• HOW TO APPLY FOR FTZ

    FTZ zone

Will my company benefit?

Your company should consider becoming an activated FTZ site or subzone if you:

  • Are located within 60 miles or 90 minutes of the Rockford Port of Entry, which is the Greater Rockford Airport and you are in the FTZ #176 Service Area (see map)
  • Import a significant amount of products with a high value, and/or you expect your imports to grow
  • Re-export a substantial percentage of imports
  • You hold significant value of imported inventory

Consider a feasibility analysis

To find out if your company could benefit from FTZ #176 contact us. We can conduct a no-cost feasibility analysis. Here is some of the information you will need to provide to help us make an accurate determination of the potential value for your company:

  • Total annual value of imported (dutiable) merchandise
  • Number of customs entries made annually
  • Total annual Merchandise Processing Fee(s) paid
  • Average number of inventory turns for previous year
  • HTS list of imported merchandise
  • FTZ list of finished product (if manufacturing occurs)

What are the steps to become an activated FTZ site or subzone?

The first step to applying is to contact the FTZ Administrator for FTZ #176. Call Carrie Zethmayr at 312-221-1115 or email. She will assist you through the following next steps:

  1. Apply to the National FTZ Board to have your facility approved as an FTZ site or subzone.
  2. If pursuing production authority (that will allow you to capture an inverted tariff benefit), you will also need to complete an additional application to the National FTZ Board which will be posted in the Federal Register for public comment.
  3.  Activate your FTZ site or subzone with Customs & Border Protection. This requires demonstrating requisite security measures and customs entries processes and procedures per the CBP Foreign Trade Zone manual.

What are the costs to become an activated FTZ Site?

Fees imposed by the National FTZ Board and the Greater Rockford Airport Authority are outlined in the FTZ #176 Tariff. There are no fees imposed by U.S. Customs & Border Protection.

Additional costs may include:

  • Foreign Trade Zones Bond
  • Costs to upgrade building security
  • Costs to implement software tools to file electronic customs entries
  • Consulting and/or legal fees, particularly if pursuing production authority
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