[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 15 (Thursday, January 23, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3308-3309]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-1445]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service


Quarterly IRS Interest Rates Used in Calculating Interest on 
Overdue Accounts and Refunds on Customs Duties

AGENCY: Customs Service, Treasury.

ACTION: General notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public of the quarterly Internal 
Revenue Service interest rates used to calculate interest on overdue 
accounts (underpayments) and refunds (overpayments) of Customs duties. 
For the calendar quarter beginning January 1, 2003, the interest rates 
for overpayments will be 4 percent for corporations and 5 percent for 
non-corporations, and the interest rate for underpayments will be 5 
percent. This notice is published for the convenience of the importing 
public and Customs personnel.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald Wyman, Accounting Services 
Division, Accounts Receivable Group, 6026 Lakeside Boulevard, 
Indianapolis, Indiana 46278, (317) 298-1200, extension 1349.

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 
shall be in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code rate established 
under 26 U.S.C. 6621 and 6622. Section 6621 was amended (at paragraph 
(a)(1)(B) by the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act 
of 1998, Public Law 105-206, 112 Stat. 685) to provide different 
interest rates 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 2002-70 (see, 2002-50 IRB 1, dated December 16, 
2002), the IRS determined the rates of interest for the calendar 
quarter beginning January 1, 2003, and ending March 31, 2003. The 
interest rate paid to the Treasury for underpayments will be the 
Federal short-term rate (3%) plus two percentage points (2%) for a 
total of five percent (5%). For corporate overpayments, the rate is the 
Federal short-term rate (3%) plus one percentage point (1%) for a total 
of four percent (4%). For overpayments made by non-corporations, the 
rate is the Federal short-term rate (3%) plus two percentage points 
(2%) for a total of five percent (5%). These interest rates are subject 
to change for the calendar quarter beginning April 1, 2003, and ending 
June 30, 2003.
    For the convenience of the importing public and Customs personnel 
the following list of IRS interest rates used, covering the period from 
before July of 1974 to date, to calculate interest on overdue accounts 
and refunds of Customs duties, is published in summary format.

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                                                                                                    Corporate
                                                                Underpayments     Overpayments     overpayments
               Beginning date                   Ending date       (percent)        (percent)      (Eff. 1-1-99)
                                                                                                    (percent)
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                  Prior to
070174......................................           063075                6                6  ...............
070175......................................           013176                9                9  ...............
020176......................................           013178                7                7  ...............
020178......................................           013180                6                6  ...............
020180......................................           013182               12               12  ...............
020182......................................           123182               20               20  ...............
010183......................................           063083               16               16  ...............
070183......................................           123184               11               11  ...............
010185......................................           063085               13               13  ...............
070185......................................           123185               11               11  ...............
010186......................................           063086               10               10  ...............
070186......................................           123186                9                9  ...............
010187......................................           093087                9                8  ...............
100187......................................           123187               10                9  ...............
010188......................................           033188               11               10  ...............

[[Page 3309]]

 
040188......................................           093088               10                9  ...............
100188......................................           033189               11               10  ...............
040189......................................           093089               12               11  ...............
100189......................................           033191               11               10  ...............
040191......................................           123191               10                9  ...............
010192......................................           033192                9                8  ...............
040192......................................           093092                8                7  ...............
100192......................................           063094                7                6  ...............
070194......................................           093094                8                7  ...............
100194......................................           033195                9                8  ...............
040195......................................           063095               10                9  ...............
070195......................................           033196                9                8  ...............
040196......................................           063096                8                7  ...............
070196......................................           033198                9                8  ...............
040198......................................           123198                8                7  ...............
010199......................................           033199                7                7                6
040199......................................           033100                8                8                7
040100......................................           033101                9                9                8
040101......................................           063001                8                8                7
070101......................................           123101                7                7                6
010102......................................           123102                6                6                5
010103......................................           033103                5                5                4
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    Dated: January 17, 2003.
Robert C. Bonner,
Commissioner of Customs.
[FR Doc. 03-1445 Filed 1-22-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P