524 Proof of Filing Citation (PFC)

524.1 General

Under the authority of 13 U.S.C. Chapter 9, as amended by the Foreign Relations Authorization Act of 2002, P.L. 107-228, U.S. Census Bureau regulations require electronic filing of export information through the Census Bureau’s Automated Export System (AES) or AESDirect Web site for certain outbound international shipments of goods. Before mailing, customers subject to this filing requirement are responsible for presenting a Proof of Filing Citation (PFC) or AES Downtime Citation as evidence of compliance.

The Census Bureau’s regulations mandate that electronic export information be filed when any type of goods contained in a shipment (per Schedule B Export Codes at www.census.gov/foreign-trade/schedules/b) is valued at more than $2,500, requires an export license under U.S. law, or is being sent to certain countries designated as “State Sponsors of Terrorism,” subject to certain exceptions. Following are three examples to illustrate the value criterion:

1. Example 1: An insured Priority Mail International package contains one mechanically operated watch (Schedule B item number 9101.11.0000) valued at $2,600. The total value of goods to be mailed is $2,600, and the value of all items within the same Schedule B number is more than $2,500. Consequently, electronic filing and a PFC would be required (unless an exemption or exclusion applies).
2. Example 2: An insured Priority Mail International package contains one mechanically operated watch (Schedule B item number 9101.11.0000) valued at $2,400, and one electronically operated watch (Schedule B item number 9101.91.0000) valued at $2,400. The total value of goods to be mailed is $4,800, but no group of items within the same Schedule B number is valued at more than $2,500. Consequently, electronic filing and a PFC would not be required because the mechanical watch and electronic watch are in different Schedule B groups.
3. Example 3: An insured Priority Mail International package contains two mechanically operated watches (Schedule B item number 9101.11.0000), one valued at $1,400 and one valued at $1,500. The total value of goods to be mailed is $2,900, and the value of all items within the same Schedule B number is more than $2,500. Consequently, electronic filing and a PFC would be required (unless an exemption or exclusion applies).

524.2 Filing Requirements

524.21 Mandatory Filing

Electronic filing of export information is required when any of the following applies:

1. One or more classes of goods (per Schedule B Export Codes at www.census.gov/foreign-trade/schedules/b) within the item are valued at more than $2,500, unless the shipment falls under an exemption or exclusion. See 524.1.
2. The item requires an export license under U.S. law.
3. The shipment is destined to a designated “State Sponsor of Terrorism” country (per Country Group E:1 in the Export Administration Regulations, 15 C.F.R. Part 740, Supplement No. 1) and the shipment does not qualify as a “gift parcel or humanitarian donation” as defined by 15 C.F.R. § 740.12.

Note: As of October 5, 2009, the following countries are designated as “State Sponsors of Terrorism”:

1. Cuba.
2. Iran.
3. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea).
4. Sudan.
5. The Syrian Arab Republic (Syria).

524.22 How to File Electronic Export Information and Obtain a Proof of Filing Citation

To file electronic export information through AESDirect and obtain a PFC, customers should use the following steps:

1. Go to www.aesdirect.gov.
2. Register for an AESDirect account or log into your existing account.
3. Follow the instructions for the AES Certification Quiz.
4. The “Port of Export” code for shipping through the Postal Service is “8000.”
5. The “Mode of Transport” is “Mail.”
6. Leave the carrier as “SCAC/IATA,” and leave the conveyance name fields blank.
7. After successfully filing electronic export information, AESDirect will provide an alphanumeric Internal Transaction Number (ITN) as confirmation. The PFC consists of the letters “AES” followed by the ITN: for example, “AES X20080930987654.”

Note: If the AES system is down, call the U.S. Census Bureau’s toll-free information hotline at 800-549-0595, option 1. For additional information on electronic filing, use option 3.