Title 19 — Customs DutiesRelease 119-73
§1648 Uncertified checks, United States notes, and national bank notes receivable for customs duties
Title 19 › Chapter CHAPTER 4— - TARIFF ACT OF 1930 › Subtitle SUBTITLE III— - ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS › Part Part VI— - Miscellaneous Provisions › § 1648
Summary
Customs officers may take certain kinds of paper money and personal checks to pay import duties, but only when the Treasury Secretary allows it and under the rules the Secretary sets. If a check they accept bounces, the person who wrote it still must pay the duty and any penalties or extra charges, just as if they had not given a check.
Full Legal Text
Title 19, §1648
Customs Duties — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Customs officers may receive uncertified checks, United States notes, and circulating notes of national banking associations in payment of duties on imports, during such time and under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe; but if a check so received is not paid the person by whom such check has been tendered shall remain liable for the payment of the duties and for all legal penalties and additions to the same extent as if such check had not been tendered.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1970—Pub. L. 91–271 substituted reference to customs officers for reference to collectors of customs.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1970 AmendmentFor
Effective Date
of amendment by Pub. L. 91–271, see section 203 of Pub. L. 91–271, set out as a note under section 1500 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
19 U.S.C. § 1648
Title 19 — Customs Duties
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73