U.S. & Canada Duty Drawback

Recover Import Duties on Goods You Export, Return or Destroy

If your business imports goods that are later exported, returned or destroyed, you may be entitled to recover up to 99% of the customs duties paid.

Drawback Hero identifies what you’re eligible for, prepares the claim and manages the filing process.

You may qualify if goods areExportedReturnedDestroyedUnused inventory
See If You’re Eligible →
Takes ~30 seconds · No obligation
Estimate your potential refund
$
20%
Potential annual duties eligible
~$49,500
Start Refund →
Estimate only. Actual eligibility depends on your imports, exports and applicable drawback rules.
$3B+
Unclaimed duties annually
99%
Recovery rate on eligible claims
5 Years
Lookback period available
$0
Upfront cost — contingency only
Estimate Your Refund

How Much Are You
Leaving on the Table?

Adjust the values below and see your estimated refund update in real time.

Your Numbers
Two quick questions — your estimated refund updates instantly on the right.
$
Total customs duties and tariffs paid on your imports. On your broker statements or entry summaries.
What % of your imported goods leave the country?50%
Includes customer returns, unsold inventory, and goods you export.
Years to Look Back
Estimated Refund Over 3 Years
$—
Enter your numbers to see the estimate.
Based on the information you entered.
Duties paid per year—
Goods exported / returned / destroyed50%
Potential drawback refundUp to 99%
Lookback period3 years
See If You Qualify →
No upfront cost  ·  No obligation
U.S. Importers
Canadian Importers
Manufacturing
eCommerce Brands
Retail Chains
Pharma & Life Sciences
Electronics
Apparel & Footwear
Automotive Parts
Food & Beverage
Steel & Metals
Cross-Border Trade
U.S. Importers
Canadian Importers
Manufacturing
eCommerce Brands
Retail Chains
Pharma & Life Sciences
Electronics
Apparel & Footwear
Automotive Parts
Food & Beverage
Steel & Metals
Cross-Border Trade
Eligibility

Do You Qualify for
Duty Drawback?

If your business imports goods into the U.S. or Canada and exports or destroys them, you may be owed a significant refund — up to 5 years back.

Duty drawback can allow eligible importers and exporters to recover customs duties paid on qualifying goods. Eligibility depends on what was imported, what later happened to the goods, and the records available to support the claim.

🏭
Manufacturing Drawback
Import raw materials or components, manufacture goods in the U.S., then export the finished product. Recover up to 99% of duties paid.
📦
Unused Merchandise Drawback
Import goods that are exported in the same condition without use in the U.S. Applies to overstocked, returned, or unsold inventory.
🔄
Rejected Merchandise
Goods imported that don't conform to contract specifications can be exported or destroyed with full duty recovery.
🌐
Substitution Drawback
Export commercially interchangeable domestic goods instead of the exact imported goods. A powerful strategy for high-volume importers.
🗑
Destruction Drawback
Goods imported but destroyed rather than used or exported may qualify for drawback under U.S. and Canadian customs regulations.
📋
Not Sure?
Our team will audit your import/export records free of charge and identify all eligible drawback opportunities across up to 5 years.
Not sure where you fit?

Find out whether your imports qualify.

We’ll review your import, export and return activity and show you where a drawback opportunity may exist.

Check My Eligibility →
The Process

From First Call
to Full Refund

We handle every step of the drawback process — from eligibility audit to final refund — so your team stays focused on what matters.

1
Free Eligibility Audit
We review your import/export records, tariff classifications, and duty payments — at no cost — to identify your drawback opportunity.
2
Data Collection
We gather import entries, export records, and supporting documents from your ERP, freight forwarders, and customs brokers.
3
Claim Preparation
Our licensed customs brokers prepare and file your drawback claims with CBP or CBSA — fully compliant and audit-ready.
4
Refund Received
CBP or CBSA processes your claim and issues your refund. We only get paid when you do — pure contingency, zero upfront.
Why Drawback Hero

Everything You Need
to Maximize Recovery

We combine licensed customs expertise with smart technology to recover every dollar you're owed — efficiently and compliantly.

⚡
Fast-Track Filing
Our streamlined process cuts average claim prep time by 60%. Get your claims filed and money moving faster than the industry average.
🔒
Licensed Customs Brokers
Every claim is prepared and reviewed by licensed U.S. and Canadian customs brokers with deep drawback expertise — fully compliant.
📊
Real-Time Dashboard
Track every claim's status, refund amounts, and timeline in one place. Full transparency into your recovery portfolio.
🔍
5-Year Lookback Audit
Don't leave past money on the table. We audit up to 5 years of import/export history to maximize your retroactive recovery.
💰
Contingency Only
Zero upfront fees. We only get paid a percentage of what we recover for you. If we don't recover, you owe nothing.
🤝
Dedicated Account Team
You get a dedicated team who knows your business, your supply chain, and proactively identifies new drawback opportunities.
Maximize your recovery

Every missed claim is money left behind.

Start with a no-cost review of your records. We’ll identify the strongest recovery opportunities and explain the next steps.

Start My Recovery Review →
Client Results

Real Refunds for
Real Businesses

From mid-market importers to large-scale distributors, Drawback Hero has recovered millions in overpaid duties across the U.S. and Canada.

★★★★★

"We had no idea we were eligible for drawback. Drawback Hero audited five years of records and recovered over $2.1M we never knew existed. Zero effort on our end."

S
Sarah M.
VP of Finance · Large Apparel Importer
★★★★★

"The contingency model made this a no-brainer. Their team handled everything — filing, customs communication, all of it. We just received the wire."

J
James R.
COO · Electronics Distributor
★★★★★

"Our customs broker never mentioned drawback. Drawback Hero found $840K in eligible refunds across 3 years of automotive parts imports. Incredible."

A
Alicia T.
Controller · Auto Parts Manufacturer
FAQ

Common Questions
Answered

Everything you need to know about duty drawback and working with Drawback Hero.

Duty drawback lets importers recover up to 99% of the duties, taxes, and fees paid on imported goods that are later exported or destroyed. It is administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the United States and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in Canada. The U.S. program has existed since 1789.
We work on a pure contingency basis — you pay nothing upfront. We only earn a percentage of the refund we recover for you. If we don't recover, you don't pay. There are no retainers, no filing fees, and no hidden costs.
In the U.S., CBP allows drawback claims on duties paid within the last 5 years. In Canada, CBSA generally allows claims going back around 4 years. Either way, if you've never filed drawback before, you could recover duties from several years of past imports — a significant opportunity for established importers.
The timeline varies based on complexity, but typically: eligibility audit takes 1–2 weeks, claim preparation takes 4–8 weeks, and customs processing by CBP or CBSA takes 3–12 months. We expedite where possible and keep you updated throughout.
Typically: import entry summaries, commercial invoices, export records (export declarations, bills of lading), and production records if applicable. We help you gather everything and work directly with your freight forwarders and customs brokers.
Absolutely. Drawback is a highly specialized area that most general customs brokers don't actively pursue for clients. We work alongside your existing broker as a specialist overlay — complementing, not replacing, their work.

Stop Leaving Money
at the Border

Get your free eligibility audit today. No commitment, no upfront cost — just answers.

Get Your Refund Started →Try the Calculator

Your estimated refund

$—

We first need to qualify you.

Leave your details and a Drawback Hero specialist will confirm what you can actually recover. No upfront cost, no obligation.

No upfront cost · No obligation · Reply within 1 business day

Thanks. A Drawback Hero specialist will review your numbers and be in touch within 1 business day.

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.