[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 6 (Friday, January 9, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1593-1594]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-426]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Customs and Border Protection


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

AGENCY: Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security.

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, 2004, the interest rates 
for overpayments will be 3 percent for corporations and 4 percent for 
non-corporations, and the interest rate for underpayments will be 4 
percent. This notice is published for the convenience of the importing 
public and Customs and Border Protection personnel.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald Wyman, Accounting Services 
Division, Accounts Receivable Group, 6026 Lakeside Boulevard, 
Indianapolis, Indiana 46278; telephone (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 
must 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 2003-138, the IRS determined the rates of 
interest for the calendar quarter beginning January 1, 2004, and ending 
March 31, 2004. The interest rate paid to the Treasury for 
underpayments will be the Federal short-term rate (1%) plus three 
percentage points (3%) for a total of four percent (4%). For corporate 
overpayments, the rate is the Federal short-term rate (1%) plus two 
percentage points (2%) for a total of three percent (3%). For 
overpayments made by non-corporations, the rate is the Federal short-
term rate (1%) plus three percentage points (3%) for a total of four 
percent (4%). These interest rates are subject to change for the 
calendar quarter beginning April 1, 2004, and ending June 30, 2004.
    For the convenience of the importing public and Customs and Border 
Protection 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
                                                                              Under-       Over-        over-
                       Beginning date                         Ending date    payments     payments     payments
                                                                            (percent)    (percent)    (Eff. 1-1-
                                                                                                         99)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(percent)-
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  ...........

[[Page 1594]]

 
010188......................................................       033188           11           10  ...........
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......................................................       093003            5            5            4
100103......................................................       033104            4            4            3
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    Dated: January 6, 2004.
Robert C. Bonner,
Commissioner, Customs and Border Protection.
[FR Doc. 04-426 Filed 1-8-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P