⚠ DRAFT VERSION — FOR INTERNAL REVIEW ONLY — Not approved for public use ⚠

IEEPA, CAPE and CBSA tariff refund guide — for Canadian importers and all US importers of record

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IEEPA, CAPE and CBSA tariff refund guide — Canadian importers and all US importers of record
BREAKING — February 20, 2026: The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, 607 U.S. ___ (2026) that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs. ~$175 billion in IEEPA duties now refundable (~82% via Phase 1 of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)'s CAPE portal, live April 20, 2026) — US filing guide | Canadian CBSA filing guide
Important legal notice: This website provides general information only. It is not legal advice, customs advice, or professional advice of any kind. USMCARefund.com will not be responsible for any loss, damage, denied claim, missed deadline, penalty, fine, or financial consequence of any kind arising from your use of this website or reliance on any information contained herein. Always consult a licensed customs broker or trade attorney before filing any claim.  |  © 2026 USMCARefund.com. All rights reserved. Terms of use  |  Privacy policy

Am I eligible for a refund?

Answer two questions to find your refund route. US filings go to CBP (United States). Canadian filings go to CBSA (Canada).

Legal notice: General information only. Not legal advice, customs advice, or professional advice of any kind. USMCARefund.com will not be responsible for any loss, denied claim, missed deadline, penalty, or financial consequence of any kind arising from use of or reliance on this tool. Tariff laws change frequently. Always verify with a licensed customs broker or trade attorney before filing any claim.

About this tool

A free plain-English guide for any importer of record who paid US IEEPA tariffs — and for Canadian businesses who also have a parallel CBSA drawback claim. Covers the US CAPE portal, the Canadian CBSA drawback process, and USMCA/CUSMA claims.

What is this tool?

USMCARefund.com is a free reference guide for any importer of record who paid US IEEPA tariffs and wants to understand their refund options. The US CAPE portal sections are relevant to importers worldwide. The Canadian CBSA drawback sections are specific to Canadian importers. It covers two separate refund processes that may both apply to Canadian clients:

Important distinction: The US CAPE portal is available to any importer of record worldwide who paid IEEPA tariffs — not only Canadians. A US company, a Mexican company, a European company — all are eligible if they were the IOR. The Canadian CBSA drawback process is a separate additional claim available specifically to Canadian importers.

US side — CAPE portal

Following the US Supreme Court decision in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump (Feb. 20, 2026), US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) launched the CAPE portal on April 20, 2026 to process refunds of IEEPA tariffs. Eligible importers may recover duties paid between February 4, 2025 and February 24, 2026 — with statutory interest.

Canadian side — CBSA drawback

Canadian companies that were the US importer of record may also have a parallel duty drawback claim through the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) using Form K32 via the CARM portal — separate from and in addition to the US CAPE process.

The tool also covers USMCA/CUSMA post-entry claims, CBP protests, duty drawback, deadline calculators, a plain-English glossary of 28 terms, and a complete document checklist for both processes.

Who is it for?

Canadian importers of record
Companies that were the US IOR and paid IEEPA tariffs — eligible for both CAPE and CBSA drawback
US importers of record
US companies that paid IEEPA tariffs between Feb 2025 and Feb 2026 — eligible for CAPE refund
Global importers of record
Any company worldwide that was the US IOR and paid IEEPA tariffs — eligible for CAPE refund
Customs brokers
Licensed brokers who want a plain-English reference to explain refund options to clients
Freight forwarders
Logistics professionals helping clients understand CAPE eligibility and next steps

What does it cover?

⚠ This is a draft version — we need your feedback

This tool is currently in draft form and is being shared with customs brokers and freight forwarders for professional review before public launch. Content is pending verification against primary sources including CBP official guidance, CBSA Memorandum D7-4-3, and current tariff regulations.

We would genuinely value your feedback on the following:

Is the information accurate and consistent with current CBP and CBSA practice?
Is anything missing that your clients regularly ask about?
Is the plain-English explanation clear enough for a non-specialist business owner?
Would you use or recommend this tool to clients? Would you consider licensing it?

Important notices

Not legal advice. This tool provides general information only. It does not constitute legal advice, customs advice, or professional advice of any kind. Always consult a licensed customs broker or trade attorney before filing any claim.

Not affiliated with any government agency. USMCARefund.com is an independent private tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with CBP, CBSA, the US government, or the Government of Canada.

Free to use. This tool is free to use for general information purposes. See our Terms of use and Privacy policy for full details including licensing enquiries.

Need immediate liquidity? Some importers choose not to wait for government processing (which may take months to years depending on Phase 1 or Phase 2 status). Third-party claim purchasers — such as Capital Administration Services (CAS) — offer to purchase your IEEPA refund claim for immediate cash at a discount. This is an alternative to waiting; it involves selling your legal right to the refund in exchange for certainty and speed. USMCARefund.com is not affiliated with CAS or any claim purchaser and does not endorse any specific service. Always review terms carefully before selling a claim.

IEEPA refund estimator

Get a rough estimate of your potential IEEPA tariff refund. This estimator covers Canadian importers of record and US importers of record. For Canadian importers it covers both your potential US CAPE refund and your Canadian CBSA drawback estimate.

Enter the total declared customs value for all entries that paid IEEPA reciprocal tariffs between February 4, 2025 and February 24, 2026.

Interest rate under 19 U.S.C. § 1505(c) — compounded daily from the original entry date.

Used to estimate statutory interest accrued. Interest runs from your original entry date.

