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Unofficial Countdown of Drawback Liquidators’ Pet Peeves
This is an invitation for you to stop and consider the fact that some simple quirks in your drawback filing routine might be sending your drawback liquidator to cry on his or her bartender’s shoulder at the end of the day. We are sure that you don’t intend to throw your hard-working liquidator into hysterics, so read the following list to make sure you’re not a perpetrator.
10. Drawback entry filed without contact name or number.
As obvious as it sounds, we’ve heard liquidators complain about this silly oversight. Remember, they need to know whom to call with questions, and even more importantly, who gets the check!
9. The claimant does not have exporter’s summary privileges and submits a claim without proof of export.
If you don’t have special privileges, you must submit proof of export (i.e. bills of lading/airway bills/invoices) showing what was exported, when it left, and where it went.
8. Claimant submits an application to file drawback, but the sample exports and imports do not correlate.
Your application must be complete. It should include enough information to exemplify how claims will be filed.
7. The exports are dated before the imports on the drawback claim.
This should never happen.
6. Exports are over three years old.
Please remember that exports on a retroactive drawback claim must not be over three years before the filing date.
5. Claimants call in to seek help with a claim, but do not know what kind of claim they are talking about.
We know liquidators who complain of multiple incidences in which claimants call with questions regarding what the caller insists is "substitution" drawback. When the liquidator asks whether the claim is specifically "unused" or "manufacturing," the claimant reiterates (loudly) "SUBSTITUTION!" Remember, there are two kinds of substitution, "unused substitution" and "manufacturing substitution."
4. Claims filed on paper only.
Paper transmissions (as opposed to ABI or diskette transmission) compel Customs to input data and check for errors manually. Needless to say, paper transmissions get low priority from Customs.
3. $35 claims.
Ever heard the term "not worth the paper it’s printed on"? It takes a liquidator a certain amount of time to log in, verify, and approve your claim for payment. Liquidators appreciate it when you hold back on those tiny claims. Your consideration might just spare you from an audit.
2. Items "exported" to Puerto Rico.
Shipping from state to state within the country obviously does not count as exporting. Remember that shipping to territories and possessions like Guam, American Samoa, and Puerto Rico is likewise not counted as exporting.
1. Last but not least, it really seems to drive liquidators nuts when they get...someone from Dutycalc on the phone!
Hey, just kidding. Everybody loves us. Right guys? Right? RIGHT?!?
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