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Recover your IEEPA tariff refund with Freight Right. Licensed customs brokerage handling filing, documentation, and tracking from start to finish. Get your refund faster. Free consultation call.
When your business has paid tariffs that may be eligible for refund, you need more than guidance, you need a licensed customs brokerage that can execute the process correctly and efficiently.
Freight Right helps importers identify, file, and secure IEEPA tariff refunds with precision, speed, and full transparency so you recover what you’re owed without the operational burden.
The International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, is a federal law that has been used as authority for certain emergency trade actions, including tariffs on imported goods.
For importers, these tariffs appeared as additional duties on customs entries. Businesses paid them when goods entered the United States, often through their customs broker, freight forwarder, parcel carrier, or other import service provider.
In practical terms, if your company imported goods subject to IEEPA duties, those tariffs increased your landed cost. They may have reduced gross margin, affected customer pricing, created accounting complexity, or been absorbed as an unrecovered business expense.
The IEEPA tariff refund opportunity matters because the refunded amounts can be meaningful. Even a modest duty rate can add up quickly across repeated shipments, high-value products, or sustained import programs.
For a business that imports regularly, potential refund exposure may exist across multiple entries, product categories, ports, brokers, or vendors. A refund review can help answer several important questions:
Did your company pay IEEPA duties?
Which entries were affected?
Which entries are currently eligible for refund?
Were any entries handled by a previous customs broker or parcel carrier?
What documentation or authorization is needed to pursue the refund?
What timing limitations apply?
This is not only a customs issue. It is also a business recovery issue. Importers that paid eligible duties may have a direct opportunity to recover funds that were previously treated as part of their import cost.
US Customs and Border Protection has established a process for validated refunds of certain duties paid under IEEPA.
CBP’s process allows eligible importers and authorized customs brokers to request refunds through the agency’s designated systems and procedures.
The refund is not automatic in every case.
Eligibility depends on:
the importer
the entry
the tariff code
the liquidation status
the timing of the entry
and the available documentation.
That is why importers should review their records and act promptly.
The refund generally relates to eligible IEEPA duties paid on qualifying import entries.
CBP’s process recalculates covered entries as if the IEEPA duties were not owed. The projected refund is the difference between the duties, taxes, and fees originally paid and the amount that would have been owed after removing the applicable IEEPA tariff lines. In some cases, interest may also be included.
The refund does not necessarily apply to every tariff your company paid. Other duties, fees, and trade remedies may still apply, including tariffs imposed under other authorities. Freight Right’s role is to review the relevant customs data and identify the entries that may qualify.
The IEEPA refund process typically involves several steps.
First, the importer must identify whether it paid IEEPA duties. This usually requires reviewing ACE data, entry summaries, customs broker records, tariff codes, and payment history.
Second, the importer must determine which entries are eligible under the current CBP refund process. Entry status matters. Some entries may be unliquidated, some may be recently liquidated, and others may require different handling depending on timing and procedural posture.
Third, the importer must confirm who has authority to file. In many cases, the importer of record or an authorized customs broker must submit the refund request.
Fourth, the refund request must be prepared and submitted through the appropriate CBP process. CBP’s CAPE process is designed to consolidate eligible refund requests and process qualifying entries.
Finally, CBP reviews the request, recalculates covered entries, and issues the validated refund to the appropriate party.
Freight Right’s IEEPA refund service is built for importers at every stage of the process: businesses that need help setting up a new ACE account, importers with existing ACE access issues, companies unsure whether they paid eligible IEEPA duties, foreign importers with a US bank account, and businesses that want a licensed customs broker to handle the refund filing process from review through submission. General questions, ACE account setup guidance, and ACE troubleshooting support are free. If Freight Right files the IEEPA refund on your behalf, the service is handled for a small one-time fee.
