Every international return to the UK, EU, or US is a duty refund you may not be claiming.
MyCustomsInfo® identifies every Returned Goods Relief, Customs Drawback, and duty recovery opportunity across your full import history. UK, EU, and US jurisdictions. Backed by 45+ years of industry experience and 20+ years specifically in customs compliance. Broader coverage than any returns-only specialist.
Takes 2 minutes • No commitment • We identify the opportunity, you decide what to do next
Typical overpaid duty identified in first audit for an SME with 1,500+ annual declarations
Proportion of declarations containing a classifiable error, source: customs authority compliance data
HMRC lookback window for Customs Drawback claims, historical recoveries are still within reach
You are paying duty and VAT on returns that re-enter the UK. Most of it is reclaimable.
Post-Brexit, UK e-commerce retailers with EU and US return flows are re-importing goods and paying duty again. The reliefs exist. The claims window is open. But most businesses do not have the declaration data, the MRN linkage, or the customs expertise to make the claims.
Returned Goods Relief is being missed
Goods exported from the UK and returned within three years qualify for full duty and VAT relief on re-import. But only if the return is correctly linked to the original export MRN. Most returns operations do not capture this data at intake.
Customs Drawback claims are expiring
Goods imported from non-FTA countries (China, Asia) and subsequently re-exported qualify for Customs Drawback. HMRC allows three years to claim. Without a systematic audit, the window closes and the money stays with HMRC.
Classification and valuation errors compound the loss
Incorrect commodity codes and customs values mean the original duty was wrong before the return process even started. A returns-only tool will not find this. A full declaration audit will.
Returns recovery is part of a broader compliance picture. MCI covers all of it.
A returns specialist recovers what came back. MyCustomsInfo® audits everything that was ever declared. That means your returns recovery sits inside a full declaration audit, and every overpayment route is open.
UK Returned Goods Relief
We identify eligible re-imported goods, match returns to original export declarations, and prepare the C285 data package your customs agent needs to submit the RGR claim via HMRC’s Customs Declaration Service. 3-year window from original export.
EU Returned Goods Relief (UCC Art. 203)
Goods exported from the EU and returned within 3 years qualify for duty relief under Article 203 of the Union Customs Code. We audit and match the return data across EU Member States. From 01/07/2026, de minimis abolition makes this route critical for every low-value return.
US Duty Drawback (19 USC §1313)
Goods imported duty-paid into the US and subsequently exported or destroyed qualify for drawback within 5 years. We audit the entry data and prepare the matching package. Your licensed customs broker files the claim with CBP.
UK Customs Duty Drawback (CN 998)
We cross-reference import entries against export data to identify goods imported duty-paid and subsequently re-exported. Every eligible drawback opportunity is surfaced with the evidence trail HMRC requires. 3-year lookback window.
Classification and valuation error recovery
Incorrect commodity codes, wrong customs values, and missed preference claims mean the original duty bill was too high before returns entered the picture. We audit the full declaration history across UK, EU and US jurisdictions.
Broader compliance obligations
CBAM quarterly reporting is now in effect under the definitive regime. IEEPA tariff exposure is active for US supply chains. MyCustomsInfo® covers both alongside your returns recovery — one platform, one audit cycle.
Returns recovery specialists cover one lane. MyCustomsInfo® covers the full road.
If your only compliance risk is returned goods, a specialist returns platform may be sufficient. If you import regularly, have post-Brexit classification exposure, face CBAM obligations, or have US supply chain IEEPA risk, you need broader coverage.