How this estimate works

The estimator multiplies your declared customs value by the applicable IEEPA rate for your country, then adds approximate statutory interest at the applicable rate under 19 U.S.C. § 1505(c) for the months you selected. CBP's actual calculation is done per-entry from exact duties paid and exact interest from each entry date — so treat this as a rough ballpark only.

What is NOT included: Section 232 tariffs (steel 50%, aluminum 50%), Section 301 China tariffs, the current 15% Section 122 tariff (imposed Feb 24, 2026 as a replacement for IEEPA — not refundable), USMCA-qualifying entries that paid 0% IEEPA, and de minimis entries. None of those are refundable through CAPE.

Covered IEEPA orders: This estimator covers duties imposed under Executive Orders 14193 (Canada/Mexico fentanyl tariffs), 14194 (China fentanyl tariffs), 14195 (additional Canada/Mexico tariffs), and 14257 (reciprocal tariffs on all countries). All four orders were struck down.

For Canadian importers: If you were the US importer of record, you may also have a separate Canadian CBSA drawback claim. The Canadian estimate shown is subject to the lesser of two duties rule under CUSMA — your actual Canadian refund may be lower.

Important legal notice — read before relying on this estimate

This estimator provides a rough approximation for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice, customs advice, financial advice, or a professional assessment of your claim. The estimate may be materially higher or lower than your actual refund for many reasons including: your specific HTS codes and actual duty rates paid, your exact entry dates and interest calculation, USMCA compliance status, entries that are excluded from Phase 1, compliance flags that CBP may identify during validation, and changes in law or CBP processing rules. USMCARefund.com will not be responsible for any loss, financial decision, or action taken in reliance on this estimate. This estimate does not constitute a binding determination of any kind. Always obtain your actual refund amount from your CBP Form 7501 entry summaries and consult a licensed customs broker or trade attorney before filing any claim or making any financial decision based on a potential refund.

CAPE portal — US-side IEEPA refund filing

Agency reference: All US-side filings are made with CBP — US Customs and Border Protection, a federal agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security. CBP is responsible for collecting US import duties and administering the CAPE refund portal. Website: cbp.gov

On February 20, 2026, the US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, 607 U.S. ___ (2026) — consolidated with Trump v. V.O.S. Selections, Inc.. All IEEPA tariffs collected since February 2025 are now subject to refund. CBP launched the CAPE portal on April 20, 2026 to process claims. If your company was the US importer of record and paid IEEPA tariffs between February 4, 2025 and February 24, 2026, you may be owed a refund with interest. Canadian companies should also review the Canadian CBSA filing tab.

Primary sources — the legal basis for your refund:
Official Supreme Court decision (PDF) — Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, 607 U.S. ___ (Feb. 20, 2026)
Plain-English summary and full opinion — Justia US Supreme Court
Case analysis and background — SCOTUSblog

Time-sensitive — 80-day Phase 1 window is closing

Phase 1 covers unliquidated entries and entries liquidated within the past 80 days. The 80-day limit exists because CBP must process and reliquidate entries within its 90-day voluntary reliquidation window under 19 U.S.C. § 1501. Source: CBP official IEEPA Duty Refunds page.

Important — March 27 CIT order expands coverage: On March 27, 2026 Judge Richard K. Eaton of the US Court of International Trade issued an amended order in Atmus Filtration, Inc. v. United States (Court No. 26-01259) — later re-issued in Euro-Notions v. United States — directing CBP to reliquidate all IEEPA entries including finally liquidated entries whose 180-day protest window has expired. This means importers with entries beyond Phase 1 may NOT need to file a protest to preserve their rights — however this order is subject to appeal and Phase 2 has no announced date. The legal mandate exists but the operational timeline is uncertain. See the warning section below and consult a customs attorney promptly.

Entries outside the 80-day window: Excluded from Phase 1. Phase 2 will cover these under the court mandate — but has no announced date. If your entries are outside the window, see the warning below.

Who can file — and who cannot

The filing rules are strict in both the US and Canada. Read this before taking any action. There are no exceptions.

United States — CAPE Declaration filed with CBP (US Customs and Border Protection)

Role Can file CAPE Declaration Can receive refund
Importer of Record (IOR) — filing directly Yes — directly through ACE portal Yes — via ACH to US-dollar bank account
Licensed customs broker who originally filed the specific entries Yes — with written power of attorney from IOR Refund paid to IOR unless IOR designates otherwise via CBP Form 4811
A different broker, consultant, or agent not the original filer No — even with a power of attorney Yes — only if designated as notify party via CBP Form 4811
Trade attorney, accountant, or other advisor No — unless also the licensed broker who originally filed the entries No

Canada — Drawback claim (Form K32) filed with CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency)

Role Can file CBSA Form K32 Can receive refund
Importer of Record (IOR) — filing directly via CARM portal Yes — directly through CARM portal Yes — via CBSA refund to registered account
Any licensed Canadian customs broker — not restricted to original filer Yes — any licensed broker with written authorization, not limited to original filer Refund directed to IOR
Trade consultant or authorized agent with written authorization Yes — with written authorization from IOR Refund directed to IOR
Trade attorney or accountant Yes — if authorized in writing by IOR Refund directed to IOR
Multiple eligible claimants Only one claimant can file — all others must provide written waivers first Only the filing claimant
Key difference between US and Canada: On the US side (CAPE), only the original filing broker can act for you — a newly hired broker or consultant cannot file even with a power of attorney. On the Canadian side (CBSA drawback), any licensed customs broker or authorized agent can file on your behalf — you are not locked into your original broker.

Can I file directly without a broker?