| Importer Type | Situation | How Freight Right Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Importers with an ACE account | You believe your business may have paid IEEPA tariffs but do not know how to access CBP entry data. | Freight Right can help you understand what ACE is, what information is needed, and how to get started. |
| Importers trying to set up a new ACE account | You are ready to review your customs records but need help creating or organizing ACE access. | Freight Right provides free guidance for new ACE account setup. |
| Importers with ACE error flags | You have an ACE account but cannot access it, do not know who controls it, or are having trouble retrieving entry data. | Freight Right can help troubleshoot existing ACE account access issues. |
| Importers with an ACE account but no customs expertise | You can access ACE but do not know how to identify IEEPA duties, eligible entries, liquidation status, or relevant filing data. | Freight Right reviews customs data and helps determine which entries may qualify. |
| Importers that used multiple brokers | Your entries were handled by more than one customs broker, freight forwarder, parcel carrier, or vendor. | Freight Right helps identify what records are needed and coordinate the customs-side review. |
| Importers unsure whether a prior broker is filing | You do not know whether your previous broker, freight provider, or parcel carrier is pursuing refunds on your behalf. | Freight Right helps clarify the filing path and can manage the process if authorized. |
| Importers with limited internal bandwidth | Your business may be eligible, but your team does not have the time to review entries or manage the CBP process. | Freight Right can handle the filing process for a small one-time service fee. |
| Foreign importers of record | Your company is based outside the United States and may not have a US bank account. | Freight Right can help foreign importers understand documentation, payment setup, and refund-process requirements. |
| Importers with large or recurring shipment volume | Your company imported regularly during the covered period and may have multiple eligible entries. | Freight Right helps review entry data across shipments and identify refund opportunities. |
| Importers that paid duties but are unsure what they paid | You know your business paid tariffs but cannot tell whether they were IEEPA duties or another type of duty. | Freight Right reviews the duty lines and entry data to distinguish potentially eligible IEEPA duties from other charges. |
| Importers concerned about deadlines | You are worried that liquidation timelines, protest windows, or CBP process phases could affect eligibility. | Freight Right helps review timing issues and preserve filing opportunities where available. |
| Importers that want a broker-managed process | You do not want to file the refund yourself and prefer to have a licensed customs broker handle it. | Freight Right manages the customs-side review, documentation, and filing process. |
Waiting can create avoidable risk.
Customs entries move through liquidation and finality timelines.
Every customs entry follows a defined lifecycle. After approximately 314 days, US Customs and Border Protection liquidates the entry, which means the file is closed and the duties are finalized.
CBP’s refund process is also being implemented in phases, which means not every entry may be handled the same way at the same time.
Importers should not assume that refunds will appear automatically or that their prior broker, freight provider, or parcel carrier will fully handle the process without action. Some importers may need to authorize a broker, provide payment information, validate entry data, or coordinate across multiple parties.
Estimate your IEEPA tariff refund for free with Freight Right. All you need to get started is your ACE Entry Summary report or your customs broker's export to get started.
If you have used multiple brokers or carriers, your entries are likely distributed across different filings and systems.
That does not limit your ability to recover your IEEPA refund.
With the proper authorization, Freight Right can identify all eligible entries across your ACE account, including those filed by other brokers, and consolidate them into a single, coordinated filing strategy.
You do not need to coordinate across multiple parties or attempt to reconstruct your filing history.
Freight Right Global Logistics is a licensed customs broker and freight forwarder that works with US importers on customs entries, duty payments, compliance documentation, and international logistics.
Freight Right helps importers move through these practical barriers.
For IEEPA tariff refunds, Freight Right can help with:
Import-entry review
IEEPA duty identification
ACE and entry-summary analysis
Refund eligibility screening
Broker authorization and documentation
CAPE refund request preparation
Coordination with importers, CPA firms, and prior brokers where needed
Refund tracking and follow-up
We can help you get set up with an ACE account.
One of the most common obstacles for importers is access to ACE, the US Customs and Border Protection system used to view entry data and manage customs-related activity. If your business does not already have ACE access, Freight Right can help you understand what is needed, how to get started, and how to use the account to support your refund review.
We can help foreign importers pursue refunds.
Some importers of record are based outside the United States and may not have a US bank account. That can create confusion around whether they can receive a refund or how the payment process should be handled. Freight Right can help foreign importers evaluate their options and move through the refund process with the proper documentation and payment setup.
We help coordinate across brokers, carriers, and prior import records.
Many companies used multiple brokers, freight providers, parcel carriers, or vendors during the covered period. That can make it difficult to know where the relevant entry data is located or who has authority to file. Freight Right can help identify what records are needed and coordinate the customs-side work required to pursue the claim.
