SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1505 and Treasury Decision 85-93, published in the Federal Register on May 29, 1985 (50 FR 21832), the interest rate paid on applicable overpayments or underpayments of customs duties must be in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code rate established under 26 U.S.C. 6621 and 6622. Section 6621 provides different interest rates ( printed page 12632) applicable to overpayments: One for corporations and one for non-corporations.

The interest rates are based on the Federal short-term rate and determined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on behalf of the Secretary of the Treasury on a quarterly basis. The rates effective for a quarter are determined during the first-month period of the previous quarter.

In Revenue Ruling 2019-05, the IRS determined the rates of interest for the calendar quarter beginning April 1, 2019, and ending on June 30, 2019. The interest rate paid to the Treasury for underpayments will be the Federal short-term rate (3%) plus three percentage points (3%) for a total of six percent (6%) for both corporations and non-corporations. For corporate overpayments, the rate is the Federal short-term rate (3%) plus two percentage points (2%) for a total of five percent (5%). For overpayments made by non-corporations, the rate is the Federal short-term rate (3%) plus three percentage points (3%) for a total of six percent (6%). These interest rates used to calculate interest on overdue accounts (underpayments) and refunds (overpayments) of customs duties remain the same as the previous quarter. These interest rates are subject to change for the calendar quarter beginning July 1, 2019, and ending on September 30, 2019.

For the convenience of the importing public and U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel the following list of IRS interest rates used, covering the period from July of 1974 to date, to calculate interest on overdue accounts and refunds of customs duties, is published in summary format.

84 FR 12631