United States (CAPE): Yes — the IOR can file directly through the ACE portal without any broker involvement. The filing is a CSV file upload. It requires an ACE account, ACH bank enrollment, and a list of entry numbers. This tool guides you through every step. No broker required.

Canada (CBSA drawback): Yes — the IOR can file directly through the CARM portal using Form K32. Any licensed Canadian customs broker or authorized agent can also file on your behalf — you are not restricted to your original broker.

Bottom line: Both processes can be completed directly by the business owner without a broker. This tool is designed to help you do exactly that.
Total IEEPA duties collected
~$175B
Phase 1 CAPE-eligible (~82%)
~$144B+interest
Eligible importers
330,000+
Total IEEPA entries
53M+
Portal opened
Apr 20, 2026
First refunds issued
~May 11, 2026
Still-open entries (unliquidated)
~45 days
Time for CBP to finalize & pay after CAPE accepted
Already-closed entries (liquidated)
Next business day
CBP re-opens & adjusts the entry, then pays within 60–90 days
Refund payment
60–90 days
Interest rate
6–7% p.a.
Mar 27 CIT order
All entries covered
Court case overseeing refunds
Euro-Notions v. US
The Court of International Trade case that directs CBP to issue all IEEPA refunds
Note on refund figures: Total IEEPA duties collected across all Executive Orders (14193, 14194, 14195, and 14257) are estimated at ~$175 billion across 53M+ entries from 330,000+ importers (CBP / Cato Institute, 2026). Phase 1 CAPE covers unliquidated entries and entries liquidated within 80 days — approximately 82% of eligible entries per CBP. The remaining ~18% (older liquidated entries) await Phase 2 or CIT action.

What is and is not covered

Covered by CAPE refund

  • 25% IEEPA tariff on Canadian/Mexican goods (Feb 4 – Mar 6, 2025)
  • 10% baseline IEEPA tariff on all countries (Apr 5, 2025 – Feb 24, 2026)
  • CUSMA-compliant goods that were incorrectly charged

NOT covered — remains in force

What if my entries are outside the 80-day Phase 1 window?

If your entries were liquidated more than 80 days ago they are excluded from CAPE Phase 1. This affects approximately 37% of all IEEPA-affected entries. Phase 2 will cover these — but has no announced date.

March 27, 2026 CIT order — significant development: On March 27, 2026, Senior Judge Richard K. Eaton of the US Court of International Trade issued an amended order in Atmus Filtration, Inc. v. United States — later re-issued as Euro-Notions v. United States — directing CBP to reliquidate ALL IEEPA entries including finally liquidated entries whose 180-day protest window has already expired. This means importers with entries beyond the protest deadline may still be entitled to refunds under the court order — without needing to file a protest. Greenberg Traurig analysis | Thompson Hines analysis
Important caution — three things to understand:
1. The March 27 order is currently suspended as to immediate compliance — CBP is not required to act at once and Phase 1 does not yet include finally liquidated entries
2. The order is subject to appeal — if overturned, importers without active CIT cases or valid protests may lose their right to refund
3. CBP itself has advised that entries beyond the protest window should consider filing a protective 1581(i) action in the CIT to preserve their rights while Phase 2 is developed
Three options for entries outside Phase 1 — ranked by urgency:

Option 1 — File a CBP protest (if still within 180 days of liquidation)
File CBP Form 19 under 19 U.S.C. § 1514 within 180 days of the liquidation date. This preserves your rights through the administrative process regardless of what happens with the CIT order. Use the Deadline Calculator to check if this window is still open.

Option 2 — File a protective CIT action under 28 U.S.C. § 1581(i)
If the 180-day protest window has expired, consult a licensed customs broker or trade counsel about filing a summons and complaint in the Court of International Trade. This is the fallback if protest is no longer available and preserves your rights under the court order.

Option 3 — Monitor and wait for Phase 2
If the March 27 court order stands — which it may well do — finally liquidated entries will be refunded through Phase 2 without any further action. However this is legally uncertain and Phase 2 has no announced date. Waiting without preserving your rights is a risk.
Bottom line: The March 27 order is good news — it potentially extends refund coverage to all IEEPA entries regardless of liquidation status. But it is not yet operational, it is subject to appeal, and prudent importers should still preserve their legal rights through protest or CIT action where possible. This is an evolving legal situation — consult a licensed customs broker before relying on this order alone.
Example of the risk:
Entry liquidated: October 1, 2025
Too old for CAPE Phase 1: Yes — more than 80 days past liquidation
CBP protest deadline (180 days): March 30, 2026 — already passed

Entry liquidated: February 1, 2026
Too old for CAPE Phase 1: Yes — more than 80 days past liquidation
CBP protest deadline (180 days): August 1, 2026 — still open — act now

Sources: CBP official IEEPA Duty Refunds page | 19 U.S.C. § 1514 — CBP protest authority | 19 U.S.C. § 1501 — voluntary reliquidation (basis for 80-day rule)

⚠ Critical warnings before you file — read this first

CBP sorts by data quality — not order received. Clean data (HTS codes, values, quantities matching original 7501 exactly) gets paid in 60–90 days. Messy data goes to manual review — slower and opens audit exposure.
Run the ES-003 report first. In ACE Reports, run ES-003 to identify all IEEPA entries. Sort by liquidation date — oldest entries first. Late-January 2026 entries may be aging out of Phase 1 right now.
Reconcile HTS codes before filing. If you changed an HTS code after the original entry and did not reconcile back to the original 7501, you will get "Unable to calculate duty." Fix variances before filing — not after.
~79% non-acceptance rate (as of early May 2026). Judge Eaton reported that CBP has accepted roughly 21% of IEEPA duty refund requests, with 3% already in the refund stage. Top causes of rejection: "Unable to calculate duty," duplicate tax ID, bad ACH enrollment, wrong CSV format, ineligible entries, portal access issues. Source: CIT Judge Eaton filing, May 2026; CBS News reporting May 1, 2026.
No amendments once accepted. A CAPE Declaration cannot be amended for any reason once CBP accepts it. Missing entries? File a new declaration. One ineligible entry can damage your claim.
Not sure whether to file? Consult a licensed customs broker or attorney if you cannot decide — filing deadlines are strict and missing them may permanently forfeit your right to a refund.