Freight Right is not a general claims consultant. We are a licensed customs broker and logistics provider that works directly with the customs records, entry data, and import documentation that determine whether an IEEPA refund can be filed for almost 20 years.
That matters because many refund opportunities are delayed by practical issues: the importer does not have ACE access, the relevant entries are spread across multiple brokers or carriers, the business is foreign-based with a US bank account, or no one is sure who is authorized to file.
Freight Right helps solve those problems. We can help importers get started with ACE, review entry data, coordinate with prior brokers or freight providers, and support foreign importers that need help navigating refund payment requirements.
IEEPA refund eligibility depends on customs entry data. Freight Right brings the customs brokerage experience, documentation knowledge, and operational freight background needed to help importers pursue refunds efficiently.
The refund process can seem daunting and overwhealming. Whether you have IEEPA data to review or not, our team is standing by to field your questions.
If your business paid IEEPA duties, now is the time to review your entries and determine whether a refund claim should be filed.
Freight Right can help you identify eligible entries, prepare the required documentation, and submit your refund request through the proper customs process.
What does it cost to work with Freight Right?
Initial support is free. Freight Right does not charge importers for general questions, comments, or concerns about the IEEPA refund process.
We can also help importers get started with ACE at no cost. This includes guidance on setting up a new ACE account, understanding what information is needed, and troubleshooting existing ACE account access issues that may prevent an importer from reviewing entry data or moving forward with a refund request.
If you choose to have Freight Right handle the IEEPA refund filing process on your behalf, the service comes with a small one-time fee. This fee covers the customs-side review, documentation support, eligibility screening, and refund filing work needed to move the claim forward through the proper CBP process.
How do I get an IEEPA tariff refund?
You need to identify eligible imports, prepare documentation, and file correctly through customs. Freight Right manages this entire process for you.
How long does the tariff refund process take?
Timelines vary, but accurate filing and active management significantly reduce delays.
What documents are required?
Import records, entry summaries, and supporting documentation. We guide you through exactly what’s needed.
Can my business file for an IEEPA refund by itself?
Yes. Importers can pursue refund requests themselves if they have the necessary access, documentation, customs knowledge, and internal bandwidth.
However, many businesses do not regularly work inside ACE, do not have complete entry data, or are unsure how to evaluate liquidation status, tariff-line eligibility, broker authorization, and CBP filing requirements. A licensed customs broker can help reduce friction and avoid common filing problems.
Will my refund happen automatically?
Importers should not assume that refunds will appear automatically or that a prior broker, freight provider, or parcel carrier will fully handle the process without action.
Some importers may need to authorize a broker, provide payment information, validate entry data, obtain ACE access, or coordinate across multiple parties before the refund can move forward.
Can Freight Right help me set up an ACE account?
Yes. Freight Right can help importers understand what is needed to get started with ACE, the US Customs and Border Protection system used to access customs entry data and manage customs-related activity.
ACE access is a common hangup for importers that believe they may be eligible for a refund but do not know how to begin reviewing their customs records.
What if my entries were handled by another customs broker or freight provider?
Freight Right can help identify what records are needed and coordinate the customs-side work required to pursue the claim.
Many importers used multiple brokers, parcel carriers, freight providers, or vendors during the covered period. That can make it difficult to know where the relevant entry data is located or who has authority to file. Freight Right helps importers work through those issues.
Can Freight Right help foreign importers?
Yes. Freight Right can help foreign importers evaluate their refund options and move through the process with the proper documentation and payment setup.
Some foreign importers of record do not have a US bank account, which can create confusion around whether they can receive a refund or how the payment process should be handled. Freight Right can help address those practical barriers.
Do I need a US bank account to pursue an IEEPA refund?
Not necessarily. Foreign importers with a US bank account may still have options, depending on their importer status, documentation, and payment setup.
Freight Right can help foreign importers understand what information is needed and how to move through the refund process.
What information do I need to get started?
Freight Right may ask for basic business and import information, including the importer of record name, EIN or importer number, prior customs broker information, ACE access or entry reports, entry summaries, duty payment records, and contact information for the person authorized to act on behalf of the importer.
If you do not have all of this available, Freight Right can still begin with a preliminary review and help identify what is needed.
What impacts how quickly I receive my refund?
Filing accuracy, documentation completeness, and ongoing follow-up all play a role.
