Recover Your Overpaid Customs Duties

In most jurisdictions, you can claim customs duty refunds for imports made within the past 3-5 years. The exact timeframe varies by country. In the United States, for example, you can generally claim refunds for imports made within the past 5 years from the date of importation. Our team can advise on the specific timeframes applicable to your situation.

The most common reasons for customs duty refunds include:

• Incorrect tariff classification (using a higher-duty HS code than necessary)
• Failure to claim preferential treatment under free trade agreements
• Incorrect valuation methods (including unnecessary costs in the dutiable value)
• Failure to claim duty exemptions or reductions for specific programs
• Clerical errors in customs declarations
• Duty drawback opportunities for exported goods containing imported materials

We typically work on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid if we successfully recover refunds for you. Our fee is a percentage of the recovered amount, so there's no upfront cost or financial risk to your company. The exact percentage depends on the complexity of your case and the potential refund amount. We provide a clear fee structure during our initial consultation.

To assess your refund potential, we typically need:

• Customs entry summaries
• Commercial invoices
• Packing lists
• Bills of lading or airway bills
• Product specifications or technical documentation
• Certificates of origin (if applicable)
• Any correspondence with customs authorities

Don't worry if you don't have all these documents readily available. We can work with what you have and help you obtain any missing information.

The timeline for customs duty refunds varies depending on the complexity of your case and the responsiveness of customs authorities. Typically, the process takes 3-6 months from initial assessment to receipt of refunds. Simple cases with clear documentation may be resolved more quickly, while complex cases involving multiple issues or large refund amounts may take longer. We provide regular updates throughout the process so you always know the status of your claims.

Filing for customs duty refunds does not automatically trigger an audit. Customs authorities review refund claims as part of their normal processes, but this is different from a comprehensive audit. Our approach is to prepare thorough, well-documented claims that minimize the risk of additional scrutiny. We also ensure that any refund claims we file are legally sound and fully supported by documentation. If customs does have questions about a claim, we handle all communications and provide the necessary information to address their concerns.