US CAPE filing steps — click to expand


ACE Portal account
Importer sub-account required. Register via CBP Form 5106.
ACH bank enrollment
US-dollar account enrolled in ACH. CBP issues no paper checks.
Entry number list
All IEEPA-paid entries Apr 2025 – Feb 2026 from broker or ACE.
CAPE CSV template
Download from ACE portal. One column of entry numbers. Max 9,999.
Power of attorney — CBP Form 5291 | sample text (eCFR)
Written authorization required if your original customs broker is filing on your behalf. A new broker cannot file even with a POA. Use CBP Form 5291 or a general POA meeting the requirements of 19 C.F.R. § 141.32.
Entry summaries proving IEEPA duties were paid.
File CAPE refund — CBP IEEPA page    Official CBP CAPE guidance
Canadian companies: Filing through US CAPE recovers duties paid to CBP. You may also have a separate parallel claim through CBSA on the Canadian side. See the Canadian CBSA filing tab for the full process.

Legal notice: Information based on the Supreme Court's decision in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, 607 U.S. ___ (Feb. 20, 2026) and official CBP guidance as of April 30, 2026. CAPE rules are evolving rapidly — always verify current rules with CBP's official CAPE page or a licensed customs broker before filing. This is general information only, not legal advice. USMCARefund.com will not be responsible for any loss, denied claim, missed deadline, penalty, fine, or financial consequence of any kind arising from use of or reliance on this information.

Canadian CBSA drawback filing

Agency reference: All Canadian-side filings are made with CBSA — Canada Border Services Agency, a federal agency of the Government of Canada. CBSA is responsible for administering Canadian customs, collecting Canadian import duties, and processing Canadian duty drawback claims. Website: cbsa-asfc.gc.ca

Following the Supreme Court's decision in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, 607 U.S. ___ (Feb. 20, 2026), Canadian companies that paid US IEEPA tariffs may have a parallel refund claim on the Canadian side through CBSA's duty drawback program — separate from the US CAPE process. Both processes may apply to your situation.

Two separate processes — both may apply to you

The US CAPE portal recovers duties paid to US CBP (US Customs and Border Protection). The Canadian CBSA drawback process recovers duties on the Canadian side. They are independent — filing one does not replace the other. Canadian companies that were the importer of record should review both.

For a full comparison of who can and cannot file in both countries — including the critical difference between US and Canadian filing rules — see the CAPE tab — Who can file section.

Your company was the Importer of Record (IOR) — legally responsible for the import and payment of duties to US CBP
Goods were imported into the US between February 4, 2025 and February 24, 2026
You paid IEEPA tariffs — NOT Section 232 steel, aluminum, or copper tariffs
Your goods qualify as CUSMA-compliant under USMCA rules of origin
You have or can obtain documentation proving tariff payment and CUSMA compliance
Not eligible: Steel and aluminum (Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended — 19 U.S.C. § 1862 — no CUSMA exemption), copper (Section 232), buses (separate 10% tariff), and the non-US-content portion of auto tariffs
A
Wholly obtained or produced in CUSMA territory
Minerals, crops, animals born and raised entirely in Canada, US, or Mexico
Goods must be entirely obtained or produced within the CUSMA territory with no non-CUSMA inputs. Examples include Canadian-harvested agricultural products, Canadian-mined minerals, and animals born and raised in Canada.
B
Produced entirely in CUSMA territory using only originating materials
No non-CUSMA inputs used in production
Goods produced entirely within Canada, the US, or Mexico using only materials that themselves originate in the CUSMA territory. Every component must have CUSMA origin — no foreign inputs permitted.
C
Tariff classification change (tariff shift)
Produced in CUSMA territory — non-originating materials changed HTS classification
Goods produced in the CUSMA territory that satisfy the applicable chapter rule — meaning non-originating (foreign) materials used in production have undergone a tariff classification change to a different HTS chapter, heading, or subheading as specified in the product-specific rules of CUSMA. This is the most common origin criterion for manufactured goods.
D
Regional Value Content (RVC)
Typically 60% using Transaction Value or 50% using Net Cost method
  • Goods produced in the CUSMA territory that satisfy a minimum regional value content threshold
  • Transaction Value method: typically 60% of the transaction value must be CUSMA-origin content
  • Net Cost method: typically 50% of the net cost must be CUSMA-origin content
  • The applicable percentage varies by product — check the product-specific rule in the CUSMA text
  • Automotive goods have separate and higher RVC requirements (75%)
E
Automatic data processing goods
Applies exclusively to certain Chapter 84 goods
This criterion applies exclusively to certain automatic data processing goods and their parts classified under HTS Chapter 84. Goods must be produced entirely in the CUSMA territory. Check the CUSMA text for the specific list of eligible goods under this criterion.
Low-value goods: For goods with a value for duty under CAD $3,300, CBSA does not require a formal certification of origin — a simpler declaration may suffice.

