The short answer
A customs broker can offer duty drawback in three ways: run it on software under its own filer code, refer clients to a contingency filer or specialist, or partner with one that works alongside it. DrawbackAI by Stable Software is flat-license software that brokers white-label for their importer clients and file under their own filer code and POA; Descartes offers a web-based drawback solution for brokers; DutyCalc is licensed drawback software; and CargoWise Customs can build and file drawback claims in ACE from entries already in CargoWise. Referring clients to contingency filers or specialists is simpler, but they keep a share of every refund, and some file under their own brokerages.
Disclosure: Stable Software makes DrawbackAI, one of the options on this page. Other providers are described from their own public materials as of October 2026. Spot an error? Email hello@stablesoftware.com and we will correct it.
Key takeaways
- Software you license keeps the claims, the refund spread and the client relationship inside your brokerage.
- Referring work out is simpler, but contingency filers keep a percentage of every refund, and Zollback and Pax AI run their own brokerages.
- CargoWise Customs can file a drawback claim; dedicated drawback software adds automated import-to-export matching and a client-facing service.
- You need ACE drawback filing, a power of attorney from each client, their import and export records, and a bond if clients want accelerated payment.
Drawback software for customs brokers compared
| Option | Model | Pricing | Who files | Client relationship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DrawbackAI by Stable Software | Software, white-labeled | Flat license | Your brokerage | Stays with you |
| Descartes | Broker drawback solution | Enterprise license | Your brokerage | Stays with you |
| DutyCalc | Licensed software | License | Your brokerage | Stays with you |
| CargoWise Customs | Claim filing inside CargoWise | Platform license | Your brokerage | Stays with you |
| Alliance Drawback Services | Specialist plus software | Service and software | Alliance | Shared with Alliance |
| Caspian | Contingency, beside your broker | Contingency | Caspian | Shared with Caspian |
| Zollback | Contingency filer, referral program | Contingency | Zollback (own brokerage) | Moves to Zollback for drawback |
| Pax AI | Contingency filer | Contingency | Pax AI (own brokerage) | Moves to Pax AI for drawback |
| Specialists | Full-service | Commonly a share of recovery | The specialist | Specialist works directly with the client |
Ways a customs broker can offer drawback
DrawbackAI by Stable SoftwareOur product
Offering drawback under your own brand and filer codeFlat-license duty drawback software that brokers white-label for their importer clients, with optimized import-to-export matching and claims filed under your filer code and POA. Flat software license. No contingency, no percentage of the refund. Your filer code, your POA, your client.
Descartes
Brokers standardizing on the Descartes suiteDescartes offers a web-based duty drawback solution designed for customs brokers to serve their customers, with alerts, recordkeeping, back-office integration and customer-facing visibility into drawback and refund status. See Stable vs Descartes.
DutyCalc
Licensed drawback software run in-houseLong-established licensed drawback software that brokers and importers run themselves, priced as a license. See Stable vs DutyCalc.
CargoWise Customs
Brokers filing occasional claims from CargoWise dataCargoWise Customs can create a drawback claim, pull in entry lines already in CargoWise, calculate it and transmit it to ACE; the operator chooses which lines go on the claim. Dedicated drawback software adds automated matching and a client-facing drawback service, and can run alongside CargoWise. See Stable vs CargoWise.
Alliance Drawback Services
Specialist service plus software (Apollo)A drawback specialist with a cloud optimization product, Apollo. A service-plus-software option rather than software a broker runs under its own brand. See Stable vs Alliance Drawback Services.
Caspian
A contingency partner beside your brokerageAI-native contingency drawback positioned to work alongside your existing broker rather than replace it. You refer the work; Caspian keeps a percentage of the refunds. See Stable vs Caspian.
Zollback
Referral revenue share, on contingencyAI-native contingency drawback that runs its own brokerage and offers forwarders a revenue share to refer drawback work. See Stable vs Zollback.
