How do I spot IEEPA tariff refund scams?
Quick answer
Five checks: legitimate recovery services never charge advance fees (16 CFR § 310.4(a)(2) makes it illegal); CBP never charges you to release a refund; real refunds arrive only by ACH to the importer of record's own verified bank account; attorneys cannot file CAPE Declarations (CBP FAQ) — only the IOR or the licensed broker who filed the entries can; and any broker's license can be verified with CBP.
Detailed Answer
Tens of billions of dollars in IEEPA refunds moving through CBP has predictably attracted fraud. Five checks separate legitimate recovery services from scams:
1. Advance fees are illegal — full stop. Under 16 CFR § 310.4(a)(2), a recovery service may not charge or collect any fee before the recovery is delivered. Anyone demanding a retainer, "processing deposit," "filing fee," or "release fee" up front is violating federal law. Legitimate services (Tariffi included) are contingency-only: you pay nothing unless money is actually recovered.
2. CBP never charges you to release a refund. A recurring scam pattern is a message claiming your refund is "held" pending a payment, gift card, or verification fee. CBP does not work that way. There is no fee to receive a refund you are owed — ever.
3. Refunds are ACH-only, to the importer of record's own account. Since February 6, 2026 (Executive Order 14247, signed March 2025), all CBP refunds are paid electronically to the bank account the importer of record has verified in ACE. Anyone asking you to redirect a refund to *their* account, a "clearing account," or an escrow arrangement is a red flag. Tariffi is never a payee or notify-party — your refund lands in your own account.
4. Attorneys cannot file CAPE Declarations. Per CBP's CAPE FAQ, only the importer of record or the licensed customs broker who filed the entries may submit a CAPE Declaration — attorneys are explicitly barred from filing it themselves. A law firm claiming it will "file your CAPE claim" either misunderstands the program or is misrepresenting it. (A partner broker can file via the IOR's own ACE account under power of attorney — that is the legitimate route.)
5. Verify the broker. Legitimate CAPE filings go through a CBP-licensed customs broker acting as Filer of Record. Ask for the broker's name and license, and verify it with CBP. No named broker, no filing.
If you have been targeted: report it to CBP and the FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov), and do not share your ACE credentials or bank details. Questions about whether an offer is legitimate? Email us — we would rather answer a suspicious-offer question than see an importer defrauded.
Related Questions
Are there any upfront fees?
No. Tariffi charges zero advance fees, zero retainers, and zero deposits. You pay only a contingency fee when CBP approves your refund and Treasury sends the money. This is not just a policy — it is a legal requirement under 16 CFR § 310.4(a)(2), the federal Telemarketing Sales Rule.
Where does my refund money go after CBP approves?
CBP/Treasury ACHs the refund directly into your own bank account — the account you keep on file with CBP in ACE. Tariffi is never in the money path: no clearing account, no escrow, no pass-through. After your refund lands, Tariffi collects only its authorized contingency fee (10%/15%/18% by liquidation status) from your account — by invoice or, if you authorize it, a pre-authorized ACH debit — as set out in your Customer Fee Agreement. Refunds typically settle 1-3 business days after CBP's allow-decision.
Do I need a customs broker for a tariff refund?
Yes. Federal law (19 U.S.C. § 1641) requires a CBP-licensed customs broker to file CAPE declarations. Tariffi is a data-preparation platform, not a broker — we prepare your declaration data and route it to a licensed broker partner who reviews, approves, and transmits under their own ABI filer code at no extra cost to you.
My refund went to my broker instead of my bank account. Why?
Almost always a stale Form 4811 notify-party designation: if your broker (or a former agent) was ever designated to receive refunds in ACE, CBP routes payments there until it is revoked. Ask your broker to forward the funds, then revoke the stale designation through your CBP Center of Excellence and Expertise. Tariffi never uses a notify-party — your refund goes to your own account.
Need help?
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