Tariff refund denied or came back short? See if we can help.
Answer 3 quick questions. If we can help, we review your denial for free and give you a clear plan: fix it yourself, use a licensed customs broker, or consult a law firm.
Step 1 of 2 - takes about 30 seconds
- Free review of your denial or short payment
- Entry-by-entry reconciliation: what you paid vs. what came back
- A plain-English plan showing which issues need a broker, an attorney, or neither
- Direct introduction to a law firm when legal action is needed
Does one of these sound familiar?
Refunds are going out, but not every claim goes through cleanly. These are the problems we see most. Each one can have a different fix and a different deadline.
Rejected on a technicality
Data mismatches, wrong entry status, missing ACH refund setup. Many of these can be corrected and resubmitted without a lawyer.
Refund came back short
IEEPA duties mixed with Section 232 or 301 duties, entries dropped from the claim, or interest missing. Reconciling the entries shows where the gap is.
Entries excluded from CAPE
AD/CVD, foreign trade zone, bonded warehouse, and drawback entries sit outside the portal. They may need a protest or another route.
Protest denied
After a protest is denied, the next step is generally the U.S. Court of International Trade. That is attorney work, and the filing window is limited.
Told it is "too late"
Refunds on finally liquidated entries are the subject of ongoing litigation. Whether yours can be recovered is a legal question for an attorney.
Not sure what happened
Many importers do not know which entries were claimed, which were refunded, or why. That is the starting point of every review.
How it works
We start with a review. If we can help, we put together a plan, and your claim goes down one of three paths depending on what the review finds. You decide whether to proceed at every step.
Tell us what happened
Answer three questions. We follow up, usually within one business day.
We review your records
We walk you through pulling your own ACE reports and denial notices, then reconcile what you paid against what came back and sort each problem by type.
You get a plan
A short written summary of each issue and who is qualified to fix it. Then one of the three paths below. If we cannot help, we tell you.
Fix and refile yourself
Clean technical rejections. We show you what needs correcting, and you or your existing broker resubmit through ACE. Importers can file directly with CBP at no cost.
Broker-prepared filing
Filings that must be prepared by a licensed customs broker, such as corrections and protests. Use your own broker, or we introduce one. The broker contracts with you and bills you directly.
Direct attorney consultation
Contested denials, denied protests, finally liquidated entries, and anything headed to court. With your permission we hand off your file, and you consult with the attorneys directly. Engagement and fee terms are between you and the firm.
What we do, and what we don't
We keep a clear line between our work and licensed work. That protects your claim and keeps you away from the refund scams CBP has warned importers about.
We do
- Walk you through pulling your own ACE entry and refund reports
- Reconcile duties paid against refunds received, entry by entry
- Sort each problem by type and flag deadlines to raise with your broker or attorney
- Introduce you to a licensed customs broker or law firm when you ask us to
- Hand off an organized file so the professional does not start from zero
We don't
- Charge you for our review or plan
- Prepare or file CAPE declarations, corrections, or protests for you
- Give legal advice or represent you before CBP or any court
- Ask for your ACE login, bank details, or Social Security number
- Receive your refund. The government pays the Importer of Record directly
- Sell your information
Why timing matters after a denial
A denial rarely ends a claim on its own. A missed deadline after the denial usually does. The general windows are below. Your own dates depend on your entries and should be confirmed by a licensed professional.
Questions
Are you a law firm or a customs broker?
No. TariffClarity is an independent review and coordination company operated by EasyOIC, LLC. When your claim needs a licensed customs broker or an attorney, we introduce you at your request and you work with them directly under their own engagement terms.
What does it cost?
Nothing. We do not charge for the review or the plan. If you choose to hire a customs broker or law firm, that professional sets its own fees in its own written agreement with you, and you decide whether to sign it.
Why not go straight to a lawyer?
Many denials are technical and can be fixed without one, and many smaller claims fall below law firm minimums. The review tells you whether you need an attorney before you sign anything.
Can I file the correction or protest myself?
Yes. Importers of Record may file directly with CBP at no cost. We will tell you when that is a realistic option.
What happens when you refer me to a law firm?
Only with your permission, we send the firm your review summary and records. The firm contacts you, you consult with its attorneys directly, and any representation begins only with a written engagement agreement between you and that firm.
Will you ever ask for my bank or ACE login details?
No. Refunds go from the government to the Importer of Record. Anyone asking for your ACE credentials or banking details to "process" your refund should be treated as a red flag.
What if you can't help?
We tell you plainly. If your claim does not have a realistic path, or it is outside what we review, we say so and point you to where you can get answers, including filing directly with CBP.
Find out where your claim stands
Free review. No obligation. You decide on every next step.
Start My Free Denial Review →