Drawback Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

All claims must be filed electronically through the Automated Broker Interface (ABI) per the requirements in the ACE Business Process Document and the Drawback CATAIR (both found on CBP.gov). Claims must be filed electronically in one of three ways:

1. Self-file: claimants must purchase the filing software and establish an ABI communications link with CBP;
2. Use a licensed Customs broker. Brokers will construct and transmit the claim;
3. Use a service provider. Service providers will transmit a claim constructed by the claimant.

Claims may not be filed through an ACE Portal account or directly with a CBP office. Software vendors for option one above can be found on CBP.gov. See First Time Drawback Filer Reminders on CBP.gov.

All claims for drawback must be filed in accordance with the TFTEA regulations outlined in 19 C.F.R. §190 and the guidance provided on CBP.gov.

In general, no. The exception is if the claimant has been preapproved for the accelerated payment (AP) privilege and AP is requested for the claim. In such cases, AP must be secured by an active and sufficient 1A bond on file in E-Bonds.

Technical transmission requirements and code definitions can be found on CBP.gov in the Drawback CATAIR and its appendixes.

The Drawback Error Dictionary provides detailed information for each error code. It can be found on CBP.gov

Claimants should file the claim normally per the requirements in the Drawback CATAIR. Upon acceptance, ACE will automatically route the claim to the correct Center based upon the claimant’s Importer of Record Number (IOR) included within the claim transmission.

The first step is to research the error codes received from ACE and correct the claim as applicable. If you are unable to resolve a transmission issue, contact your ABI representative for assistance. If you do not have an assigned client representative, send an email to clientrepoutreach@cbp.dhs.gov

If you transmitted a claim and requested AP and the AP request cannot be validated, ACE will accept the claim if no fatal error occurred, and will automatically remove the AP request. In such cases, filers will have to correct the AP deficiency noted in the error code before an AP request will be accepted.

The drawback section in the ACE Business Process Document details the types of supporting documents required upon claim submission and the submission time frames.

All supporting documents must be uploaded into the Document Imaging System (DIS). Upon submission, filers will receive an automated message indicating whether or not the transmission was successful.

Yes. All historical ACS claims were migrated to ACE.

Yes.

Contact the office/drawback specialist that approved your privilege(s) to ensure the privileges were transferred/recorded in ACE.

There is no specific form. Claimants may use the drawback privilege application template found on CBP.gov, or submit an application in letter format that includes all the required data elements outlined in the applicable regulation. Supporting documentary requirements may be satisfied with documents kept in the normal course of business.

Send the application via email to the drawback office that will process the claimant’s account. If the processing office is unknown, email the application to any drawback office and it will be forwarded to the correct processing office by CBP.

No. However, claimants currently approved for privileges under multiple suffixes may continue to use such privileges unless they’ve been formally revoked by CBP. See Cargo Service (CSMS) message 44905385 for more information.

The value of recovered materials (including the value of any tax benefit or royalty payment) must be deducted from the destroyed merchandise value which is the basis of the drawback refund.

Report the original UOM recorded on the designated entry form 7501.

Except for TFTEA direct identification claims (1313(j)(1) and 1313(a) and associated packaging claims), you must report the UOM recorded on the 7501. For TFTEA direct identification claims noted herein, claimants may report the UOM recorded on the commercial invoice included in the original entry package.

Examples can be found in the drawback section of the ACE Business Rules and Process Document.

No. You may upload the ABI Activity Receipt which includes the Admission Number.

Detailed information can be found in the Drawback CATAIR Appendix G, and in the ACE Business Process Document.

Yes. You must upload the CBP Form 349 and/or CBP Form 350 and an entry summary recap sheet into DIS within 24 hours of claim acceptance by ACE.

Any document(s) kept in the normal course of business.

Claims that cannot be fully supported will be denied. If AP was issued and the AP amount exceeds the final claim liquidation amount, CBP will issue a bill for the difference.

You will receive an updated ruling number in a letter from the processing office. For status updates, contact the filing office.

Canned reports and tools for or creating ad hoc reports are available to the trade in the ACE public workspace.

This form must be submitted to the CBP Officers at the port of examination, which for exports is usually the port of export, and for destructions, it’s usually the port where the merchandise is currently located. If merchandise is examined at one port and exported from a different port, the merchandise must be moved from the examination port to the port of export in-bond.

Possibly. You may request a one-time waiver. See 19 C.F.R. §190.36 for more information.

No.

Yes. Section 232 duties are not drawback eligible.

Yes. However, such exports may be governed by the NAFTA and USMCA trade agreements. Review the regulations in 19 C.F.R. §181 and 19 C.F.R. §182 respectively for more information.

Drawback prior disclosures should be filed with the processing Center of Excellence and Expertise (Center). 

The only predictable payment is AP; an approved accelerated payment will usually occur within three weeks of the AP acceptance date in ACE.

Contact the office that is processing the work. Email addresses can be found on CBP.gov.

Yes, as described in 19 U.S.C. § 1593a.

Available references in addition to CBP.gov:

• U.S. Statutory Reference: 19 U.S.C. § 1313
• U.S. Regulatory Reference (TFTEA): 19 C.F.R. §190 (supersedes 19 C.F.R. § 191)
• Customs Rulings Online (CROSS)