Powers of Attorney

Before transacting Customs business in the name of his principal, a customhouse broker is required to obtain a valid power of attorney to do so. He is not required to file the power of attorney with a port director. Customhouse brokers shall retain powers of attorney with their books and papers, and make them available to representatives of the Department of the Treasury.

Before any employee of JAS USA can conduct US Customs business on behalf of any client, a properly completed and signed power of attorney is required. (19CFR141)

POWER OF ATTORNEYCBP REGULATION/JAS USA POLICY

• CBP 5291 may be used for giving power of attorney to transact Customs business.

• If CBP 5291 is not available, either a general power of attorney with unlimited authority or a limited power of attorney as explicit in its terms and executed in the same manner as the CBP 5291.

• JAS Forwarding USA Inc does have an electronic format available.

ACCEPTABLE POA FORMS

Any power of attorney shall be subject to revocation at

any time by written notice given by the principle or

by the port director.

Revocation of Power of Attorney

Definition of Non-resident – an individual, partnership or corporation that does not meet the definition of a resident.

A power of attorney executed by a nonresident principal shall not be accepted unless the agent designated thereby is a resident and is authorized to accept service of process against such nonresident.

Power of attorney shall be supported by documentation establishing the authority of the grantor designated to execute the power of attorney on behalf of the corporation.

Validity of power of attorney – 5 years

Nonresident CorporationForeign Power of Attorney

Definition of Resident – is an individual who resides within, or a partnership with one or more of the partners reside within, the Customs territory of the United States or the Virgin Islands of the United States, or a corporation incorporated in any jurisdiction with the Customs territory of the United States or in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

A power of attorney for a resident corporation shall be executed by a person duly authorized to do so. (i.e. president, vice president, treasurer or secretary).

Validity of power of attorney – 5 years

Resident Corporation

A power of attorney granted by a partnership shall state the names of all members of the partnership. One member of the partnership may execute a power of attorney in the name of the partnership for the transaction of all its Customs business.

Limited Partnership – A power of attorney granted by a limited partnership need only state the names of the general partner who have the authority to bind the firm unless the partnership agreement provides otherwise.

Validity of power of attorney – 2 years

Partnerships

Validity of partnership power of attorney not to exceed 2 years from the date of execution

A copy of the partnership agreement must accompany the power of attorney. For this purpose, a partnership or limited partnership means any business association recognized as such under the laws of the state where the association is organized.

Change in Partners – When a new firm is formed by a change in membership, no power of attorney filed by the antecedent firm shall thereafter be recognized for any Customs purpose.

Partnership requirements

Importer Security Filing

Limited or general POA’s - A POA may be executed for the transaction by an

agent or attorney for a specified part or all the Customs business of the principal.

Limited Power of Attorney

As a general rule, LLC’s are managed by their members, unless the LLC elects to appoint managers to manage the company. In a member-managed company, the members are agents of the company with the authority to bind the LLC in the ordinary course of its business. This authority would include executing powers of attorney.

In a manager-managed company, the mangers are the agents with such binding authority. Members do not have the power to bind the LLC in their capacity as members in a manager-managed company. Therefore, the question of who within an LLC can execute powers of attorney will depend on its management structure.

Validity period not to exceed 2 years.JAS USA requires copies of the LLC docs showing the list of

members for the LLC.

LIMITED LIABILITY CORPORATIONS-LLC’s

Customhouse brokers – A power of attorney executed in favor of a licensed customhouse broker may specify that the POA is granted to the broker to act through any of its licensed officers or authorized employees.

JAS USA will grant a sub-power of attorney under above conditions if an existing CBP permit does not exist in the port of entry and if RLF is not possible in that port.

Request should be in writing to compliance with Name and address of broker being assigned and a copy of original power of attorney.

Delegation to SubagentsSub POA’s

By ensuring that each POA is valid, the broker joins US CBP on the national security frontlines in verifying the data used to screen what enters this country.

Identity verification required for all types of companies and/or individuals.

“Reasonable care” requires verification of the ALL POA signer’s identity.

JAS USA requires an identity verification form to be completed by the party that obtains the POA. This form indicates that you have verified the person, who signed the POA, is in fact who they say they are.

Identity Verification for Powers of Attorney

POA’s should be completed in person so that the grantor’s personal identification (driver’s license, passport, etc) can be reviewed.

Foreign POA (FPOA”s should be completed in the presence of a JAS representative in the country of signing. Validating documents remain the same for FPOA’s.

Verify that the importer’s name, importer number and IRS# or Social Security # on the POA match what appears on bond query.

Check all parties screening to determine that POA grantor does not appear on any Government lists.

Standards for Validation

Check applicable web sites to verify the POA grantor’s business and registration with State authorities.

If the principal uses a trade or fictitious name in doing business, confirm that the name appears on the POA

Additional ValidationLLC’s & Partnerships

TEST:

1. You must use a CBP 5291 for all Powersof Attorney?

True False

2. A Power of Attorney issued by a Partnership is valid for what period of time?

a) 1 year

b) 5 years

c) 2 years

d) Until revoked

3. Which position listed below can execute a resident corporation Power of Attorney?

a) General Manager

b) President

c) Receiving Manager

d) All the above

4. A valid Power of Attorney is required for a broker to conduct Customs business on behalf of a principle.

True False

5. A resident is considered to be….?

a) An individual who resides within the customs territory of the United States and the US Virgin Islands

b) A partnership with one or more of the partner who resides within the customs territory of the United States or the US Virgin Islands

c) A corporation incorporated in any jurisdiction within the customs territory of the United States or the US Virgin Islands

d) All the above

6. All Power of Attorney’s must be filed with the port director.

True False

7. Customhouse brokers shall retain Power of Attorney’s with their books and papers and make them available to a representative of the Department of the Treasury.

True False

8. Verifying the Power of Attorney grantor’s identity and legal authority to enter into a POA is considered “reasonable care” for brokers.

True False

9. Which of the following is a way to validate a Power of Attorney?

a) Check applicable websites to verify the POA grantor’s business and registration with state authorities

b) If the principal uses a trade or fictitious name in doing business, confirm that the name appears on the POA

c) Verify that the importer’s name and Employer Identification Number on the POA match what is in ACS.

d) All the above

10. A Power of Attorney can be revoked at anytime by written notice given to and received by the broker

True False