Amended Rules on Balikbayan Boxes Shipment

Simplify customs clearance for consolidated Balikbayan Box shipments.
Use risk management and ICT-enabled monitoring to facilitate clearance.
Ensure clear, transparent customs policies aligned with international best practices.

Availment: Tracking the number of shipments qualifying for duty/tax exemption up to three times per calendar year.
Balikbayan Box: Corrugated box/container max 200,000 cubic cm, containing personal/household effects, non-commercial.
Qualified Filipinos While Abroad: Non-Resident Filipinos, OFWs, and Resident Filipinos temporarily abroad.
Consolidated Shipment: Two or more shipments from different senders combined into one shipment under a master bill of lading.
Consolidator: Foreign NVOCC forwarding company issuing house bills and shipping consolidated cargo.
Deconsolidator: Agents in the Philippines who ungroup shipments for distribution.
Other definitions include terms such as commercial quantity, de minimis value, household effects, and regulated importation.

Duty and tax exemption allowed for up to three Balikbayan Box shipments per calendar year per Qualified Filipino,
Boxes must only contain personal/household effects, not commercial quantities.
Total FCA value per sender limited to Php150,000 annually.
Sole proprietorships or companies do not qualify for the exemption.
The Bureau shall monitor compliance with availment limits using ICT systems.
Processing charge of Php125 per house bill is imposed for customs clearance.
Due notice provisions require identifying consignees and filing claims within 15 days for unclaimed shipments.

Senders: Submit an Information Sheet with detailed sender and recipient info, contents, number of boxes, and proof of Filipino citizenship or residency documents.
Deconsolidators: Register with the Bureau, ensure senders provide required information, transmit data electronically ahead of shipment arrival, and establish Customs Facilities with required equipment.

Use of Balikbayan Box exemption for smuggling or fraud: fines, prosecution, and cancellation of registration.
Failure to provide advance information: escalating fines from Php100,000 up to Php300,000 after repeated offenses.
Failure to lodge goods declarations or claim goods timely: escalating fines and possible cancellation of registration.
Other obligation breaches: warnings followed by escalating fines, suspension, and cancellation.
Penalties assessed per master bill of lading and may involve blacklisting by trade and aviation authorities.

All parties handling shipment data must comply with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 concerning collection and security of personal information.

Bureau to issue memoranda setting formats for required documents, clearance procedures, and facility standards.
The CAO is subject to review every three years for amendments.