IG Faults Customs for Lack of Information

Customs and Border Protection is not able to measure the effectiveness of efforts to increase revenue collection because it lacks information from two key programs, according to a report by the Department of Homeland Security inspector general.

The report released Friday by the DHS auditor said that Customs’ account management program does not require managers to report on the work they have done, or how their accounts have improved compliance with revenue laws. The account management system was established in 1997 to give importers a single point of contact for dealing with the agency.

The inspector general also said that Customs national and targeting and analysis groups also do not have to report such items as the amount of revenue they have collected, or how much they have closed the revenue gap. In addition, oversight of the five targeting offices has been inconsistent because of management changes within the agency.

The five targeting and analysis groups were established in 2007 to focus on items that Customs identified as priority trade issues, such as revenue, intellectual property rights and antidumping and countervailing duties. The priorities were listed in the 2008 edition of Customs’ trade strategy.

The report said that in fiscal 2007, Customs collected $33 billion in revenue, and lost $344 million because of non-compliance

In responding to the auditors findings, Customs officials said they had introduced a quarterly reporting requirement for account managers, and hired new account managers. To improve the targeting offices, the agency improved its information-sharing among the offices.

The inspector general’s report is available online at http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_09-29_Feb09.pdf