Other than the owner or purchaser, of the following, who has the authority to sign or certify electronic transmissions of the entry or entry summary?
How to get there
19 CFR 111.2(a)(2)(ii)(A)(1)An employee of a broker, acting solely for his employer, is not required to be licensed where: (1) Authorized to sign documents. The broker has authorized the employee to sign documents pertaining to customs business on his behalf, and has executed a power of attorney for that purpose. …
CBP Directive 3530-002A (Right to Make Entry) §§ 5.3–5.4… Any such owner or purchaser may make entry on his own behalf or may designate a licensed Customs broker to make entry on his behalf … The terms “owner” or “purchaser” would not include a “nominal consignee” who effectively possesses no other right, title, or interest in the goods … Only the importer of record (owner, purchaser, or Customs broker) may execute the declaration on an entry or entry summary.
A broker acts through employees it has authorized by power of attorney. The answer is C.
Why the other choices are wrong
A) Any employee: only employees the broker has authorized, with a POA, may sign.
B) Any employee with a software login: system access isn't legal authority. The POA is.
D) A nominal consignee in its own name: a nominal consignee isn't an owner or purchaser and can't make entry in its own right. It needs a licensed broker.
Tip
Who may sign the entry: the owner or purchaser (or its authorized employees and officers), or a licensed broker (or its POA-authorized employees). Nominal consignees such as express carriers and consolidators must use a broker.
Sources: 19 CFR 111.2(a)(2)(ii); CBP Directive 3530-002A, Right to Make Entry, §§ 5.3–5.4.
CBP answer key: Answer C · Right to Make Entry, Directive 3530-002A, Section 5.3; 19 CFR 111.1; 19 CFR 111.2; 19 CFR 141.0aSource: CBP past exams ↗