| Capability | MyCustomsInfo® | Returns-only specialist |
|---|---|---|
| Returned Goods Relief (RGR) identification | ✓ | ✓ |
| Customs Drawback audit (3-year lookback) | ✓ | ✓ (some) |
| Full declaration audit (commodity codes, values, procedures) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Preference claim review (UK FTA coverage) | ✓ | ✗ |
| CBAM quarterly reporting support | ✓ | ✗ |
| IEEPA tariff exposure analysis (US supply chains) | ✓ | ✗ |
| AEO compliance support and audit trail | ✓ | ✗ |
| C285 data package preparation | ✓ | Partial |
| 45+ years industry depth, 20+ in customs | ✓ | ✗ |
| AWS-hosted, per-client data isolation (dedicated S3 + KMS key per client) | ✓ | ✗ Not disclosed |
| ISO 27001:2022 certification | ✓ Certified (513272026) | ✗ Not disclosed |
| OWASP penetration testing (CREST-certified provider) | ✓ | ✗ Not disclosed |
| Data residency statement (UK/EU) | ✓ UK AWS regions | ✗ Not disclosed |
| Data Processing Agreement (DPA) available for business clients | ✓ | ✗ Not disclosed |
Every recovery route has a window. Every window is closing.
The longer you wait to audit, the more eligible claims expire. Here are the windows that matter.
Returned Goods Relief
From date of original export
Active nowRGR (UCC Art. 203)
From date of original export
Critical from 01/07/2026Customs Drawback (CN 998)
HMRC lookback from claim date
Active nowDrawback (19 USC §1313)
From date of importation
Active since 29/08/2025What MCI does. What MCI never does.
MyCustomsInfo® is an independent compliance auditor. We prepare data. Your customs agent or licensed broker acts on it.
What MCI does
- Audits your full declaration history across UK, EU, and US
- Identifies RGR, Drawback, and overpayment recovery opportunities
- Matches returns to original import/export entries
- Prepares the C285 data package (UK) with MRN linkage
- Prepares entry-matched evidence packs for EU and US claims
- Provides the classified, reconciled data set to your agent or broker
- Flags classification and valuation errors across all jurisdictions
What MCI never does
- Submit C285 claims or any customs declarations to HMRC
- File drawback claims or post-summary corrections with CBP
- Act as your customs agent, broker, or fiscal representative
- Determine or guarantee a commodity classification
- Make representations to any customs authority on your behalf
- Hold or handle your duty payments at any stage
We identify. Your broker acts. This boundary is not a limitation — it is a compliance safeguard. MCI operates within the regulatory framework of each jurisdiction. In the US, we comply with 19 USC §1641. In the UK and EU, the submission is made by your appointed customs agent.
You are sharing commercially sensitive data. Know exactly where it goes.
The data required for a returns duty recovery audit includes import entries, duty payments, export MRNs, commercial invoices, customer return records, and supply chain origin information. Before you share this with any platform, you have the right to ask four questions. MyCustomsInfo® has documented answers to all four.
Where is my data hosted?
All MCI client data is hosted on AWS infrastructure in UK regions. No data is stored in shared or unspecified cloud environments. Every client has a dedicated storage prefix with their own encryption key.
Can another client access my data?
No. MCI uses a per-client data isolation architecture. Each client has a dedicated AWS S3 prefix with a separate AWS KMS Customer Managed Key. PostgreSQL Row Level Security enforces tenant separation at the database layer. A breach of one client’s data cannot expose another’s through any failure mode.
What security certifications do you hold?
CustomsPlus® is ISO 27001:2022 certified (certificate 513272026). The certified scope — the provision of automated customs technology, compliance services and strategic consultancy to all sectors — covers the MyCustomsInfo® platform. Annual penetration testing is conducted by a CREST-certified external provider using the OWASP Testing Guide v4.2 methodology. Automated DAST runs on every staging deployment.
Is there a Data Processing Agreement?
Yes. A formal DPA is available for all business clients. HMRC-compliant data retention applies: customs and audit data is retained for 6 years in line with HMRC requirements. You retain the right to request deletion subject to legal retention obligations. UK GDPR Article 30 register is maintained.
What happens if there is a security incident?
MCI operates a documented Incident Response Plan (MCI-IRP-001) covering P1 to P4 severity classifications. Critical incidents trigger a 72-hour ICO notification process. All actions are logged via AWS CloudTrail WORM-protected audit trails. Evidence is retained and retrievable on demand.
How long is my data retained?
Customs declaration data and supporting documents are retained for 6 years in line with HMRC requirements. All retention periods are documented in the MCI Data Governance Policy (MCI-DGP-001). Automated deletion workflows apply at the end of each retention period.
