Auditing of customs entry packets

• US 7,739,248 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2004
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Holmes, Frederic, Thorn, Denise, Potts, Tom, Peach, Laurie, Halterman, Matt, Swirt, Mark, Uy, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Cottingham; John R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON, KIMBERLY LOVEL
• Application Number:
  US10/790,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20050015390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,297 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1
• US Class Current: 707/690
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0831 Overseas transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/944 Business related
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A method for auditing HTS classifications generated from entry packets submitted electronically by U.S. Customs Brokers. A software user interface enables a user to enter the submitted entry packet into a first repository in a centralized database. Executable layers of code links the database to the software user interface. A second repository contains information pertinent to HTS classifications. The user compares the entries in the second repository to the HTS classifications in the first repository. The user generates a report containing any discrepancies between the information contained in the entry packet to the internal classifications. The report can be used to identify errors in the importation process.

Claims

1. Computer-readable storage media embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer to perform a method for Harmonized Tariff Schedule (“

HTS”

) auditing by an importer using a software user interface and an importer database coupled to the software user interface using one or more layers of executable code, the method comprising;

an importer receiving from a customs broker in electronic form;

scanned images of entry packets relating to products imported by the importer which the customs broker assembled and submitted to U.S. customs, each entry packet including at least one commercial invoice, at least one shipping manifest, and at least one U.S. customs form which the customs broker prepared and which sets forth an HTS code and a duty relating to at least one of the products; and

a broker database containing information relating to the entry packets in an electronically comparable form;

the importer entering the scanned images and the information in the broker database into a first repository in the importer database;

the importer linking the scanned images and the information in the broker database to corresponding records of the importer about the products in a second repository in the importer database;

the importer electronically and methodically comparing the information in the broker database with the corresponding records of the importer;

the importer comparing information in the scanned images with the corresponding records of the importer;

the comparing including comparing an HTS code on one of the customs forms with an HTS code with the corresponding records of the importer;

the importer identifying one or more discrepancies between information in the broker database and/or the scanned images and the corresponding records of the importer based on the comparisons, thereby auditing the entry packets;

the importer generating a report identifying the one or more discrepancies between the information in the broker database and/or the scanned images and the corresponding records of the importer; and

the importer taking remedial action to correct the discrepancies.

2. The computer-readable storage media of claim 1 wherein each entry packet includes a 7501 Customs form.

3. The computer-readable storage media of claim 1 wherein the comparing includes comparing attribute classifications assigned by the customs broker to attribute classifications located in the corresponding records of the importer.

4. The computer-readable storage media of claim 1 wherein the comparing information in the scanned images with the corresponding records of the importer includes:

displaying a screen which includes;

a link to more information about one of the invoices;

a link to more information about a product within the one invoice; and

a link to more information about an HTS code relating to the one invoice;

activating one or more of the links; and

in response to activating each link;

displaying the more information which is linked to the link; and

comparing it to at least one of the scanned images.

5. A system for auditing Harmonized Tariff Schedule (“

HTS”

) classifications, comprising;

a database comprising internal records of an importer relevant to HTS classifications;

a computer terminal;

a user interface accessible from the computer terminal; and

a software program suite coupled to the database and to the user interface, the software program suite configured to;

allow an importer to receive from a customs broker in electronic form;

scanned images of entry packets relating to products imported by the importer which the customs broker assembled and submitted to U.S. customs, each entry packet including at least one commercial invoice, at least one shipping manifest, and at least one U.S. customs form which the customs broker prepared and which sets forth an HTS code and a duty relating to at least one of the products; and

a broker database containing information relating to the entry packets in an electronically comparable form;

enable the importer to;

enter the scanned images and the information in the broker database into a first repository in the importer database;

link the scanned images and the information in the broker database to corresponding records of the importer about the products in a second repository in the importer database;

electronically and methodically compare the information in the broker database with the corresponding records of the importer;

compare information in the scanned images with the corresponding records of the importer;

the comparing including comparing an HTS code on one of the customs forms with an HTS code with the corresponding records of the importer;

identify one or more discrepancies between information in the broker database and/or the scanned images and the corresponding records of the importer based on the comparisons, thereby auditing the entry packets;

generate a report identifying the one or more discrepancies between the information in the broker database and/or the scanned images and the corresponding records of the importer; and

take remedial action to correct the discrepancies.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein each entry packet includes a Customs 7501 form.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the software program suite is configured during the comparing information in the scanned images with the corresponding records of the importer to:

display a screen which includes;

a link to more information about one of the invoices;

a link to more information about a product within the one invoice; and

a link to more information about an HTS code relating to the one invoice;

allow one or more of the links to be activated; and

in response to activating each link;

display the more information which is linked to the link; and

compare it to at least one of the scanned images.