After the Supreme Court ruled IEEPA tariffs unconstitutional, importers can claim refunds on duties paid. The 180-day protest window is ticking for many entries. Here is how the top approaches to IEEPA refund filing compare in 2026.
| Feature | RefundAssist | Others |
|---|---|---|
| Self-serve | Yes | Lawyers: No / Manual: Yes / Brokers: Varies |
| Automated entry parsing | Yes | Lawyers: No / Manual: No / Brokers: Some |
| Document generation | Automated | Lawyers: Custom-drafted / Manual: DIY / Brokers: Template-based |
| Deadline tracking | Automated alerts | Lawyers: Managed / Manual: Self-track / Brokers: Usually included |
| Legal representation | No | Lawyers: Yes / Manual: No / Brokers: Limited |
| Error rate | Low (automated validation) | Lawyers: Very low / Manual: High / Brokers: Low |
| Turnaround | Minutes | Lawyers: Days-weeks / Manual: Hours-days / Brokers: Days |
| Multi-entry support | Dashboard | Lawyers: Billed per case / Manual: Difficult / Brokers: Included |
| Best for | SMB importers | Lawyers: Complex disputes / Manual: 1-2 entries / Brokers: Existing clients |
| Price | $49–99/mo | Lawyers: $5K+/case / Manual: Free / Brokers: $200–500/entry |
For most importers with standard IEEPA duty payments, RefundAssist offers the fastest and most affordable path to filing a CBP protest. For complex cases involving classification disputes or large duty amounts, a customs lawyer provides the best outcome. Customs brokers are a good option if you already have a broker relationship. Manual filing works for one or two entries but does not scale.
CBP protests must be filed within 180 days of the liquidation date of each entry. Since IEEPA tariffs were collected over many months, each entry has its own deadline. Missing the deadline forfeits your refund for that entry. RefundAssist tracks all deadlines automatically and sends alerts before they expire.
You can recover the full IEEPA tariff amount paid (typically 10% ad valorem on the declared customs value). For example, if you imported $500,000 in goods subject to the IEEPA tariff, your potential refund is $50,000. RefundAssist calculates your exact refund based on your entry data.
Some customs brokers offer IEEPA protest filing as an add-on service, typically charging $200-500 per entry. The quality and speed vary by broker. If you already work with a broker, ask about their IEEPA refund services. Otherwise, RefundAssist provides a dedicated tool purpose-built for this specific filing type.
Calculate your IEEPA tariff refund and generate CBP protest documents automatically. Free estimate, no credit card required.