USDA Renames Its User Fee Privacy Records System
Published Date: 4/11/2025
Notice
Summary
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is updating its system that tracks and processes user fees for its services. This change renames the system and invites the public to comment by May 12, 2025. If you use or pay fees to APHIS, this update affects you, but there’s no new cost—just clearer records and better service tracking.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Delinquent payers may face debt collection & reporting
APHIS may disclose records to the Department of the Treasury, debt collection agencies, and consumer reporting agencies to assist in collecting debts owed to the Federal Government, and may refer accounts to debt collection agencies under 31 U.S.C. 3718. These routine uses include sharing records with Treasury to identify and locate individuals who are delinquent and with consumer reporting agencies when USDA determines referral is appropriate.
APHIS expands user-fee tracking system
APHIS is renaming and expanding the Veterinary Services User Fee System to the "APHIS User Fee System, USDA/APHIS-18" so it covers the entirety of user fee and reimbursable overtime collections. The system will track, collect, and process fees for services at field offices, service centers, port offices, and the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, IA. APHIS says this update affects users who pay APHIS fees but does not create new fees and is intended to provide clearer records and better service tracking; the public may comment by May 12, 2025.
Credit-account applicants must give SSN/TIN
If you request an APHIS credit account you must submit an application that includes your Social Security number and/or tax identification number; that information will be entered into APHIS's Financial Management Modernization Initiative. This applies to customers seeking approval for an APHIS credit account as part of paying user fees.
Data storage, safeguards, and 6-year retention
APHIS stores electronic records in Microsoft Azure (including Azure GovCloud in Eastern and Western regions) with backups and role-based access controls, and keeps paper files in locked cabinets. Financial records are destroyed by shredding or deletion 6 years after final payment or cancellation in accordance with the General Records Schedule (GRS 1.1 item 010), unless longer retention is required for business use.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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