Not every recovery starts with a return.
RGR covers returned goods, but what about stock you re-exported, or duty you overpaid at import? Meridian Drawback UK audits your full customs history to recover duty and VAT across every eligible route.
Three recovery routes. One audit.
We look beyond returns. If duty was paid and should not have been, or does not need to stay paid, we find it.
Customs Drawback
- Duty already paid on goods that are subsequently re-exported from the UK
- Common scenarios: unsold stock sent to another market, goods re-routed to a non-UK buyer, returned goods forwarded back to origin
- Relief claimed as a repayment after proof of export is established
- Claim window: up to 3 years from original import
Duty Overpayments
- Wrong HS code applied at import, resulting in a higher duty rate than necessary
- Incorrect customs value declared (e.g. inflated freight, misapplied royalties)
- Missed preferential tariff rates due to wrong Country of Origin
- CPC errors or clerical mistakes by freight forwarders or brokers
- Recovered via HMRC C285 amendment or CDS error correction
- Claim window: up to 3 years
Re-Export Compliance
- The evidence backbone that supports every Drawback claim
- Proof of exit required: export MRN, exit confirmation, transport documentation, commercial invoices
- Without compliant re-export evidence, Drawback claims fail at HMRC
- Meridian builds HMRC-ready evidence packs for every shipment
One audit. Every eligible route.
We run a single structured process that checks all three recovery routes simultaneously, so nothing gets missed.
We collect your import history, export records, and customs declarations.
Our compliance process scans for Drawback eligibility, overpayment errors, and re-export matches simultaneously.
MRN matching, HS code validation, valuation review, all documented to HMRC standard.
Claims submitted via CDS and C285 amendments under Direct Representation.
Monthly recovery statements showing amounts claimed, approved, and pending.
RGR, Drawback, or Overpayment?
Understanding which route applies to your goods is the first step. We handle the analysis. Here is how the three routes compare.
| RGR | Customs Drawback | Overpayments | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trigger | Goods returned unchanged to UK | Goods re-exported from UK | Duty miscalculated at import |
| Who claims | Importer at re-import | Importer after export | Importer via amendment |
| Evidence | Proof of original export + return | Proof of re-export (MRN, exit) | Import records + correct classification |
| Timeframe | At point of re-import | Up to 3 years | Up to 3 years |
| HMRC route | CDS RGR CPC | CDS Drawback repayment | C285 / CDS amendment |
Who this is for
E-commerce retailers re-exporting unsold or returned stock to non-UK markets
3PLs handling cross-border redistribution for their clients
Importers who suspect classification or valuation errors but lack the resource to audit
Businesses using multiple freight forwarders with inconsistent customs entries
Think you might be overpaying or leaving money on the table?
Our audit is risk-free. If there is nothing to recover, you pay nothing.