Drawback Toolbox

Calculating Your Duty Drawback

Quantifying the duty recovery potential is the first step in determining whether a drawback program is right for your company.

There are two basic models for calculating estimated recovery:

Exportation to Importation

Working from exportation of your goods back to importation, is ideal when you source your imported merchandise from a domestic vendor and the merchandise undergoes a manufacture prior to exportation.

Annual Export Sales $20,000,000
Ratio of Cost of Goods Sold x 50%
Export Cost of Goods: $10,000,000
Ratio of Imported Materials x 30%
Your Cost of Imported Materials $3,000,000
Your Vendor's Cost $2,000,000
Approx. Duty Rate x 4%
Annual Drawback Potential $80,000
Retroactive Drawback x 3 Years
Total Potential Drawback $ 240,000

In this model, certain variables such as cost of goods, ratio of imported materials, vendor mark-up, duty rate, etc. are approximated. These will vary depending on commodity and industry.

Importation to Exportation

Working from importation to exportation, is best for importers that can accurately assess their duty payments.

Annual Duty Paid $400,000
Ratio of Export Sales To Total Sales x 25%
Annual Drawback $100,000
Retroactive Drawback x 3 years
Total Potential Drawback $300,000

It should be noted that these models will only provide a theoretical framework for duty recovery. Actual recovery will ultimately depend on the claimant's ability to collect the data and documentation required by Customs regulations.

Duty Drawback Documentation Checklist

Duty drawback claimants are required to maintain records that substantiate the importation, possession, manufacture (if applicable), and exportation of the merchandise subject to the drawback claim. The following checklist provides the most commonly retained records and those which Customs will often request in a desk or regulatory audit. Alternative documentation can be used, however, prior approval from Customs is highly recommended.

These records must be maintained by the claimant for a period of no less than three years from date of drawback payment.

  • Importation
    • Customs Form 7501 (entry summary)
    • Commercial Invoice
    • Packing List
    • Purchase Order
    • Proof of Payment to Supplier
  • Receipt
    • Receiving Record / Inventory Report
    • Transaction Register
  • Usage / Manufacture (if applicable)
    • Manufacturing records showing merchandise moving in and out of production. Screen prints are acceptable.
    • Raw material specifications demonstrating "same kind & quality" of imported and substituted merchandise (if applicable)
    • Bills of Materials / Formulas Reports
    • Waste Records (if applicable)
  • Exportation
    • Purchase Order from customer
    • Pick ticket / inventory-out record / transaction register
    • Commercial Invoice
    • Packing List
    • Master Air Waybill or Ocean Bill of Lading (original or certified copy of an original)
    • Canadian B3 (for Canadian exports only)
    • Mexican Pedimento w/ 2 stamps (for Mexican exports only)
    • Proof of payment by customer