19 CFR Part 111 · 6 questions
19 CFR 111.1 — Definitions.
Past customs broker license exam questions whose answer rests on 19 CFR 111.1. Drawn from 5 released sittings, April 2025 through October 2025. Every question below is a real released question with the answer CBP credited, the authority it rests on, and an explanation of why that answer is right.
Reading the section itself is one tap away inside the simulator, next to the question, which is how the exam works: open book, against a clock.
April 2025, Q6. Which of the following is considered "customs business?"
- AThe preparation, and activities relating to the preparation, of documents in any format and the electronic transmission of documents intended to be filed with CBP in furtherance of any other customs business activity.
- BThe processing of applications for a broker's license or national permit for an individual, partnership, association, or corporation.
- CThose activities performed by a business entity to ensure that documents for a related business entity are prepared using reasonable care.
- DAny activity related to dispatching shipments in foreign commerce between the United States and its territories and foreign countries.
Show the answer and explanation
The correct answer is A because 19 CFR 111.1 explicitly defines "customs business" to include the preparation and electronic transmission of documents intended for CBP in furtherance of customs activities, aligning directly with option A. Option B refers to licensing applications, which are administrative matters unrelated to the definition of customs business. Option C involves ensuring documents are prepared with reasonable care, but the rule excludes such activities unless they involve actual preparation or filing. Option D concerns dispatching shipments, which is not part of the definition of customs business as it focuses on CBP transactions, not logistics.
April 2025, Q14. Which of the following is NOT legally required for a partnership broker to file entry and entry summary for commercial merchandise on behalf of an importer of record?
- AAutomated Broker Interface (ABI) functionality.
- BA customs power of attorney executed directly with the importer of record.
- CAt least one member of the partnership is a broker.
- DA customs broker license and a national permit.
Show the answer and explanation
The correct answer is A because the Automated Broker Interface (ABI) functionality is not a legal requirement under 19 CFR 111.1 or related sections. The regulations mandate a customs broker license, a national permit (D), a customs power of attorney (B), and at least one member of the partnership being a broker (C), as these are explicitly required for legal authority and compliance. ABI is a tool for electronic filing but not a statutory requirement. The other options are directly supported by the definitions and requirements in 19 CFR 111.1 and 111.19, which govern broker qualifications and obligations.
April 2026, Q9. An individually licensed customs broker voluntarily suspends her license on September 1, 2024, and reinstates her license on November 15, 2028. How many continuing education credits must she complete during the 2027-2030 triennial reporting period?
- A13
- B14
- C27
- D36
Show the answer and explanation
The correct answer is B) 14 because 19 CFR 111.102(a) mandates that all individually licensed customs brokers must complete 14 continuing education credits during each triennial reporting period, regardless of license suspension or reinstatement. The suspension period (September 1, 2024, to November 15, 2028) does not exempt the broker from fulfilling the triennial requirement for the 2027–2030 period, as the regulation does not provide for credit reduction based on suspension duration. Options A, C, and D are incorrect because they either misapply the credit requirement (e.g., 13 or 36 credits) or assume suspension duration affects the requirement, which is not supported by the cited authority.
October 2023, Q29. Pursuant to the Customs regulations, which phrase is defined to be “those activities involving transactions with CBP concerning the entry and admissibility of merchandise, its classification and valuation, the payment of duties, taxes, or other charges assessed or collected by CBP on merchandise by reason of its importation, and the refund, rebate, or drawback of those duties, taxes, or other charges.”?
- AThe examination for an individual’s broker license
- BCustoms business
- CResponsible supervision and control
- DCustoms supervision
Show the answer and explanation
The correct answer is B) Customs business, as defined in 19 CFR 111.1, which explicitly states that "customs business" includes all activities involving transactions with CBP concerning entry, admissibility, classification, valuation, duty payment, and refund processes. The other options are not defined in the cited text: A) refers to a licensing process not mentioned in the definition, C) and D) involve terms like "supervision" or "control" that are not part of the provided definition. The authority directly links the phrase in the question to "customs business" through its comprehensive enumeration of activities.
October 2024, Q9. 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?
- AAny employee of the properly designated customs broker.
- BAny employee of the properly designated customs broker who also has a login to the broker's electronic submission software to send data to CBP.
- CAll employees of the properly designated customs broker who also have been granted power of attorney (POA) by the customs broker.
- DA nominal consignee in its own name without the services of a properly designated customs broker.
Show the answer and explanation
The correct answer is C because 19 CFR 111.1 defines "Employee" as someone in the service of a customs broker, and 19 CFR 141.0a requires that only employees with power of attorney (POA) granted by the broker can act on the broker’s behalf, including signing or certifying electronic transmissions. Options A and B are incorrect because mere employment or software access does not confer legal authority to act for the broker; POA is explicitly required. Option D is irrelevant because a nominal consignee without a broker lacks the necessary relationship to perform this function.
October 2025, Q15. _____ means an activity performed by a business entity to ensure that documents for a related business entity or entities are prepared and filed with CBP using "reasonable care", but such activity does not extend to the actual preparation or filing of the documents or their electronic equivalents.
- ACorporate compliance activity
- BConducting customs business
- CExercising responsible supervision and control
- DInformed compliance activity
Show the answer and explanation
The correct answer is A because 19 CFR 111.1 explicitly defines "corporate compliance activity" as ensuring documents are prepared and filed with CBP using "reasonable care" without involving actual preparation or filing, which matches the question's description. Option B, "conducting customs business," is defined as including the preparation and filing of documents, which exceeds the scope described. Options C and D are not defined in the cited authority, so they cannot be validated against the cited authority.
CBLEsim is free: every past-exam question CBP has released, the CFR and the HTSUS a tap away, timed mock exams, and tracking that sends you back to what you keep missing.
Start practising freeOther sections of Part 111 the exam tests
- 19 CFR 111.30 (6 questions)
- 19 CFR 111.2 (6 questions)
- 19 CFR 111.28 (6 questions)