April 2025 Customs Broker Exam — official answers, explained

Newest sealed read: 2026-09-07. We add a new sitting after each April and October exam. We hold 5 sealed runs going back to 2024-05-01.

What this page is80 rows held · newest sealed read 2026-09-07

CBP's April 2025 exam had 80 questions. We explain 13 of them; the 10 below are a free sample.
The answer letter on every row is CBP's own official answer key. The explanation next to it is ours.
Each explanation quotes the exact Title 19 CFR text the official key cites, fetched from the eCFR — the model quotes the rule, it does not recall it.
Every explanation is drafted by a local model and then checked by a second local model; a flagged draft is withheld, not shown.

Real rows out of our sealed copies

These are real questions from the sealed CBP paper. The answer is CBP's official one; the explanation is ours and quotes the rule the key cites.

April 2025 sample: 10 of 80 questions CBP April 2025 sitting · sealed copy 2026-09-07

#	Question and options	CBP official answer	Our explanation
Q3	John and Fred Smith each had a 25% ownership share of a general partnership, JJF, with their father, Jack Smith, owning the other 50%. Three weeks ago, JJF had sent ABC Customhouse Brokers (ABC) a copy of the bill of lading, a commercial invoice, and a packing list for their incoming shipment. JJF, a longtime client of ABC, had executed a new customs power of attorney (POA) signed by Jack Smith one month ago. However, John Smith advised ABC that his father, Jack Smith, died last week, with JJF changing by operation of law into Smith & Smith, a new partnership that inherited JJF’s legal rights and responsibilities. ABC states that they cannot proceed with the customs clearance on Smith & Smith’s behalf without a newly executed POA. Which regulation explains why the existing POA is no longer valid ? A) 19 CFR 141.34; B) 19 CFR 141.39(b); C) 19 CFR 111.23(b); D) 19 CFR 111.30(b)	B) 19 CFR 141.39(b)	The correct answer is B because 19 CFR 141.39(b) explicitly states that "When a new firm is formed by a change in membership, no power of attorney filed by the antecedent firm shall thereafter be recognized for any Customs purpose." Since Jack Smith's death caused the original partnership JJF to dissolve and form a new entity, Smith & Smith, the old POA is no longer valid under this regulation. Therefore, ABC must obtain a newly executed POA from the new partnership to proceed with customs clearance. Drafted by a local model, checked by a second; quotes 141.39.
Q5	Which of the following would NOT constitute grounds sufficient to deny an application for a customs broker’s license? A) Any conduct which would be deemed unfair or detrimental in commercial transactions by accepted standards.; B) A failure to establish the good character and reputation of the applicant.; C) Being 20 years old on the date of submission of the broker's license application.; D) Being a citizen of the United States for only one year prior to the date of submission of the broker’s license application.	D) Being a citizen of the United States for only one year prior to the date of submission of the broker’s license application.	Under 19 CFR 111.11(a)(1), an applicant must be a "citizen of the United States on the date of submission," but the regulation does not specify a minimum duration of citizenship. Therefore, being a citizen for only one year is not a ground for denial, making option D the correct answer. In contrast, option C is a valid ground for denial because 19 CFR 111.11(a)(2) requires the applicant to "attain the age of 21 prior to the date of submission," meaning a 20-year-old applicant would be ineligible. Drafted by a local model, checked by a second; quotes 111.11.
Q6	Which of the following is considered "customs business?" A) The 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.; B) The processing of applications for a broker's license or national permit for an individual, partnership, association, or corporation.; C) Those activities performed by a business entity to ensure that documents for a related business entity are prepared using reasonable care.; D) Any activity related to dispatching shipments in foreign commerce between the United States and its territories and foreign countries.	A) The 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.	Option A is correct because the regulation explicitly states that "customs business" includes "the preparation, and activities relating to the preparation, of documents in any format and the electronic transmission of documents and parts of documents intended to be filed with CBP in furtherance of any other customs business activity." This definition directly matches the text in Option A, whereas Option D describes a "freight forwarder" and Option C describes a "corporate compliance activity," both of which are defined separately in the provided text. Drafted by a local model, checked by a second; quotes 111.1.
