Tariff Refund Claims Automated by AI

A tariff refund claim — formally known as a duty drawback claim — allows U.S. importers to recover duties paid on goods that are subsequently re-exported, used in manufacturing for export, or destroyed. Eligibility extends to manufacturers importing raw materials, retailers re-exporting inventory, and companies that returned or destroyed non-conforming goods. If your business paid import duties under Section 301, IEEPA, or standard tariff schedules, you may be eligible to recover up to 99% of those duties through the drawback program.

Tariff refund claims are filed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection through the Automated Broker Interface (ABI) system, which requires certified software and, in most cases, a licensed customs broker. The process involves gathering import entry records, bills of lading, commercial invoices, and proof of export or destruction, then matching import records to qualifying export or disposal events. Platforms like Zollback automate document ingestion, matching, and direct ABI filing, handling the full submission on your behalf.

Standard documentation for a duty drawback claim includes import entry summaries (CBP Form 7501), commercial invoices, bills of lading, proof of export (export declaration or bill of lading), and records showing the connection between imported and exported goods. For manufacturing drawback, production records linking imported materials to exported finished goods are also required. Accurate HTS code classification across all records is critical for maximizing the refund amount and avoiding processing issues.

Under the traditional industry model, duty drawback claims take 9–12 months from document collection to refund receipt. Zollback's end-to-end automation compresses this to 10–15 working days for claim preparation and filing. Actual refund disbursement timing depends on CBP processing, which varies. Filing promptly and accurately is the most effective way to position your claim for faster resolution once CBP processes it.

Yes. Under 19 U.S.C. § 1313, duty drawback claims generally must be filed within five years of the date the merchandise was imported. For IEEPA-related refunds, importers should also be aware of protest filing windows under 19 U.S.C. § 1514, which typically allow 180 days from the date of liquidation to file a protest preserving refund rights. Consulting with a licensed customs broker as early as possible is advisable to avoid missing applicable deadlines.

Up to 99% of import duties paid are recoverable through the duty drawback program. Nationally, however, an estimated 80% of eligible refunds go unclaimed each year — totaling approximately $11–15 billion annually — primarily because importers are unaware they qualify or lack the infrastructure to file. The specific recovery amount depends on the drawback type, the accuracy of import-export matching, and how comprehensively all qualifying transactions are included in the claim.