You cannot claim more than the lesser of two amounts

CUSMA imposes a "lesser of two duties" limitation on drawback claims for goods exported between CUSMA countries. Your refund is limited to whichever is smaller:

Amount A
Canadian duties paid on the goods when imported into Canada
Amount B
US customs duties (including IEEPA tariffs) paid when goods entered the United States

Convert US duty amounts to Canadian dollars before comparing. See CBSA Memorandum D7-4-3 Appendix A for calculation examples.

Exception: If your goods are of CUSMA, US, or Mexico origin (not third-country goods), the lesser of two duties limitation does NOT apply and full relief may be available.

Part A — Proof of US tariff payment

Part B — Proof of CUSMA origin

Part C — Canadian import documentation

Part D — Commercial documentation

Part E — Drawback claim forms

Part F — Vehicles only (if applicable)


Canadian CBSA filing steps — click to expand


Drawback filing deadline
4 years from CBSA release date
CBSA processing time
90 calendar days
Origin doc validity
Must be within 2 years of issue
Record retention (Canada)
6 years from import date

CBSA Drawback Portal (CARM)
cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/drawback — submit Form K32 here
Drawback claim form — download PDF
Certificate of Destruction/Exportation — required if goods were destroyed
CBSA Memo D7-4-3
CUSMA requirements for duty drawback and duties relief programs
CBSA Drawback Program
Canada Tariff Finder
canada.ca tariff finder — HS codes and duty rates
File drawback — CBSA page

Legal notice: Information based on publicly available CBSA guidance and CUSMA provisions as of April 30, 2026. Rules are changing rapidly — always verify with CBSA or a licensed Canadian customs broker before filing. This is general information only, not legal advice. USMCARefund.com will not be responsible for any loss, denied claim, missed deadline, penalty, fine, or financial consequence of any kind arising from use of or reliance on this information.

Deadline calculator

Enter your key date to see how long you have left to file. US deadlines are set by CBP. Canadian deadlines are set by CBSA.

Important legal notice

Deadline calculations are estimates based on general rules only. Actual deadlines depend on the specific facts of your entry, CBP or CBSA processing dates, and applicable exceptions. USMCARefund.com will not be responsible for any loss, missed deadline, or forfeited refund arising from reliance on these calculations. Confirm your actual deadline directly with CBP, CBSA, or a licensed customs broker before acting.

Legal notice: Deadline calculations are estimates only and may not reflect your specific entry dates, CBP or CBSA processing timelines, or applicable exceptions. Missing a filing deadline may permanently and irrevocably forfeit your right to a refund. USMCARefund.com will not be responsible for any loss, missed deadline, or forfeited refund of any kind. Always confirm your deadline with CBP, CBSA, or a licensed customs broker before acting.

US-Canada product lookup

Check approximate CUSMA/USMCA tariff treatment and refund likelihood for your product category. Tariffs are collected by CBP on the US side and CBSA on the Canadian side.

Important legal notice

Tariff rates and rules shown are approximate and for general guidance only. Actual rates depend on the specific HTS code, country of origin, current trade policy, and applicable agreements. Rates and rules change frequently and without notice. USMCARefund.com will not be responsible for any loss or financial consequence arising from reliance on this information. Always verify with the official USITC HTS database and a licensed customs broker.

Legal notice: Rates and rules are approximate estimates for general guidance only. USMCARefund.com will not be responsible for any loss or financial consequence arising from reliance on this information. Verify with the USITC HTS database and a licensed customs broker before making any business or filing decisions.

How to claim — overview

Agency reference: US-side filings go to CBP — US Customs and Border Protection (cbp.gov). Canadian-side filings go to CBSA — Canada Border Services Agency (cbsa-asfc.gc.ca). These are two separate government agencies in two separate countries.

For IEEPA refunds use the CAPE tab (US) and Canadian CBSA tab (Canada). These steps cover standard USMCA post-entry claims, drawback, and CBP protests.

Important legal notice

The steps below are general guidance only and do not constitute legal advice, customs advice, or professional advice of any kind. Filing requirements vary by situation. Errors in filing can result in denial of your claim, penalties, or forfeiture of your right to a refund. USMCARefund.com will not be responsible for any loss, denied claim, missed deadline, penalty, or financial consequence of any kind arising from use of or reliance on this information. Always engage a licensed customs broker or trade attorney before filing.


Documents typically needed

USMCA/CUSMA certificate of origin
Certifies goods meet CUSMA rules of origin — criteria A through E
US entry summary with liquidation date and duties paid
Commercial invoice
Value, description, and origin of goods
Bill of lading
Proof of shipment from Canada
HTS classification
Correct harmonized tariff code for your product
Canadian drawback claim form — filed via CARM portal

Get help with your situation

Submit your question below and we will respond by email within 1 to 2 business days. Please provide as much detail as possible about your situation.

Ask a question

Describe your situation — what you imported, the dates, whether you were the importer of record, the country of origin, and what happened. We will point you in the right direction.

What to include in your message

The more detail you provide, the more useful our response will be. If relevant, include:

  • Whether your company was the US importer of record
  • The approximate date(s) of importation
  • The country of origin of the goods
  • The type of goods imported and the approximate value
  • Whether you have a USMCA/CUSMA certificate of origin
  • Whether you have access to your CBP Form 7501 entry summaries
  • Whether you have a US-dollar bank account enrolled in ACH
  • Whether you used a customs broker and if so whether they were the original filer

Legal notice: Responses to submitted questions are general information only. They do not constitute legal advice, customs advice, or professional advice of any kind. No attorney-client, solicitor-client, broker-client, or other professional relationship is created by submitting a question or receiving a response. USMCARefund.com will not be responsible for any loss, denied claim, missed deadline, penalty, fine, or financial consequence of any kind arising from use of or reliance on any response provided. Always consult a licensed customs broker or trade attorney before filing any claim.

