Tariff Relief for Small Businesses Recover What You Overpaid

Duty drawback is a U.S. government program administered by Customs and Border Protection that refunds import duties paid on goods that are subsequently re-exported, used in the manufacture of exported products, or destroyed. It is one of the most direct forms of tariff relief available to small businesses. Eligible companies can recover up to 99% of the duties originally paid, including Section 301 and IEEPA tariffs.

Yes. Any U.S. business that imports goods and later re-exports them, uses them in manufacturing exports, or destroys them may qualify — regardless of size. Historically, legacy drawback providers focused only on large enterprises, leaving small businesses without access. Zollback is specifically built to serve smaller companies that were previously shut out of the process.

Duty drawback applies to most import duties, including standard customs duties, Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods, and IEEPA-based tariffs. The refund applies when the imported goods (or goods manufactured from them) are exported out of the United States, returned as rejected merchandise, or destroyed under CBP supervision.

Traditional drawback providers using manual processes typically take 9–12 months from start to first refund. Zollback's automated platform compresses this to 10–15 working days by using AI document parsing, algorithmic matching, and direct electronic filing with CBP via certified ABI software.

You generally need import records (customs entry summaries, commercial invoices, bills of lading) and proof of export or destruction (export declarations, shipping documents). Zollback accepts documents in any format — PDF, CSV, or ERP export — and uses AI to extract and structure all relevant data automatically, eliminating manual preparation.

Zollback operates on performance-based pricing — there are no upfront fees. Zollback takes a percentage of the refund amount only after the money is recovered and deposited. If no refund is collected, you pay nothing. This makes tariff relief accessible to small businesses without any financial risk to get started.