As many of you know by now, U. S. Customs is giving those who file their duty drawback claims through ABI until September 30 th to switch over to VPN. VPN (Virtual Private Network) is replacing the dial-up method of ABI. So, if you are currently filing your own drawback claims ABI, the clock is ticking. The options are few but one should fit the bill for your drawback program. Your first option would entail submitting a “MQ/VPN Communications Request Form” to Customs asking for the privilege to file drawback claims through VPN. You are then required to choose from a handful of communication software packages Customs has approved for transmitting data to the Customs Data Center. The package Dutycalc chose is known as “MQ Client” using software from Cisco Systems and Websphere from IBM. It was quite a daunting experience when we ourselves began the process however we have streamlined the process and now can offer clients and non-clients our assistance in VPN set-up. What was taking too many days to count is now taking just a small number of hours to have VPN up and communicating with Customs. For more information about our pricing of the VPN Assistance Program please contact carolyn@Dutycalc.com .
One can always attempt the process themselves or better yet, choose to use Dutycalc’s ABI Service Bureau. This would be the simplest route to take in fulfilling the requirement to be filing drawback claims through VPN by September 30th. All that is required is a brief “Letter of Intent”. Approval usually comes within a few weeks time. Once you’re approved, you can begin sending your claim files to Dutycalc for submission. If you are a Dutycalc System user, your claim files should be in the correct format and should not require any file manipulation whereas non-Drawback.Net clients, there may be file manipulation required (file layout for ABI drawback_module) in order to submit a claim in the proper format. For more information about Dutycalc’s ABI Service Bureau please contact Dutycalc, carolyn@Dutycalc.com.
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