Plain-English glossary

Key terms used in US-Canada tariff refund claims — explained in plain language. US filings involve CBP (US Customs and Border Protection). Canadian filings involve CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency). Click any term to expand the definition.

Legal notice: Definitions are plain-language summaries for general information only. They do not constitute legal definitions, legal advice, or professional advice of any kind. USMCARefund.com will not be responsible for any loss or financial consequence arising from reliance on these definitions. For precise legal definitions consult the applicable statute, CBP regulations, CBSA regulations, or a licensed customs broker or trade attorney.

Disclaimer & liability notice

Please read this carefully and in full before using this website. By using this website you agree to be bound by these terms.

1. General information only — not legal advice

USMCARefund.com provides general educational information about US-Canada tariff refund processes including USMCA/CUSMA claims, IEEPA/CAPE refunds, and CBSA drawback claims. All content on this website — including but not limited to the eligibility checker, deadline calculator, product lookup, CAPE filing guide, Canadian CBSA filing guide, who can file tables, how-to steps, glossary definitions, and any responses to submitted questions — is provided for general informational purposes only.

Nothing on this website constitutes legal advice, regulatory advice, customs advice, tax advice, financial advice, or professional advice of any kind. Nothing on this website should be relied upon as a substitute for advice from a licensed customs broker, trade attorney, or other qualified professional.

No attorney-client relationship, solicitor-client relationship, broker-client relationship, or professional relationship of any kind is created by your use of this website, your submission of a question, or your receipt of any response.

2. No liability — USMCARefund.com will not be responsible for any loss

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, USMCARefund.com, its owners, operators, authors, contributors, and affiliates expressly disclaim all liability and will not be responsible for any loss, damage, cost, or expense of any kind, whether direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, or otherwise, arising from or in connection with:

  • Your use of or reliance on any information, tool, calculator, guide, or content on this website
  • Any denied refund claim through CAPE, CBSA drawback, CBP protest, or any other mechanism
  • Any missed filing deadline including the CAPE 80-day Phase 1 window, the CBSA 4-year window, or any CBP protest deadline
  • Any permanently forfeited right to a refund resulting from a missed deadline
  • Any penalty, fine, additional duty, or enforcement action arising from actions taken based on this website
  • Any error, omission, inaccuracy, or out-of-date information contained on this website
  • Any change in tariff law, CUSMA/USMCA provisions, IEEPA rules, CBP regulations, CBSA regulations, or court orders
  • Any failure of the CAPE portal, CARM portal, ACE portal, or any government system
  • Any financial loss of any nature or amount resulting from use of this website
  • Any action taken or not taken as a result of information obtained from this website

You use this website entirely at your own risk. USMCARefund.com provides this information as-is, with no warranties, representations, or guarantees of any kind, express or implied.

3. Information may be incomplete, inaccurate, or out of date

Tariff law, trade policy, IEEPA regulations, CAPE rules, CBSA drawback rules, and customs regulations are changing rapidly in 2026. Information on this website may not reflect the most current rules, rates, deadlines, or procedures. USMCARefund.com makes no representation that information on this website is current, complete, or accurate.

Always verify information with primary official sources including CBP's official CAPE page, the CBSA drawback program page, the USITC HTS database, and the Supreme Court decision in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, 607 U.S. ___ (2026).

4. Always consult a licensed professional before filing

For any tariff refund claim — especially CAPE IEEPA refunds, CBSA drawback claims, or high-value USMCA claims — always engage a qualified professional before filing including:

  • A licensed US customs broker (licensed by CBP — verify at cbp.gov)
  • A licensed Canadian customs broker (licensed by CBSA — verify at cbsa-asfc.gc.ca)
  • A trade attorney specializing in US and Canadian customs and import law
  • A freight forwarder experienced in IEEPA and USMCA compliance

5. Third-party links

This website contains links to third-party websites including government portals, official databases, and legal reference tools. USMCARefund.com does not control these websites and is not responsible for their content, accuracy, availability, or any changes to them. Links are provided for convenience only and do not constitute an endorsement.

6. Acceptance of these terms

By accessing and using this website you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to this disclaimer in full. You acknowledge that:

  • You are using this website for general information purposes only
  • You will not rely on this website as a substitute for professional legal or customs advice
  • USMCARefund.com will not be responsible for any loss or consequence arising from your use of this website
  • You will consult a licensed customs broker or trade attorney before filing any claim

If you do not agree to these terms, do not use this website.

Last updated: May 1, 2026. Contact: info@usmcarefund.com

Terms of use

Please read these terms carefully. By accessing or using this website you agree to be bound by them in full.

1. Ownership and copyright

This website and all of its contents — including but not limited to all text, guides, explanations, checklists, glossary definitions, tool functionality, layout, design, code, and any other material — are the exclusive property of USMCARefund.com and are protected by copyright under the Canadian Copyright Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-42, the United States Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq., the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, and all other applicable national and international intellectual property laws.

Copyright © 2026 USMCARefund.com. All rights reserved.

The compilation of all content on this website constitutes an original work of authorship and is protected as such. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of any content on this website is prohibited and may result in civil and criminal penalties.

