Duty-Free Entry of Scientific Equipment or Apparatus

Request Duty-Free Entry of Scientific Equipment or Apparatus

FORM ITA-338P (REV. 4-20) - This form is required if shipping from an international company in which the equipment is not sold or able to acquire within the US.

In order to seek a waiver of duty for instruments supporting research, an application is to be completed and submitted in accordance with Department of Commerce and Department of Homeland Security regulations, INSTRUMENTS AND APPARATUS FOR EDUCATIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS, 15 CFR, Part 301.

The form can be found here: https://enforcement.trade.gov/sips/sipsform/ita-338p.pdf.

Please follow these steps:

1. Researcher completes the form.
   • Please take care in completing the form in its entirety and follow the instructions very carefully.
2. Review the regulations prior to completing and mailing your application.
   • If additional space is required for any answer, answer on a separate sheet while identifying the question being answered per the instructions, and attach to the form.
3. Once completed, five copies are required of the application, one of which must bear an original signature. All five hard copies (including one with an original signature) must be mailed to:
   • U.S. Customs and Border Protection
     Attention: Entry Process and Duty Refunds Branch
     Washington, D.C. 20229
4. Prepare the Requisition in Rice Marketplace.
   • Attach an electronic copy of the application along with all other relevant documentation to the Internal Attachments in the requisition.
5. Submit the requisition for review and approval.
   • Once approved and the Purchase Order is issued, email a digital copy of the Purchase Order and the digital form ITA-338P to W.R. Zanes, Rice University’s designated customs broker by emailing Aurora@WRZanes.com. You may also notify Procurement by emailing payment@rice.edu, and they can do this for you.