19 USC § 1631 - Use of private collection agencies

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t19/s1631"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "19 USC § 1631 - Use of private collection agencies"
title_number: 19
title_name: "CUSTOMS DUTIES"
section_number: "1631"
section_name: "Use of private collection agencies"
chapter_number: 4
chapter_name: "TARIFF ACT OF 1930"
part_number: "V"
part_name: "Enforcement Provisions"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 631, as added Pub. L. 103–182, title VI, § 671, Dec. 8, 1993, 107 Stat. 2217; amended Pub. L. 104–295, § 3(a)(9), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3516; Pub. L. 106–36, title I, § 1001(b)(5)(A), June 25, 1999, 113 Stat. 132.)"
---


# § 1631. Use of private collection agencies

**(a)** **In general** Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary, under such terms and conditions as the Secretary considers appropriate, shall enter into contracts and incur obligations with one or more persons for collection services to recover indebtedness arising under the customs laws and owed the United States Government, but only after the Customs Service has exhausted all administrative efforts, including all claims against applicable surety bonds, to collect the indebtedness.

**(b)** **Contract requirements** Any contract entered into under subsection (a) shall provide that—

**(1)** the Secretary retains the authority to resolve a dispute, compromise a claim, end collection action, and refer a matter to the Attorney General to bring a civil action; and

**(2)** the person is subject to—

**(A)** section 552a of title 5 to the extent provided in subsection (m) of such section; and

**(B)** laws and regulations of the United States Government and State governments related to debt collection practices.

**(c)** **Payment of costs** section 3302(b) of title 31

The debtor shall be assessed and pay any and all costs associated with collection efforts pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding , any sum so collected shall be used to pay the costs of debt collection services.

---

**Source Credit**: (June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 631, as added Pub. L. 103–182, title VI, § 671, Dec. 8, 1993, 107 Stat. 2217; amended Pub. L. 104–295, § 3(a)(9), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3516; Pub. L. 106–36, title I, § 1001(b)(5)(A), June 25, 1999, 113 Stat. 132.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1999—Subsec. (c).  amended directory language of . See 1996 Amendment note below.

1996—Subsec. (c). , as amended by , added subsec. (c).

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Amendment by  applicable as of , see , set out as a note under .

### Transfer of Functions

For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the United States Customs Service of the Department of the Treasury, including functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 203(1), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of , set out as a note under . For establishment of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security, treated as if included in  as of , see , as amended generally by , and , set out as a note under .