2. What you may not do

Without the prior written permission of USMCARefund.com, you may not:

  • Copy, reproduce, duplicate, or replicate any content from this website in whole or in part
  • View the source code of this website and copy, adapt, or reproduce that code for any purpose
  • Republish, redistribute, or retransmit any content from this website in any form or by any means
  • Sell, sublicense, or commercially exploit any content from this website
  • Incorporate any content from this website into any other website, application, product, or service
  • Create derivative works based on any content from this website
  • Frame or mirror any content from this website on any other website or platform
  • Scrape, crawl, or systematically extract content from this website by automated means
  • Remove, alter, or obscure any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notice on this website
  • Use any content from this website for any commercial purpose without written permission

These restrictions apply to all content including text, guides, checklists, glossary definitions, tables, procedural steps, and the underlying code.

3. What you may do

You may:

  • Access and use this website for your own personal or internal business information purposes
  • Share a link to this website with others
  • Print a single copy of any page for your own personal non-commercial reference
  • Quote brief passages for the purposes of commentary, criticism, or review, provided you clearly attribute the source as USMCARefund.com

4. Licensing and commercial use

If you are a business — including a customs broker, freight forwarder, law firm, trade association, logistics company, or any other commercial entity — and you wish to:

  • White-label or embed this tool for your clients
  • Reproduce any content for commercial distribution
  • Licence the content or code for use in your own products or services
  • Use this tool as the basis for a paid product or service

You must obtain a written licence from USMCARefund.com before doing so. Licensing enquiries are welcome. Contact: info@usmcarefund.com

5. Trademarks

USMCARefund.com is a trading name used by the owner of this website. Nothing on this website grants any licence to use this name or any associated branding. All third-party names, trademarks, and logos referenced on this website — including USMCA, CUSMA, CBP, CBSA, ACE, CARM, and all government program names — are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification purposes only.

6. Enforcement

USMCARefund.com actively monitors for unauthorized copying and reproduction of its content. Infringement of these terms may result in:

  • A formal cease and desist notice
  • A claim for copyright infringement under applicable Canadian and/or US law
  • A claim for damages including statutory damages and legal costs
  • Any other remedy available at law or in equity

To report unauthorized use of our content or to request permission for use, contact: info@usmcarefund.com

7. Governing law

These terms of use are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any dispute arising from these terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Province of Ontario.

8. Changes to these terms

USMCARefund.com reserves the right to update or modify these terms at any time without prior notice. Your continued use of this website following any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised terms. The date of last update is shown below.

9. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the total aggregate liability of USMCARefund.com to any user for any claim arising out of or relating to these terms or use of this website — whether in contract, tort, negligence, or otherwise — shall not exceed the greater of:

  • CAD $100.00; or
  • The total amount, if any, paid by you to USMCARefund.com in the twelve months preceding the claim

In no event shall USMCARefund.com be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages of any kind, including but not limited to loss of profits, loss of revenue, loss of data, loss of business opportunity, or loss of a tariff refund claim, even if USMCARefund.com has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages. In such jurisdictions, our liability shall be limited to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless USMCARefund.com and its owners, operators, authors, contributors, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or relating to:

  • Your use of or access to this website
  • Your reliance on any information contained on this website
  • Any tariff refund claim you file or fail to file based on information from this website
  • Your violation of these terms of use
  • Your violation of any applicable law or regulation
  • Any third-party claim arising from your use of this website

11. Force majeure

USMCARefund.com shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance of its obligations under these terms, or for any inaccuracy, incompleteness, or out-of-date information on this website, arising from causes beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to:

  • Changes in tariff law, trade policy, or customs regulations made by the US or Canadian government
  • Court orders modifying or reversing the Supreme Court decision in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump
  • Failure or unavailability of government portals including CBP ACE, CBSA CARM, or any official US or Canadian government system
  • Changes to the CAPE portal, Phase 1 or Phase 2 eligibility rules, or filing requirements made by CBP
  • Acts of God, natural disasters, pandemics, war, or other events outside our control
  • Internet or telecommunications failures outside our control

In such circumstances USMCARefund.com will use reasonable efforts to update information on this website as soon as practicable but shall not be liable for any loss arising from any delay in doing so.

12. No waiver

No failure or delay by USMCARefund.com in exercising any right, power, or remedy under these terms shall operate as a waiver of that right, power, or remedy. No single or partial exercise of any right, power, or remedy shall preclude any other or further exercise of it or the exercise of any other right, power, or remedy. A waiver of any breach of these terms shall not be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same or any other provision.

13. Severability

If any provision of these terms is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, that provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, or if modification is not possible, it shall be severed from these terms. The remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

14. Entire agreement

These terms of use, together with the disclaimer and privacy policy published on this website, constitute the entire agreement between you and USMCARefund.com with respect to your use of this website and supersede all prior agreements, understandings, and representations relating to the same subject matter.

15. Acceptance

By accessing or using this website you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these terms of use in full. If you do not agree to these terms, you must immediately cease using this website.

Last updated: May 1, 2026. © 2026 USMCARefund.com. All rights reserved. Contact: info@usmcarefund.com

Privacy policy

This privacy policy explains how USMCARefund.com collects, uses, stores, and protects your personal information in accordance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), R.S.C. 2000, c. 5 and applicable Canadian privacy law.

1. Who we are

USMCARefund.com is operated from Ontario, Canada. We are subject to PIPEDA and the privacy laws of the Province of Ontario. For privacy enquiries, contact us at info@usmcarefund.com.

The owner of this website is designated as the individual accountable for PIPEDA compliance as required under PIPEDA's accountability principle.

