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United States Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Accounts Receivable Servicing APHIS Team

Last Modified: Nov 1, 2018
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The Accounts Receivable Servicing APHIS team is responsible for customer account management to include collections, customer service, and debt management for APHIS programs. The team posts APHIS manual collections while working together to maintain timely and accurate processing and collection matters. Further, staff collects agency debts for reimbursable agreements, user fees, civil penalties, reimbursable overtime, and other miscellaneous activities. The staff collects current agency debts as well as agency debts that are overdue. While most of the debts involve reimbursable services, many are established to recover funds for damage to government
property, contract defaults or overpayments, and penalties assessed for violation of administrative laws. To facilitate success, staff fully utilizes skills in financial analysis, investigation, and negotiation. 

Customer Account Management

Trust Funds

Trust Fund (TF) accounts are monetary accounts in which funds are placed in the custody of a trustee by a party (the trustor or cooperator) to be administered by APHIS (the trustee) for the trustor's benefit.

APHIS TF accounts have treasury authority under treasury symbol 12X8226. APHIS collects deposits for each account, which are later disbursed in accordance with services provided by APHIS. TFs are full cost recovery accounts, meaning that all costs incurred by APHIS pertaining to a TF account, must be funded by the TF cooperator. Many of these services provided by APHIS relate to inspection of importing produce, plants, or animals into the United States.

Contact Us

If you are part of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) direct questions to:

Trust Fund Lead, Lora Swanson: 612‐336‐3392
Or email: MPLS.TF.TEAM@APHIS.USDA.GOV

Responsibilities by Party

  • Minneapolis TF Team
    • Set up received signed TF agreements in the TF system
    • Generate and distribute monthly TF statements
    • Monitor and follow up on past due accounts
    • Process manual transactions, including adjustments and refunds upon the request of the TF manager
    • Close out agreements in the TF system upon completion, including deactivating the accounting code
    • Reconcile the TF system to the standard financial reports to ensure accuracy
    • Work with the programs in regards to their Voucher Auditor's Detailed Reports (VADR) inquiries
  • TF Managers
    • Determine and monitor annual financial plan
    • Review each monthly account statements for accuracy of all transaction postings
    • Follow up and resolve any inaccuracies on the TF statement at least monthly
    • Act as liaison between Minneapolis TF Team and Cooperator, including transmitting past due letters
    • Enter unobligated expenses into APHIS Cost Management System (ACMS) for budget projections
    • Notify the Minneapolis TF team of completion of an TF agreement, and if needed, request to refund
  • Programs
  • Ensure TF agreements are valid
  • Sign the financial plans
  • Ensure TF managers have the system access and training they need in regards to TF accounts
  • Provide follow up on past due accounts
  • Determines and notifies Minneapolis of all contact information needed for TF accounts

Resources

 

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