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Free IEEPA Tariff Refund Help: Start Here

The Supreme Court ruled IEEPA tariffs were illegal. The CAPE portal is open. First refunds are being issued. But the process was built for institutional importers with customs counsel on staff. TariffGuru.com provides free tools, sourced guidance, and a $97 toolkit to help every small business file correctly without paying $400 an hour for a customs attorney.

$166BRefund Pool
330K+Eligible Importers
60-90Day Payout Window
7%Annual Interest Rate

The Process Was Built for Big Business. Not Yours.

CBP's CAPE portal, ACE data extractions, 11-digit entry number formatting, HTS Chapter 99 code validation, ACH refund account setup. None of this is explained anywhere in plain English for the average small business owner. The process assumes you have a customs broker, a compliance team, and an ACE account you log into regularly.

Most small importers have none of that. They have a stack of purchase orders, a freight forwarder they deal with once a quarter, and a government portal they have never opened. TariffGuru.com was built specifically for this gap. Free tools, sourced guidance, and a $97 toolkit that replaces $500 an hour in customs counsel for most straightforward Phase 1 claims.

Post Summary Corrections are explicitly prohibited for IEEPA refund requests per CBP Trade User Information Notice (Pub# 1009-1119). CAPE is the only authorized pathway. Any service offering PSC-based IEEPA filing is offering a prohibited approach regardless of how it is marketed.
Where do I even start with my IEEPA tariff refund?
Start with TariffGuru's free CAPE Pre-Filing Eligibility Screener at tariffguru.com. It takes less than 2 minutes and tells you exactly what you need to have in place before you file. The four things that must be in place before filing: an active ACE Secure Data Portal account with an Importer sub-account; a U.S. bank account registered for ACH refunds in ACE (separate from any duty payment account); eligible entries with IEEPA HTS Chapter 99 codes that are unliquidated or liquidated within 80 days; and a correctly formatted CSV file with exact 11-digit entry numbers.
How much does it cost to get help filing?
TariffGuru.com provides completely free tools including an AI Recovery Agent, eligibility diagnostic, Federal Statutory Interest Calculator, and filing guide with no account required. For importers ready to file independently, the $97 Federal Recovery Toolkit includes everything needed to file correctly without professional counsel. For importers with complex entries or high-volume filings, TariffGuru's concierge data formatting service starts at $1,500. A licensed customs attorney would typically charge $400 to $500 per hour for the same work.
What is the most common mistake importers make when filing?
The most common file-level mistake is saving the CSV in the wrong format. The file must be saved as CSV (Comma delimited) format in Excel, not as an Excel workbook. The most common entry-level mistake is submitting entry numbers that are not exactly 11 alphanumeric characters, or submitting entries where the IOR number on your ACE account does not match the IOR number on the entry summary. TariffGuru's 12-point pre-submission checklist walks you through every one of these checks before you upload.
How long until I receive my refund?
Once CBP accepts your CAPE Declaration, refunds are disbursed via ACH within 60 to 90 days. The clock starts at acceptance, not submission. Declarations that fail validation and must be resubmitted reset the clock. This is why filing correctly the first time matters. Every resubmission adds 60 to 90 days to your wait. TariffGuru's toolkit and free resources are specifically designed to help you file correctly on the first try.
What if I already paid a customs broker to file for me?
If your broker has already submitted a CAPE Declaration on your behalf, check the Claim Status subtab in the CAPE tab of your ACE account for the status. If the broker has not yet filed, TariffGuru's $97 toolkit gives you everything you need to file independently and keep 100% of your refund without paying additional brokerage fees. If your broker is proposing to file via Post Summary Correction, be aware that CBP explicitly prohibits PSC-based IEEPA filings per Trade User Information Notice (Pub# 1009-1119).

Three Steps to Your Refund, All Free to Start

Start with the free eligibility check. Ask the free AI agent. File with the $97 toolkit. You do not need a lawyer or a broker for most Phase 1 claims.

01

Start With the Free Eligibility Check

Before you prepare a single file, use TariffGuru's free CAPE Pre-Filing Eligibility Screener. Answer 6 questions about your entry status, ACH bank account setup, and entry types. You get an instant technical readiness assessment telling you exactly where you stand, what to do next, and whether you need the toolkit or concierge service. Takes less than 2 minutes at tariffguru.com.

02

Ask the Free AI Agent

TariffGuru's free AI Recovery Agent is trained on CBP CAPE documentation, ACE portal protocols, Federal Register interest rate tables, CIT court orders, and the complete library of government handbooks covering every aspect of the IEEPA recovery process. Ask any question in plain English. Get sourced answers. No account required. No law degree needed. Ask it anything related to your tariff refund.

