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- Address Claims to Customs Correctly: When sending a drawback claim or a new application for special privileges, DO NOT address to a specific person. Send only to the drawback branch itself. (1) Your drawback specialist may be sick or on vacation with no one filling in or they may toss your packet in a stack, only to be lost. (2) More likely, claims are being assigned to different persons. Accounts used to be assigned by letters of the alphabet, but with office closures, retirements and reassignments to other departments a need arose to distribute drawback claims and requests in a different way. In some cases drawback accounts are being assigned to different offices due to staff shortages. Because a claim is sent to one office does not preclude another drawback office calling, if they've been assigned part of the workload.
- ABI Service Bureau is Cost Effective: Dutycalc can be used as a service bureau and have drawback claims filed via ABI without having to buy additional hardware for Customs hook-up. For a nominal fee you can send your claims to us, getting them ABI certified before you send in the 7551 and related documents. You will be secure in knowing your claim will not come back because of an invalid port, 7501 number or other clerical error. You'll also get faster payment according to Customs plus liquidation notices will be delivered via ABI also.
- Informative Customs Website Links: Don't know where to search for duty drawback information on Customs website?
Below are quick links to several informative sites.
- Pay Customs Properly: When sending Customs a check make sure it's written out properly ... All checks payable to U.S. Customs must be made payable to the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection..
- Starting the Drawback Application Process: So you've determined that you have duty refund potential and you're ready to start the application process...where do you begin? Depending on what type of drawback you will be filing, there are several applications that need to be completed and submitted to Customs for approval.
Check out Customs' link to sample applications: including the Application for Drawback Waiver of Prior Notice of Intent to Export or Destroy, the Application for Drawback Accelerated Payment, the Application for Drawback Compliance Program and the Application for Drawback One Time Waiver.
- CROSS Rulings Database: Need to find a ruling or curious whether or not one exists for your particular situation? Check out the Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS). CROSS is a searchable database of approximately 90,000 Customs rulings dating back to 1989.
Link to CROSS: http://rulings.cbp.gov/
- How long must drawback records be kept? Records must be kept for at least three years after a drawback claim has been paid by accelerated payment. However, this can be extended by Customs and your particular situation may require that records be retained indefinitely.
For more information regarding recordkeeping for drawback data, check out our article: Recordkeeping - The Key to Drawback Compliance.
- Review Drawback Annually: Annual drawback reviews are important to the "health" of your drawback program. Don't neglect this necessary step. Mark your schedule and do your review.
- Check Your Claims: Check the details, claim details that is. Check and double check your drawback claims to insure that all data is included before sending them in to Customs. According to one Liquidator, they reject 90% of the claims that come across their desk because filers are neglecting to include all the necessary data their claims require.
- International Trade Terms: New to duty drawback? Still learning the overwhelming language of the Import/Export community?
The International Trade Data System (ITDS), a federal government information technology initiative, has developed an exhaustive glossary of International Trade Terms. So if someone asks you for a Bill-of-lading or an Import Entry - just log on and learn all about it.
- ABI Error Message Dictionary: Ever have trouble translating the error messages from Customs on drawback claims you filed? Did you know that each and everyone of those error messages and its definition is listed on the Customs Web site?
Check out ABI Error Message Dictionary to get the complete listing of the various error messages and definitions that could possibly end up on one of your diskette or ABI filed drawback claims someday.
- Drawback Info - Customs Site: If you have ever logged on to the U.S. Customs Web site you know how daunting it can be. Dutycalc has found a link within the Customs' Web site ("What Every Member of the Trade Community Should Know About: Drawback") that is an excellent tool for both those just starting out in the world of drawback and the seasoned drawback professional.
Customs details the legal obligations concerning duty drawback - including information to improve voluntary compliance with the various drawback rules and regulations imposed by Customs. Already involved with a drawback program? Don't forget to update yourself every now and then on Customs' requirements.
- Federal Register On-line: Did you know that updates are available each day from the Federal Register? Follow this link to the Federal Register and you will be taken to the government's daily updates on issues such as International Trade Administration and Presidential Documents. http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/legal/recent_federal_register_notices/
It is here, for example, that the import/export community learned of Customs' Paperless Drawback Prototype Test. Keep abreast of late-breaking news with the click of your mouse!
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