Will Tariffi file anything under my license?
Quick answer
No. Tariffi is a data-preparation platform — we never access CBP servers or file anything under your license. You review every CAPE declaration in your broker portal, approve it with your professional judgment, and transmit it via your own ABI filer code through ACE. You are always the Filer of Record.
Detailed Answer
Tariffi will never file anything under your customs broker license. This is a fundamental architectural constraint, not a policy that could change.
The regulatory boundary:
Under 19 U.S.C. § 1641, only a CBP-licensed customs broker may transact customs business on behalf of an importer. Tariffi is not a licensed customs broker. Our platform prepares data — your license, your filer code, your professional judgment drive every filing.
What this means in practice:
- You review every declaration. Before any CAPE filing goes to CBP, it appears in your isolated broker portal for review. You can modify entries, flag issues, request additional information from the importer, or reject the filing entirely.
- You apply professional judgment. All 10-digit HTSUS statistical-suffix determinations are yours per CBP Ruling HQ H350722. Tariffi's AI classification is constrained to the 6-digit HS heading/subheading level only.
- You transmit via ACE. You log in to your own ACE account, using your own ABI filer code, and transmit the declaration. Tariffi has no ACE credentials and no ability to transmit on your behalf.
- You are the Filer of Record. Your name, your license number, and your filer code appear on the filing. This is not delegable.
Why we built it this way:
CBP Ruling HQ H326926 describes the legitimate partnership between a data-preparation platform and a licensed customs broker. Our architecture maps to this ruling exactly. Building any capability to file directly would constitute unlicensed customs business — a $10,000 per-transaction federal penalty under § 1641 that would also jeopardize our broker partners' licenses.
Your takeaway: Tariffi makes your CAPE filing workflow faster. It does not replace your professional role or touch your license.
Related Questions
How does the Tariffi broker partnership work?
Tariffi prepares CAPE declaration data from importers' ES-003 files and routes it to your broker portal for review. You remain Filer of Record on every filing under your own ABI filer code. Tariffi never touches CBP servers. You earn a flat per-filing filer integration fee per 19 CFR § 111.36(c) — never a percentage.
Is my customs broker license at risk?
No. Tariffi's architecture is designed specifically to protect your license. You remain Filer of Record, apply all professional judgment, and transmit via your own ABI filer code. Compensation is a flat per-filing fee per 19 CFR § 111.36(c) — no percentage splits that would trigger § 111.36(b) scrutiny. Our structure follows CBP Ruling HQ H326926.
How are brokers compensated?
Brokers receive a flat per-filing filer integration fee per 19 CFR § 111.36(c). The fee is paid by Tariffi on the importer's behalf and invoiced promptly after filing confirmation. It is never a percentage of the importer's refund, never a referral bounty, and never volume-based — structures that would violate § 111.36(b).
What about client confidentiality?
Each broker partner has an isolated tenant — you see only CAPE filings assigned to your Filer Code. Tenant isolation is enforced at the database layer with role-scoped access and audit logging. No cross-broker visibility, no aggregated client lists, and the partnership agreement bars Tariffi from soliciting your clients for customs brokerage services.
Need help?
Upload your ES-003 to see how much you could recover, or talk to our team.