(a) By whom filed. Protests may be filed by:
(1) The importer or consignee shown on the entry papers, or their sureties;
(2) Any person paying or receiving a refund of any charge or exaction;
(3) Any person seeking entry or delivery;
(4) Any person filing a claim for drawback;
(5) With respect to a determination of origin under subpart G of part 181 of this chapter, any exporter or producer of the merchandise subject to that determination, if the exporter or producer completed and signed a Certificate of Origin covering the merchandise as provided for in § 181.11(a) of this chapter; or
(6) Any authorized agent of any of the persons described in paragraphs (a) (1) through (5) of this section, subject to the provisions of § 174.3.
(b) Form and number of copies. A written protest against a decision of CBP must be filed in quadruplicate on CBP Form 19 or a form of the same size clearly labeled “Protest” and setting forth the same content in its entirety, in the same order, addressed to CBP. All schedules or other attachments to a protest (other than samples or similar exhibits) must also be filed in quadruplicate. A protest against a decision of CBP may also be transmitted electronically pursuant to any electronic data interchange system authorized by CBP for that purpose. Electronic submissions are not required to be filed in quadruplicate.
(c) Identity of filer. The identity of the person filing the protest or his agent, or attorney shall be noted on the protest. This may be accomplished through a signature which is handwritten in ink, stamped, typed, facsimile, telefax, or by electronic certification in CBP Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) or any other CBP-authorized electronic data interchange system. If the person filing the protest is not the importer of record or consignee, the filer shall include his address and importer number, if any.
(d) Place of filing. Protests shall be filed with CBP, either at the port of entry or electronically.
(e) Time of filing. Protests must be filed, in accordance with section 514, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1514), within 90 days of a decision relating to an entry made before December 18, 2004, or within 180 days of a decision relating to an entry made on or after December 18, 2004, after any of the following:
(1) The date of notice of liquidation or reliquidation, or the date of liquidation or reliquidation, as determined under §§ 159.9 or 159.10 of this chapter;
(2) The date of the decision, involving neither a liquidation nor reliquidation, as to which the protest is made (for example: The date of an exaction; the date of written notice excluding merchandise from entry, delivery or demanding redelivery to CBP custody under any provision of the customs laws; the date of written notice of a denial of a claim filed under section 520(d), Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1520(d)), or; within 90 days of the date of denial of a petition filed pursuant to section 520(c)(1), Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1520(c)(1)), relating to an entry made before December 18, 2004); or
(3) The date of mailing of notice of demand for payment against a bond in the case of a surety which has an unsatisfied legal claim under a bond written by the surety.
(f) Date of filing. The date on which a protest is received by the Customs officer with whom it is required to be filed shall be deemed the date on which it is filed.
(g) Return of fifth copy. If a fifth copy of the protest is presented for the purpose of having recorded thereon the date of its receipt and the protest number assigned thereto, such information shall be recorded thereon and the fifth copy shall be returned to the person filing the protest.
[T.D. 70-181, 35 FR 13429, Aug. 22, 1970]