Question 1

What is a duty drawback claim and do I qualify?

Accepted Answer

A duty drawback claim is a formal request to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for a refund of import duties, fees, and taxes paid on goods that were later exported, used in the manufacture of exported products, or destroyed. You may qualify if you import goods into the United States and subsequently export them or use them in manufacturing for export. Zollback's free eligibility assessment screens your trade activity automatically to determine whether you qualify and estimates your potential refund across all drawback program types.

Question 2

How does Zollback's process differ from a traditional drawback provider?

Accepted Answer

Traditional drawback providers rely on manual Excel workflows and legacy desktop software — a process that typically takes 9–12 months and leaves significant refunds unclaimed because not all import-export combinations are evaluated. Zollback's platform ingests your trade documents automatically, uses AI to parse and structure the data, and runs proprietary optimization algorithms that evaluate every possible matching combination. The result is a duty drawback claim that is processed in 10–15 working days and recovers 15–20% more than manual methods.

Question 3

What documents do I need to file a duty drawback claim?

Accepted Answer

A duty drawback claim typically requires import entry records, export documentation, bills of lading, commercial invoices, and customs declarations. Zollback accepts all of these in PDF, CSV, or ERP export format. The platform's AI automatically extracts and structures the relevant data from each document, so you do not need to manually prepare or reformat anything before uploading. In-house licensed customs brokers then verify all documentation meets CBP requirements before the claim is filed.

Question 4

Are Section 301 tariffs on goods from China eligible for duty drawback?

Accepted Answer

Section 301 tariffs imposed on goods imported from China are generally eligible for duty drawback when the imported merchandise is subsequently exported or used in the manufacture of exported products. However, Section 232 duties on steel and aluminum are not drawback eligible. The eligibility rules vary by drawback type, HTS classification, and how the goods were used. Zollback's automated eligibility assessment evaluates your specific trade activity against current regulations to determine which duties are claimable and in what amount.

Question 5

What does it cost to file a duty drawback claim with Zollback?

Accepted Answer

Zollback operates on performance-based pricing with no upfront fees. You only pay when a refund is successfully recovered and cash reaches your account. Zollback takes a percentage of the refund recovered, meaning incentives are fully aligned — the platform only earns when you earn. This model makes professional, algorithmically optimized duty drawback claims accessible to companies of all sizes, including SMBs that traditional providers have historically not served.

Duty Drawback Claim Without Upfront Fees

File Smarter Duty Drawback Claims with AI

File Smarter Duty Drawback Claims with AI

Upload Any Trade Document Format

Algorithmic Matching Across All Combinations

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Licensed Broker Review on Every Claim

Direct Electronic Filing and Continuous Recovery

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Duty Drawback Claim FAQ