Q7	A licensed broker must report or provide the following to CBP EXCEPT: A) Whether the broker has not engaged in any conduct that could constitute grounds for suspension or revocation of an individual broker under 19 CFR 111.53.; B) A change of non-business mailing address if the broker is an individual broker not actively engaged in transacting business as a broker.; C) A newly hired employee's name, date of birth, place of birth, current home address, and misdemeanor arrest records.; D) The date a licensed brokerage member ceases to be the qualifying officer for purposes of 19 CFR 111.11(b) or (c)(2), and the name of the succeeding broker.	C) A newly hired employee's name, date of birth, place of birth, current home address, and misdemeanor arrest records.	Option C is the correct answer because 19 CFR 111.28(b)(1) requires brokers to provide an employee's "name, social security number, date and place of birth, date of hire, and current home address," but it does not require the submission of "misdemeanor arrest records." Since the regulation does not mandate reporting arrest records, this is the only item listed that a broker is not required to provide to CBP. Drafted by a local model, checked by a second; quotes 111.28.
Q8	In accordance with the relevant regulation in Part 111 of 19 CFR, if a customs broker discovers a breach of electronic or physical records relating to the broker’s customs business, the broker must electronically notify _____ within 72 hours of the discovery of the breach. A) Broker Management Branch, Office of Trade, CBP Headquarters; B) Broker Management Officer at the processing Center; C) The appropriate Executive Director, Office of Trade, CBP Headquarters; D) CBP Office of Information, Technology Security Operations Center (CBP SOC)	D) CBP Office of Information, Technology Security Operations Center (CBP SOC)	19 CFR 111.21(b) explicitly requires each broker to provide notification to the "CBP Office of Information Technology Security Operations Center (CBP SOC)" of any known breach of electronic or physical records. The regulation further specifies that this notification must be electronically provided within 72 hours of the discovery of the breach. Therefore, option D is the correct answer because it accurately identifies the specific CBP office mandated by the text. Drafted by a local model, checked by a second; quotes 111.21.
Q10	Sixty-one days ago, an authorized CBP official properly demanded that a broker, who was acting as importer for a released shipment and is also the bond principal, redeliver to CBP custody the merchandise from that shipment. The merchandise was not legally marked with its country of origin for the purpose of requiring the merchandise to be properly marked. In the meantime, the broker has taken no action, and the Center director did not give a good cause extension. CBP has now demanded liquidated damages in an amount equal to the entered value of the shipment. The broker wants relief from full payment. Which of the following is therefore legally TRUE? A) A petition for relief from payment of liquidated damages to CBP must be filed within 90 days of receiving the Notice to Mark / Notice to Redeliver (CBP Form 4647).; B) A proper petition for relief from payment of liquidated damages is one that is written, addressed to the Commissioner of Customs and filed with the Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures Officer within 60 days from the date of mailing to the bond principal the notice of claim for liquidated damages.; C) A proper petition for relief from payment of liquidated damages is filed within 180 days of the date of liquidation of the entry summary.; D) The broker is not allowed to petition for relief from payment of liquidated damages because there is no petition process for liquidated damages.	B) A proper petition for relief from payment of liquidated damages is one that is written, addressed to the Commissioner of Customs and filed with the Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures Officer within 60 days from the date of mailing to the bond principal the notice of claim for liquidated damages.	Under 19 CFR 134.54(b), a written petition for relief from the payment of liquidated damages must be addressed to the Commissioner of Customs and filed with the Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures Officer in accordance with part 172. This specific procedural requirement confirms that option B is the legally true statement, as it correctly identifies the addressee, the filing location, and the governing regulatory part for such petitions. Drafted by a local model, checked by a second; quotes 134.54.