2. What personal information we collect

We collect only the minimum personal information necessary to operate this website. We collect:

  • Contact form submissions: When you submit a question through our Get Help tab, we collect your name, email address, and the content of your message
  • Acceptance gate records: When you accept our terms of use, a timestamp of your acceptance is stored in your browser's local storage and session storage — this data remains on your device only and is not transmitted to us
  • Usage data: This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymised information about how visitors use the site — including pages visited, time spent, and general location by country. This data helps us improve the tool. Google Analytics uses cookies. You will be asked for your consent before any analytics cookies are set. You may withdraw consent at any time by clicking the cookie settings link in the footer.

We do not collect financial information, government identification numbers, import entry data, or any sensitive personal information through this website. We do not create user accounts. We do not use tracking cookies at this time.

3. Why we collect it — identifying purposes

We collect personal information only for the following specific purposes, identified at the time of collection:

  • Name and email address: To respond to your enquiry submitted through our contact form. We do not use your email address for marketing without your explicit consent.
  • Message content: To understand your situation and provide a relevant general information response
  • Acceptance timestamp: To maintain a record that you agreed to our terms of use — stored locally on your device only

4. How we collect it — consent

We collect personal information only with your knowledge and consent:

  • Contact form submissions are voluntary — you choose to provide your name, email, and message
  • Before submitting the contact form, you must check a box acknowledging that responses are general information only and not legal advice
  • Before accessing the website, you must complete our acceptance gate confirming your agreement to our terms — this constitutes your consent to the collection described in this policy

5. How we use and disclose your information

We use your personal information only for the purposes identified above. We do not:

  • Sell your personal information to any third party
  • Share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes
  • Use your personal information for automated decision-making or profiling
  • Transfer your personal information outside Canada except as described below

We may disclose your personal information only in the following limited circumstances:

  • Email service providers: Your name and email address pass through our email service (currently Cloudflare Email Routing which forwards to our personal inbox). Cloudflare's privacy policy applies to this transmission.
  • Legal requirement: If required by applicable law, court order, or lawful government authority
  • Protection of rights: If necessary to protect the legal rights of USMCARefund.com

6. How long we keep it — retention

Contact form submissions received by email are retained only as long as necessary to respond to your enquiry and for a reasonable period thereafter for record-keeping purposes — typically no longer than two years. We do not maintain a separate database of contact form submissions. Your information is not used after the purpose for which it was collected has been fulfilled.

7. How we protect it — safeguards

We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, copying, modification, or disposal including:

  • This website is served over HTTPS with TLS encryption provided by Cloudflare
  • Email communications are transmitted through Cloudflare's secure email routing infrastructure
  • We do not store personal information in any database or third-party CRM system at this time

8. Data breach notification

In the event of a breach of security safeguards involving your personal information that poses a real risk of significant harm to you, we will notify you and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada as required under PIPEDA and its Breach of Security Safeguards Regulations (SOR/2018-64) as soon as feasible. We maintain a record of all security breaches as required by law.

9. Your rights under PIPEDA

Under PIPEDA you have the following rights with respect to your personal information held by USMCARefund.com:

  • Right of access: You may request access to any personal information we hold about you
  • Right of correction: You may request correction of inaccurate personal information
  • Right to withdraw consent: You may withdraw consent to the collection and use of your personal information at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions
  • Right to challenge: You may challenge our compliance with PIPEDA by contacting us

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@usmcarefund.com. We will respond within 30 days as required by PIPEDA. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada at priv.gc.ca.

10. Third-party links

This website contains links to third-party government websites including cbp.gov, cbsa-asfc.gc.ca, cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/trade-remedies/ieepa-duty-refunds, cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/drawback, supremecourt.gov, hts.usitc.gov, and law.cornell.edu. These websites have their own privacy policies which we do not control and for which we bear no responsibility. We recommend reviewing their privacy policies before providing any personal information to those sites.

11. Cookies and analytics

This website uses two categories of cookies:

  • Strictly necessary cookies: Set by Cloudflare for website security and performance. These do not track personal browsing behaviour and do not require your consent under applicable law.
  • Analytics cookies (Google Analytics): We use Google Analytics to collect anonymised information about how visitors use this website — including pages visited, time spent on each page, and general location by country. This helps us understand what is useful and improve the tool. These cookies are only set after you give your explicit consent via the cookie notice. You may withdraw consent at any time by clicking the cookie settings link in the footer.

Google Analytics data is processed by Google LLC in accordance with Google's privacy policy. We have configured Google Analytics with IP anonymisation enabled — your full IP address is never stored. We do not use Google Analytics advertising features, remarketing, or cross-site tracking.

For information about how Google processes data see Google's privacy policy and Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.

For information about Cloudflare's data practices see Cloudflare's privacy policy.

12. Children and minors

This website is intended for use by adults engaged in commercial import and export activities. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under the age of 18. If you believe a minor has submitted personal information through this website, please contact us at info@usmcarefund.com and we will delete it promptly.

13. Changes to this privacy policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. We will post the updated policy on this page with a revised last updated date. Your continued use of this website after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy. We recommend checking this page periodically.

14. Contact and complaints

For any privacy enquiry, access request, or complaint regarding our handling of your personal information, contact our designated privacy officer at:

USMCARefund.com

Email: info@usmcarefund.com

If you are not satisfied with our response you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: priv.gc.ca/en/report-a-concern

Governing law

This privacy policy is governed by the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), R.S.C. 2000, c. 5, and the laws of the Province of Ontario and Canada applicable therein.

Last updated: May 1, 2026. © 2026 USMCARefund.com. All rights reserved. Contact: info@usmcarefund.com