Recovering Section 301 Duties: What the Process Looks Like

Knowing you overpaid Section 301 tariffs is one thing. Recovering the money is another. Here is what the recovery process actually looks like, step by step.

Step 1: Confirm you were the importer of record

As with any tariff refund, recovery starts with confirming you were the importer of record on the entries. That is the party positioned to claim. A quick eligibility check settles this.

Step 2: Pull and review your entries

Specialists pull your entry history from ACE and review it for Section 301 exposure. They identify which China-origin goods carried the 25 percent tariff and check those entries against applicable product exclusions.

Step 3: Match against exclusions

This is the heart of a Section 301 recovery. The specialists match your products and entry dates against the exclusions the USTR granted, identifying where the tariff should not have applied. That mismatch is your recoverable duty.

Step 4: File and recover

With the recoverable entries identified, the specialists prepare and file the declaration with CBP. Once processed, approved refunds are returned to you. Fees are success-based, so you pay only from what is recovered.

Where to begin

The process is straightforward once specialists are on it, and most of the work is theirs. Your first step is a free eligibility check. If you have Section 301 exposure worth reviewing, we connect you with the Tariff Refund Agency's specialists to handle the rest.