03

File With the $97 Toolkit

Ready to file? TariffGuru's $97 Federal Recovery Toolkit includes everything you need: a CBP-compliant CAPE CSV template, ACE portal data extraction guide, CBP error dictionary covering every rejection code, HTS reference library for IEEPA-subject goods, the Supreme Court ruling analysis, Federal Register interest rate documentation, and a 12-point pre-submission filing readiness checklist. File it right the first time.


Everything You Need, For Free

Four free tools. Zero account required. Start wherever you are in the process.

FREE - Quick Guide

Five Things Every Importer Must Know

The five technical pillars of IEEPA refund eligibility in plain English. Liquidation status, ACH enrollment, entry formatting, interest calculation, and Phase 1 exclusions explained without jargon.

Read the Quick Guide
1. Liquidation Status: Only unliquidated entries and entries liquidated within 80 days qualify for Phase 1.

2. ACH Enrollment: U.S. bank account registered in the ACH Refund Authorization tab in ACE, separate from any duty payment account.

3. Entry Formatting: All entry numbers must be exactly 11 alphanumeric characters. One bad character rejects the line.

4. Interest Calculation: Statutory interest accrues from the original entry payment date at 7% annually (non-corp) or 6% (corp), compounded quarterly per 19 U.S.C. 1505.

5. Phase 1 Exclusions: Reconciliation entries, drawback entries, AD/CVD entries, open protest entries, and entries not filed in ACE are excluded from Phase 1.

Read the Full Filing Guide
FREE - Diagnostic

CAPE Pre-Filing Eligibility Screener

Answer 6 questions in under 2 minutes and get an instant technical readiness assessment. Know exactly what you need to do next before you open a spreadsheet or the ACE portal.

Check My Eligibility Free
FREE - AI Bot

Get Free Tariff Refund Help Right Now

TariffGuru's free AI Recovery Agent answers any question about your IEEPA tariff refund in plain English. Trained on CBP CAPE documentation, Federal Register interest rates, and CIT court orders. No account required. No law degree needed.

Get Free Help at TariffGuru.com
FREE - Calculate My Refund

Federal Statutory Interest Calculator

Calculate exactly what you are owed before you file. Principal duties paid plus compounding statutory interest from your original entry date. Know your number. Then go get it.

Use the Full Calculator Below

Federal Statutory Interest Calculator: IEEPA Tariff Refund Overpayment Rates

Statutory interest on IEEPA tariff refunds accrues from the date the original duties were paid through the date CBP issues your refund. This is a legal entitlement under federal statute.

The applicable rates confirmed in Federal Register Vol. 90 No. 186 and Federal Register Document 2026-01175: 7% annually for non-corporate importers, 6% annually for corporate importers, compounded quarterly.

CBP calculates and includes statutory interest automatically in your ACH payment. Use this calculator to know what to expect before you file.

Source: 19 U.S.C. 1505 · 26 U.S.C. 6621 · Federal Register Vol. 90 No. 186 · Federal Register Document 2026-01175 · Revenue Ruling 2025-22

IEEPA Refund + Statutory Interest Estimate
Principal (Duties Paid)
Statutory Interest Accrued
Total Owed to You
Daily Accrual Rate
Quarters Elapsed

Estimate based on statutory rates per 19 U.S.C. 1505 and 26 U.S.C. 6621, compounded quarterly. Actual amounts depend on entry-level CBP data and the refund process established by the Court of International Trade.

File It Right the First Time

From the $97 self-filing toolkit to full institutional data formatting. TariffGuru.com provides the technical infrastructure for every type of importer.

$1,500+

Institutional Data Services

  • Professional CAPE CSV data formatting at $1 per line
  • $1,500 minimum, covers up to 1,500 entry lines
  • $4,500 Institutional Data Audit, pre-submission error scan
  • PDF Risk Report identifying rejection risks before filing
  • Section 301 / IEEPA duty stacking analysis
  • AD/CVD suspension review and Phase 2 preparation
  • Full concierge with licensed customs practitioners available
FREE - AI Agent

Get Free Tariff Refund Help Right Now

TariffGuru's free AI Recovery Agent answers any question about your IEEPA tariff refund in plain English. Trained on CBP CAPE documentation, Federal Register interest rates, and CIT court orders. No account required. No law degree needed.

Get Free Help at TariffGuru.com

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Stay Ahead of the Process

Court-sourced CAPE system analysis in plain English. Every article cites its source document.

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