[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 19, Volume 2] [Revised as of April 1, 2006] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 19CFR159.12] [Page 230-231] TITLE 19--CUSTOMS DUTIES CHAPTER I--BUREAU OF CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY; DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY (CONTINUED) PART 159_LIQUIDATION OF DUTIES--Table of Contents Subpart A_General Provisions Sec. 159.12 Extension of time for liquidation. (a) Reasons--(1) Extension. The port director may extend the 1-year statutory period for liquidation for an additional period not to exceed 1 year if: (i) Information needed by Customs. Information needed by Customs for the proper appraisement or classification of the merchandise is not available, or (ii) Importer's request. The importer requests an extension in writing before the statutory period expires and shows good cause why the extension should be granted. ``Good cause'' is demonstrated when the importer satisfies the port director that more time is needed to present to Customs information which will affect the pending action, or there is a similar question under review by Customs. (2) Suspension. The 1-year liquidation period may be suspended as required by statute or court order. (b) Notice of extension. If the port director extends the time for liquidation, as provided in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, he promptly shall notify the importer or the consignee and his agent and surety on Customs Form 4333-A, appropriately modified, that the time has been extended and the reasons for doing so. (c) Notice of suspension. If the liquidation of an entry is suspended as required by statute or court order, as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, the port director promptly shall notify the importer or the consignee and his agent and surety on Customs Form 4333-A, appropriately modified, of the suspension. (d) Additional extensions--(1) Information needed by Customs. If an extension has been granted because Customs needs more information and the port director thereafter determines that more time is needed, he may extend the time for liquidation for an additional period not to exceed 1 year provided he issues the notice required by paragraph (b) of this section before termination of the prior extension period. (2) At importer's request. If the statutory period has been extended for 1 year at the importer's request, and the importer thereafter determines that additional time is necessary, he may request another extension in writing before the original extension expires, giving reasons for his request. If the port director finds that good cause (as defined in paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section) exists, he shall issue a notice extending the time for liquidation for an additional period not to exceed 1 year. (e) Limitation on extensions. The total time for which extensions may be granted by the port director may not exceed 3 years. (f) Time limitation--(1) Generally. An entry not liquidated within 4 years from either the date of entry, or the date of final withdrawal of all the merchandise covered by a warehouse entry, shall be deemed liquidated by operation of law at the rate of duty, value, quantity, and amount of duty asserted by the importer at the time of filing the entry summary for consumption in proper form, with estimated duties attached, or the withdrawal for consumption in proper form, with estimated duties attached, unless liquidation continues to be suspended by statute or court order. Customs will endeavor to provide a courtesy notice of liquidation [[Page 231]] on Customs Form 4333-A, in accordance with Sec. 159.9(d), in addition to the bulletin notice specified in Sec. 159.9(c)(2)(ii). (2) Suspension of liquidation by statute or court order. When liquidation of an entry continues to be suspended beyond the 4-year period specified in paragraph (f)(1) of this section due to a statute or court order, the entry shall be liquidated within 90 days after removal of the suspension. (g) Notice of liquidation. If an entry is liquidated after an extension expires or a suspension is removed, notice of liquidation shall be given on the bulletin notice of liquidation, Customs Form 4333, as provided in Sec. Sec. 159.9 and 159.10(c)(3). Customs will endeavor to provide a courtesy notice of liquidation on Customs Form 4333-A in accordance with Sec. 159.9(d). [T.D. 79-221, 44 FR 46829, Aug. 9, 1979, as amended by T.D. 90-1, 54 FR 52933, Dec. 26, 1989]