December 11, 2009
New AES Rulings
 

To our Valued Clients,

We wanted to let you know about upcoming changes that will require an additional step for your shippers to complete before being able to forward a shipment. The U.S. Census Bureau is amending the Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) to eliminate the requirement of using the Social Security Number (SSN) as an identification number when registering to file your shippers export shipment(s).

 

In order to ensure that a shipper SSN is protected in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, Title 5, United States Code, Section 552a, the SSN will no longer be used as an identification

number when filing an export shipment with US Census Bureau.. The shipper will now be required to apply for an individual EIN (Employers Identification Number) which will be used as the identification number instead of the SSN. A Shipper who currently holds a US Passport and who has been issued a SSN will need to register for an EIN number with the Internal Revenue Service's website at http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=102767,00.html or by calling (800) 829-4933 and following the instructions. This telephone process will take at least 15 minutes depending on the amount of callers to that office, and an EIN will be assigned to the applicant. The EIN will be used as an identification number for filing your export transaction(s). The U.S. Passport number may not be used as an identification number for filing purposes. If a shipper holds a Foreign Passport, then the passport number may be used as an identification number.

 

This rule will become effective September 4, 2009 and will be fully implemented on December 3, 2009. Accelerated International Forwarders LLC. is committed to providing the most accurate information regarding your shipment to the U.S. Census Bureau. Kindly ensure that an EIN is provided to us in a timely manner in order to avoid any delays in routing your shipment(s).

How to obtain the EIN number with the IRS:

1. Go to the Internal Revenue Service Website at http://www.irs.gov/businesses/ and click "apply for an EIN online"

2. At the bottom of the page locate the APPLY ONLINE NOW link and click once.

3. Click once on the Begin Application button.

4. Customers applying for an EIN for the purpose of filing their export information with the Census Bureau should select "Sole Proprietor" as the legal structure on this page. Once selected click the Continue button once.

5. Again select "Sole Proprietor" and click the Continue button once.

6. Confirm your selection by clicking the Continue button once on this new page.

7. This page requires you to choose a reason for applying for an EIN. Any of these can be selected. Once selected, click the Continue button once.

8. Fill out the name, address and SSN fields. Select sole proprietor and click the Continue button once.

9. Leave the field for Trade Name blank and enter United States as the country where the sole proprietor is located. Select your State of origin and enter today's date as "Sole Proprietor Start Date". Click the Continue button once.

10. Answer "No" to the five questions on this page and click the Continue button once.


11. Select "Other" for "What does your business or organization do". This should not be associated with your employer. Click the Continue button once.

12. Select "Other" as your business' activity and enter relocation in the blank field. Click the Continue button once.

13. On this screen select "Receive letter online" and click the Continue button once.

14. Review your data on this screen and print a copy for your records. Click the Continue button once.

15. Your EIN number will appear on the following screen. Print your EIN conformation letter from this screen and save for your records.

 

Please make sure your clients are aware of these new regulations and that as soon as they know of their international relocation, they take action immediately in obtaining their EIN.

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