Is DutyRefundPortal a government agency?
No. DutyRefundPortal is a private enrollment assistance service. We are not affiliated with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Homeland Security, or any federal or state agency. We help importers navigate the ACE enrollment and CAPE filing process through live expert support.
What's the difference between the free estimate and the $249 exact refund?
The free estimator uses average IEEPA rates by country to give a rough range. Actual rates changed multiple times throughout 2025 and vary by product. During your $249 enrollment call, our specialist accesses your real ACE entry data (ES-003 report), identifies every IEEPA entry by HTS code, separates IEEPA from Section 301 tariffs, and calculates your precise refund to the dollar.
Can I do this myself for free?
Yes. The ACE portal is a free government system at cbp.gov. We charge $249 for a live specialist who handles everything in a single call, plus a precise refund analysis from your actual entry data. Many importers prefer expert guidance to ensure enrollment is completed correctly before the deadline.
Why a live call instead of a video?
The ACE portal was built for customs brokers, not business owners. The enrollment involves OTP authentication, Top Account creation, sub-account linking, and ACH verification — steps that are straightforward with guidance but confusing alone. One misconfigured field means your refund gets rejected. On our call, we screen-share while you complete each step in your own CBP account. You hang up enrolled with your exact refund number. Most importers finish in a single call.
What happens after I'm enrolled?
You’re ready to file your CAPE declaration. Our licensed broker can prepare and file it for a flat fee. We introduce you at the end of your enrollment call, and the broker sends an estimate based on the exact refund number we calculated. You decide — no pressure.
What if I'm not the Importer of Record?
Refunds go to the IOR — the entity listed on CBP Form 7501 that paid duties directly. If you’re unsure, we determine your IOR status during your free consultation before you pay anything.
What countries are covered?
Nearly every trading partner. China 10–54% IEEPA portion (Section 301 excluded), Mexico 25%, Canada 25–35%, EU up to 15%, Vietnam 10–46%, India 10–25%, and most others at 10–50%. Section 232 (steel/aluminum) tariffs are not refundable.
How is this different from a law firm?
Law firms charge 15–33% of your refund. On a $500K refund, that’s $75K–$165K. We charge $249 for enrollment and our broker charges a flat fee for filing. For the administrative CAPE process, legal representation isn’t required. If your entries need CIT litigation, we refer you to a licensed trade attorney at no cost.
Is the refund automatic, or do I need to file?
You must file. CBP Director Brandon Lord confirmed in a sworn declaration that refunds are not automatic. Each importer must complete ACE enrollment, ACH setup, and file a CAPE declaration. If you don’t file, you don’t get paid.
How long until I receive my refund?
CBP estimates 60–90 days after your CAPE declaration is accepted. Importers enrolled and filed early will be processed first. Interest accrues daily at 5–6% annually — the sooner you file, the more interest you collect.
I already have a customs broker. Why do I need this?
Your broker handles ongoing import operations. The IEEPA refund involves a new CBP system (CAPE), ACH enrollment, and IEEPA-vs-301 separation that most brokers haven’t built into their workflows. We handle the refund process; your broker continues managing your imports as usual.
I passed tariff costs to my customers. Am I disqualified?
Under current law, no. The refund goes to the Importer of Record regardless of whether costs were passed downstream. CBP’s process does not include pass-through analysis. No court has ruled against importers on this basis.