CBP Duty Drawback Claims Made Simple

Duty drawback is a customs refund program that allows eligible importers, exporters, or manufacturers to recover certain duties, taxes, and fees paid on imported goods when those goods are later exported, destroyed, or used in qualifying production. In broader practice, importers also use CBP refund processes to recover unlawfully collected or otherwise refundable duties when specific eligibility rules are met.

Price Ridge helps U.S. Importers of Record evaluate whether paid duties are refundable, collect the required customs documentation, prepare accurate filing data, and manage the CBP process through refund disbursement. For IEEPA-related refunds, that includes CAPE Declaration preparation, ACE portal submission support through authorized channels, claim tracking, and coordination with customs brokers.

Eligibility depends on the legal basis for the refund. For IEEPA tariff refund claims, your company generally must have been the Importer of Record, paid IEEPA duties during the eligible period, and have supporting entry records such as CF7501 summaries. Price Ridge begins with a free eligibility review to identify qualifying entries and estimate the recoverable amount before any engagement is signed.

The most important documents are CF7501 entry summaries, duty payment records, commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading or air waybills, and any relevant CBP correspondence. Price Ridge can coordinate directly with your customs broker to gather these records, verify entry-level data, and identify missing or mismatched information before the filing is prepared.

For qualifying contingency engagements, Price Ridge charges $0 upfront and takes an agreed percentage of the refund only when CBP disburses payment. The percentage depends on claim size and complexity and is disclosed before signing. A free eligibility review is available first, and larger claims may qualify for outright purchase or financing options.

Processing time depends on the claim category and CBP workflow. For IEEPA CAPE Declaration claims, CBP guidance referenced a 45-90 day review window after acceptance for certain unliquidated entries, while finally liquidated entries may follow a longer or separate timeline. Filing accurately and early matters because CBP processes declarations in the order received.

Yes, if your claim is large enough and passes due diligence. Price Ridge offers outright claim purchase for qualifying claims, generally at 75-85¢ on the dollar for claims of $500,000 or more in IEEPA duties paid. This provides immediate cash instead of waiting for CBP processing, subject to documentation review and definitive agreements.

Yes. Price Ridge treats all importer information as strictly confidential and works remotely by phone, email, and secure document exchange. The team coordinates with your customs broker as needed, reviews sensitive CF7501 and duty payment records, and manages claim information with a focus on accuracy, discretion, and secure handling throughout the process.