Who qualifies for a tariff refund?
The core requirement is simple: you have to be the party that actually paid the duties to U.S. Customs, the importer of record. Here's how that plays out.
Importers of record
If your business brought goods into the United States and was named as the importer of record on the entries, you're the party positioned to recover overpaid duties.
- You were the Importer of Record on U.S. customs entries
- Those entries were made in 2025 or 2026
- You paid duties that may include IEEPA or other potentially refundable tariffs
- Common with China-sourced goods and Section 301 exposure
Not sure if your category is exposed? See industries with common tariff exposure.
Not sure?
Our 60-second checker tells you.
Answer a few questions and we'll tell you whether your entries are likely to qualify, free, no obligation.
We also work with the people importers trust
Customs brokers & freight forwarders
Refer importer clients and share in what they recover.
Accountants, CFOs & bookkeepers
Spot duty overpayments across the clients you already advise.
Trade & supply-chain consultants
Add a no-cost recovery option to what you offer importers.
If you refer importers, see the partner program.
Who doesn't qualify directly
Tariffs raise prices throughout the supply chain, but a refund can only be pursued by the party that actually paid the duty to U.S. Customs. If you paid higher retail or wholesale prices because of tariffs but were not the importer of record, you're a pass-through cost payer, not the party positioned to file a claim. In that case, the importer you bought from may be the one who qualifies.
- You paid higher prices because of tariffs but were not the Importer of Record
- Your entries were only subject to Section 232 or anti-dumping duties, not IEEPA
- You have no U.S. customs entries in 2025 or 2026
- Someone else, such as a 3PL, was listed as the IOR on the entries
Eligibility questions
Who qualifies for a tariff refund?
If your business imported goods into the U.S. as the importer of record and paid duties that turned out to be higher than required, most commonly Section 301 tariffs on China-origin goods or newer IEEPA-based tariffs, you may be able to recover part of what you paid. The clearest candidates import meaningful volumes, source from tariff-affected countries, and haven't had a formal duty-recovery review recently. The fastest way to know is our free 60-second Eligibility Checker.
What types of tariffs are actually refundable?
Recoveries typically come from a few sources: Section 301 tariffs (the additional duties on many China-origin goods), IEEPA-based tariffs that have been challenged or adjusted, product exclusions you were entitled to but didn't claim, misclassified HTS codes that carried a higher rate than correct, and duty-drawback on goods that were later exported. Not every duty is refundable, the value is in identifying which of yours are.
How much could I get back?
It depends on how much you've paid and how much of it was recoverable, there's no flat percentage. Importers with heavy Section 301 or IEEPA exposure tend to recover a larger share than those with little tariff-affected sourcing. Our Refund Estimator gives you a quick ballpark range from a couple of inputs; a specialist review of your actual entries turns that into a real number.
What does it cost, and how do fees work?
Checking eligibility and using every tool on this site is free. If you move forward, the engagement is success-based, a share of what's actually recovered, billed only after a refund comes through. If nothing is recovered, you owe nothing. There are no upfront or hourly fees.