Q11	Which of the following is a TRUE statement regarding decisions to remit or mitigate a penalty or cancel a claim for liquidated damages upon payment of a lesser amount? A) Decisions to remit or mitigate a penalty or cancel a claim for liquidated damages upon payment of a lesser amount are filed in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and are protestable within 365 days from the date of the initial penalty or claim.; B) Decisions to remit or mitigate a penalty or cancel a claim for liquidated damages upon payment of a lesser amount are only protestable if a paper protest is filed at the port of entry within 180 days from the date of the initial penalty or claim.; C) Decisions to remit or mitigate a penalty or cancel a claim for liquidated damages upon payment of a lesser amount are only protestable if protested in person to the CBP, Chief of Penalties Branch within 180 days from the date of the initial penalty or claim.; D) Decisions to remit or mitigate a penalty or cancel a claim for liquidated damages upon payment of a lesser amount are not protestable.	D) Decisions to remit or mitigate a penalty or cancel a claim for liquidated damages upon payment of a lesser amount are not protestable.	19 CFR 172.22(a) explicitly states that "Any decision to remit or mitigate a penalty or cancel a claim for liquidated damages upon payment of a lesser amount is not a protestable decision." Because the regulation defines these specific actions as non-protestable, option D is the correct answer, while options A, B, and C are incorrect because they falsely claim that such decisions can be protested. Drafted by a local model, checked by a second; quotes 172.22.
Q12	A customs broker receives payment for duties from a client after the due date. The payment did not include payment for the broker's services. What must the broker do? A) Return the payment to the client within 5 working days of receipt and file a formal complaint with CBP.; B) Advise the client that the duty payment will not be transmitted to CBP until the payment for the broker's services is received.; C) Transmit the duty payment to CBP within 5 working days of receipt by the broker.; D) Deduct their service fee from the amount of the payment, transmit the remaining amount to CBP, and notify the center director of the situation.	C) Transmit the duty payment to CBP within 5 working days of receipt by the broker.	Under 19 CFR 111.29(a), the regulation explicitly states that "Payments received by a broker from a client after the due date must be transmitted to the Government within 5 working days from receipt by the broker." Therefore, the broker is legally required to send the duty payment to the government within that five-day window, making option C the correct action. The broker cannot withhold the payment to collect their service fee, as the rule mandates transmission regardless of the broker's own compensation status. Drafted by a local model, checked by a second; quotes 111.29.
Q13	Which of the following statements is legally TRUE regarding a customs broker conducting "customs business?” A) A customs broker may outsource the preparation of entries to a company located in India, but the entry must be transmitted by the broker.; B) A customs broker must designate a knowledgeable point of contact to be available to CBP during (but not outside of) normal business hours to respond to customs business issues.; C) A customs broker residing in the U.S. but on vacation in Europe may transmit entries as long as they have a secure Internet connection.; D) A customs broker may hire a remote employee living in Puerto Rico to help determine classification of merchandise.	D) A customs broker may hire a remote employee living in Puerto Rico to help determine classification of merchandise.	The regulation defines "Customs territory of the United States" as including "only the States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico." Because Puerto Rico is explicitly part of the Customs territory, a broker may hire a remote employee located there to perform customs business functions like determining classification. This makes option D legally true, whereas options A and C are incorrect because India and Europe are outside the defined Customs territory. Drafted by a local model, checked by a second; quotes 101.1.
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? A) Automated Broker Interface (ABI) functionality.; B) A customs power of attorney executed directly with the importer of record.; C) At least one member of the partnership is a broker.; D) A customs broker license and a national permit.	A) Automated Broker Interface (ABI) functionality.	Under the provided regulations, a "customs broker" is defined as a person licensed under Part 111 to transact customs business, which explicitly includes the preparation and electronic transmission of documents intended to be filed with CBP. The term "Permit" is defined as a permit issued to a broker under § 111.19, establishing that a national permit is a required component for a broker to operate. Since the regulations define the necessary licensing and permitting structures for conducting customs business but do not list Automated Broker Interface (ABI) functionality as a legal prerequisite for the license or permit itself, option A is the correct answer for what is NOT legally required. Drafted by a local model, checked by a second; quotes 111.1.

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Classification questions cite the tariff schedule (HTSUS), not the CFR, so we do not draft explanations for those; they are marked.
A few questions were withdrawn by CBP ("all examinees granted credit") or had two accepted answers; those carry no single explanation.
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