary course of business must be maintained by the broker whether or not CBP retains copies. So the broker must keep its own copies (B). CBP keeping copies does not end the duty, and nothing requires the broker to ask for the records back or wait for a CBP notice before destroying them.

must be maintained by such person in accordance with this part whether or not copies thereof are retained by Customs 19 CFR 163.3

Search for: whether or not copies thereof are retained by Customs

CBP's key cites: 19 CFR 163.2(a); 19 CFR 163.3

Question and key from CBP's April 2025 exam and answer key. The walk-through is ours; quotes are from the pinned editions in the reference viewer (HTSUS 2026 Basic, 19 CFR 2025 edition).