03-26109. 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.

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 October 1, 2003, 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 personnel.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

October 1, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ronald Wyman, Accounting Services Division, Accounts Receivable Group, 6026 Lakeside Boulevard, Indianapolis, Indiana 46278; telephone [phone], 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, Pub. L. 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 2003-104 (see, 2003-39 IRB _, dated September 29, 2003), the IRS determined the rates of interest for the calendar quarter beginning October 1, 2003, and ending December 31, 2003. 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 January 1, 2004, and ending March 31, 2004.

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.

Beginning date	Ending date	Underpayments (percent)	Overpayments (percent)	Corporate overpayments (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
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	123103	4	4	3

Dated: October 8, 2003.

Robert C. Bonner,

Commissioner, Customs and Border Protection.