A note for 3PLs evaluating vendor platforms: When you share your retailer clients’ commercial invoice data, import entries, and returns records with a third-party platform, your clients are the data subjects. Under UK GDPR, you are the data controller and you are responsible for ensuring the processor provides sufficient guarantees. Request a DPA and a written data residency statement before any data sharing begins. MyCustomsInfo® provides both as standard.
Built for e-commerce retailers and the 3PLs that serve them
Returns duty recovery is relevant at every scale. If you import goods that come back, you have exposure.
E-commerce retailers with international returns
You sell to EU and US customers. When they return goods, those items re-enter the UK as imports. If your 3PL or carrier is not capturing export MRNs at the point of return intake, you are leaving RGR on the table on every single one of those shipments.
Start with a free compliance review →3PLs and fulfilment centres
Your retailer clients are losing money on returns duty and do not know it. Offering a recovery audit as part of your fulfilment service strengthens retention and adds a revenue line without building a customs team. MyCustomsInfo® provides the compliance layer. You provide the logistics.
Talk to us about 3PL partnerships →SME importers with classification concerns
You import regularly, your broker files the declarations, and no one has audited them since filing. Commodity code errors on imported goods that are later returned create a compounding overpayment. The audit recovers at both stages.
Explore MCI Essentials →Enterprise and corporate importers
High-volume declaration history. Multiple jurisdictions. CBAM obligations from 2026. IEEPA exposure across US supply chains. Enterprise returns recovery is one workstream inside a broader compliance programme. MCI Enterprise covers all of it.
Talk to our enterprise team →Find out if you have a returns recovery opportunity in 3 questions
Answer three questions and we will send you a no-obligation assessment of your likely recovery potential, the relief types that apply to your situation, and a recommended starting point.
1. Do you sell to customers in the EU or US and accept returns?
2. Where is most of your stock manufactured or sourced?
3. Have you audited your import declarations in the last 3 years?
What you will receive
Submit your answers and contact details. We will send a personalised assessment within one business day.
- ✓Estimate of recoverable duty and VAT based on your profile
- ✓Relief types that apply to your situation (RGR, Drawback, or both)
- ✓Key data gaps that may be preventing claims
- ✓A recommended starting point, audit first or go live first
No commitment. Governed by our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
Real recoveries. Real clients.
Post-Brexit reclassification errors identified across UK and Ireland. Three years of declarations audited. Recovery included both overpaid duty and missed preference claims.
Customs assessment challenge reduced a £6M demand to £1.6M through a declaration-by-declaration audit. Every claim defended with a documented evidence trail.
Results shown are from selected client engagements and do not constitute a guarantee of future results. Customs authorities are the final decision-makers on all duty and classification matters.
Duty Recovery: Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Returned Goods Relief, Customs Drawback, and duty recovery on international returns.
What is Returned Goods Relief and how does it work?+
What is Customs Drawback and when can I claim it?+
How far back can I claim duty recovery on returns?+
Does MyCustomsInfo® file duty recovery claims?+
What duty recovery routes are available for US importers?+
How does duty recovery work for e-commerce returns?+
What data does MyCustomsInfo® need to run a returns recovery audit?+
Related Compliance Pages
Post-Clearance Audit
Declaration errors create both duty exposure and recovery opportunities. Full audit methodology for UK CDS, EU UCC, and US ACE.
Learn more →IEEPA Tariff Compliance
IEEPA duty paid on goods subsequently returned or re-exported is potentially recoverable through drawback and PSC.
Learn more →Section 232 Compliance
Section 232 duty on steel, aluminium and copper goods is eligible for drawback when those goods are re-exported.
Learn more →De Minimis 2026
De minimis abolition means every returned parcel now carries recoverable duty. The recovery loop starts with the inbound audit.
Learn more →Your returns recovery window is open. The clock is running.
HMRC allows three years to claim Customs Drawback. Returned Goods Relief must be claimed at the point of re-import. Every month without an audit is a month of eligible claims that cannot be recovered.