ACE CATAIR V53 Error F884: Section 338 HTS 9903.03.15 Fix
Key Points
- CBP issued a correction (CSMS 69941677) to a prior message (CSMS 69915227), updating the applicable HTS number for a Section 338 exemption to 9903.03.15.
- ACE CATAIR Entry Summary Error Dictionary Version 53 has been updated on CBP.gov and now includes new error code F884.
- Error F884 fires when HTS 9903.03.15 is claimed as a Section 338 exemption but no appropriate authorization exists for that entry.
- ACE production will be offline for standard invasive maintenance from 10:00 p.m. ET Saturday, September 19, 2026 to 4:00 a.m. ET Sunday, September 20, 2026; brokers and filers should plan submissions accordingly.
On this page
- What changed in CATAIR V53 and why CBP issued a correction
- Error code F884 explained: Section 338 and HTS 9903.03.15
- ACE maintenance window: September 19-20, 2026
- What importers and brokers should do
- Key references
CBP has corrected its ACE CATAIR Entry Summary Error Dictionary to fix a wrong HTS number and has published an updated Version 53 containing a new error code, F884, that will reject entry summaries claiming the Section 338 exemption under HTS 9903.03.15 without proper authorization. A six-hour ACE maintenance window is also scheduled for the overnight of September 19-20, 2026, which will affect filing availability.
The links in this article go to the primary documents: the CBP CSMS notices themselves. Read the source.
What changed in CATAIR V53 and why CBP issued a correction
On September 17, 2026, CBP published CSMS 69941677, a formal correction to the earlier CSMS 69915227. The earlier message contained an incorrect HTS number. The corrected message identifies HTS 9903.03.15 as the applicable exemption code for Section 338 purposes.
An updated ACE CATAIR Entry Summary Error Dictionary, Version 53, has been posted to CBP.gov under the Supporting Documents: Documentation for Entry Summary Chapters section. Filers and software vendors who have already downloaded an earlier version of V53 should replace it with the corrected file immediately.
Error code F884 explained: Section 338 and HTS 9903.03.15
The new error added in the corrected V53 is:
F884 - EXEMPT HTS NOT ALLOWED FOR SECTION 338: Use of exemption HTS 9903.03.15 for Section 338 is not allowed because there is no appropriate authorization.
In plain terms: if an entry summary line carries HTS 9903.03.15 as a Section 338 exemption claim, and CBP cannot confirm the authorization for that claim, ACE will return error F884 and reject the line. This is a fatal filing error that will prevent acceptance of the entry summary until it is corrected.
Brokers and importers who have been using HTS 9903.03.15 in entry summaries should verify that valid Section 338 authorization exists before filing. If it does not, the exemption HTS should not be declared.
ACE maintenance window: September 19-20, 2026
CBP also announced, via CSMS 69927746 and CSMS 69927747, that ACE production will undergo standard invasive maintenance:
- Start: 10:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, September 19, 2026
- End: 4:00 a.m. ET, Sunday, September 20, 2026
During this window, entry summary transmissions, status queries, and other ACE production functions may be unavailable. CBP characterizes this as a standard invasive maintenance event, meaning ACE system access is not guaranteed during any portion of this period.
What importers and brokers should do
- Download the corrected ACE CATAIR Error Dictionary V53 from the Supporting Documents section on CBP.gov and update any internal filing or compliance software that references error code tables.
- Audit any pending or queued entry summaries that carry HTS 9903.03.15 as a Section 338 exemption; confirm valid authorization exists before transmission or expect F884 rejections.
- Schedule all time-sensitive ACE transmissions to complete before 10:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, September 19, 2026, or plan to file after 4:00 a.m. ET on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
Key references
- CSMS 69941677: CBP correction notice updating HTS 9903.03.15 and publishing ACE CATAIR Error Dictionary V53 with error F884.
- CSMS 69927746: ACE production invasive maintenance notice, September 19-20, 2026.
- CSMS 69927747: Duplicate ACE maintenance notice confirming the same window.
- CBP.gov: Source for the updated ACE CATAIR Entry Summary Error Dictionary V53 under Supporting Documents: Documentation for Entry Summary Chapters.
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