How the Free Refund Review Works

Step 1: Tell us your situation

Answer three questions: what is happening with your refund, whether your business is the Importer of Record, and roughly how much IEEPA duty is involved. It takes about a minute. A team member follows up, usually within one business day.

Step 2: Understand your general options

We explain, in plain English and with sources, the general options that apply to situations like yours, for example:

• Whether your entries may still fall inside the CAPE window
• How to check refund status and interest in ACE, using reports such as ES-003, ES-022, and REV-603
• When a protest or a court filing generally comes into play
• The general deadlines to raise with a licensed professional

This is general information, not legal or customs advice. We do not tell you which option to choose for your entries. A licensed professional does that.

If you want help getting your ACE reports, you can pull them yourself with our step-by-step guides, or ask the customs broker you already use.

Step 3: Get a list of licensed professionals

We email you a list of licensed customs brokers and attorneys who handle your type of situation:

1. On your own or with your current broker. Many CAPE filings and simple corrections can be handled in ACE by you or the broker you already use. Importers can file with CBP at no cost.
2. Licensed customs broker. Filings prepared for you, such as protests and corrections, must be done by a licensed customs broker.
3. Attorney. Denied protests, finally liquidated entries, lawsuits, and contract claims against a seller are legal matters.

Step 4: You choose

You contact any professional on the list directly, or none. We do not follow up with them on your behalf, and we do not pass on your information unless you ask us to. Any engagement and any fee is between you and that professional, under their own written agreement.

What it costs, and how we are paid

Importers never pay us. Law firms and customs brokers do not pay us per referral, per client, or a share of any fee or refund. If we offer paid listings in our professional directory in the future, they will be flat-fee and clearly labeled, and you will always choose who to contact. We do not sell your personal information.