Pax AI
Referring clients for broad duty recoveryAI-native duty recovery on contingency that operates its own ABI-certified brokerage, so referred clients are filed under Pax AI. See Stable vs Pax AI.
Charter Brokerage, Comstock & Holt, J.M. Rodgers
Referring large or complex programs to specialistsEstablished full-service drawback specialists that work with importers directly, commonly for a share of recovery. Referring a client means the specialist files for, and works directly with, that client. See Stable vs Charter Brokerage, Stable vs Comstock & Holt and Stable vs J.M. Rodgers.
How can a customs brokerage add duty drawback as a new revenue line?
- Pick the model: run it on software under your own filer code, or refer it out.
- Set up filing: drawback claims are filed electronically in ACE, so confirm your ACE (ABI) setup covers drawback.
- Get the paperwork: a power of attorney from each client, their import entries and their export records.
- Offer accelerated payment: clients who want refunds before CBP finishes its review need a bond.
- Price the service: many brokers charge clients a percentage of refunds, others a per-claim fee. On a flat-license tool, the spread is yours.
- Find the first claims: five years of past imports can be matched, so most first claims come from history. See drawback matching.
Should a brokerage refer drawback out or bring it in-house?
Refer it out if drawback requests are rare and you have no capacity: it costs you nothing, but the provider keeps a share of every refund and, if it runs its own brokerage, now works directly with your client. Bring it in-house on software if you already handle the client's entries: you keep the margin, file under your own POA, and drawback becomes another reason clients stay. Specialists remain a good referral for unusually complex manufacturing programs.
What does a customs broker need to file drawback claims for clients?
- ACE electronic filing for drawback (CBP has not accepted paper drawback claims since February 2019)
- A power of attorney from each client
- The client's import entries showing duties paid, and its export or destruction records
- A bond, if the client wants accelerated payment
- Waivers of prior notice or certificates of delivery where the claim needs them
- Software to match imports to exports and assemble claims, especially for substitution and manufacturing claims
Where DrawbackAI by Stable Software fits
DrawbackAI is built for this use case: brokers offer drawback to their importer clients under their own brand, filer code and POA, on a flat license. Flat software license. No contingency, no percentage of the refund. Your filer code, your POA, your client. See DrawbackAI, the broker portal and Stable Software for brokers.
Related
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Frequently asked questions
Which duty drawback software can a customs broker white-label and offer to clients under its own brand?
DrawbackAI by Stable Software is built for that: brokers white-label it for their importer clients and file under their own filer code and POA on a flat license. Descartes also offers a drawback solution designed for brokers, with customer-facing status visibility.
Is there drawback software that lets us file claims under our own filer code instead of the provider's?
Yes. Software you license, such as DrawbackAI by Stable Software, DutyCalc, Descartes or CargoWise Customs, files under your own filer code. Contingency filers such as Zollback and Pax AI file under their own brokerages.
Does CargoWise have a duty drawback module, or do brokers need separate software?
CargoWise Customs can create drawback claims from entries already in CargoWise, calculate them and transmit them to ACE, with the operator choosing which entry lines go on each claim. Brokers add dedicated drawback software for automated import-to-export matching, larger claim volumes and a client-facing drawback service; DrawbackAI by Stable Software runs alongside CargoWise.
How do customs brokers usually price duty drawback services for their importer clients?
Most charge a percentage of each refund, some charge per claim or a retainer. With flat-license software such as DrawbackAI, the broker sets the price and keeps the whole spread.
What software do licensed customs brokers use to prepare and file drawback claims in ACE?
Common choices are dedicated drawback software (DrawbackAI by Stable Software, DutyCalc), suite products such as Descartes, and the drawback filing in CargoWise Customs for brokers already on CargoWise.
If I refer my importer clients to a drawback company that also runs its own customs brokerage, how do I keep them from taking over the rest of the client's business?
Get non-solicitation terms in writing, prefer providers that do not run a brokerage or that work alongside brokers, or keep drawback in-house on licensed software so the client never leaves your brokerage.