Question 1

Why does the calculator show a range instead of an exact number?

Accepted Answer

The calculator uses weighted-average IEEPA rates by country and a simplified interest model. Your actual refund depends on the specific HTS codes on each entry, the exact entry dates, and whether entries are CAPE-eligible. The ±25% range accounts for this variation. To get exact numbers per entry, upload your ES-003 to the audit tool.

Question 2

What is the §1505 interest included in the estimate?

Accepted Answer

Under 19 U.S.C. §1505(b) and 26 U.S.C. §6622(a), CBP pays compound interest on refunded duties from the date duties were paid. The current IRS underpayment rate is 6% annually for non-corporations and 5% for corporations (Q2 2026). Interest accrues daily from your entry date to the date of reliquidation. For entries filed in early 2025, this adds roughly 8–12% on top of the base refund.

Question 3

Why is China (Apr–May 2025) listed separately?

Accepted Answer

HTS code 9903.01.63 carried a 125% reciprocal tariff rate — but only for goods that entered between April 10 and May 13, 2025 (the Liberation Day window). Outside that window, the China rate is 10–20% depending on the specific code. If most of your China imports shipped during that 34-day period, select the Apr–May option for a more accurate estimate. Source: EO 14257 (as amended April 9, 2025).

Question 4

Corporation vs LLC — why does the entity type change the estimate?

Accepted Answer

The IRS sets different interest rates for corporations and non-corporations under IRC §6621. In Q2 2026, non-corporations (LLCs, sole proprietors, partnerships) earn 6% annually; corporations earn 5%. Corporations with refunds over $10,000 receive a reduced rate of 3.5% on the portion of the overpayment exceeding $10,000. The difference compounds over 12–18 months and can be meaningful on large refunds.

Question 5

How accurate is this estimate compared to the actual refund?

Accepted Answer

The estimate is a directional number — useful for deciding whether to act, not for accounting. It uses country-level average rates and does not know which specific HTS codes your entries use, whether some entries are ineligible (over 80 days liquidated, Type 09, drawback, AD/CVD), or your exact entry dates. Upload your ES-003 for a per-entry breakdown with exact eligibility and refund amounts.

Question 6

Should I file CAPE myself or hire a customs broker?

Accepted Answer

For most importers with a working ACE account, CAPE is straightforward enough to file without a broker — experienced importers describe it as easy if you are familiar with ACE reports. The calculator gives you a rough estimate; if the number is meaningful relative to broker fees (typically $5–15 per entry or 5–15% of the refund), filing yourself makes sense. A broker adds value when you have a large number of entries, entries near liquidation cutoffs that need protest filings first, or entries with HTS issues needing PSC corrections before CAPE. The main risk of DIY is submitting entries with errors that lock PSC permanently — which is exactly what the audit tool checks before you file.

Question 7

I paid duties but I'm not the Importer of Record — can I still get a refund?

Accepted Answer

Probably not directly. The IEEPA refund goes to whoever is listed as the Importer of Record on your CBP Form CF-7501 — not to whoever actually paid the duties. Under DDP shipping terms, your supplier or their freight forwarder is typically the IOR, which means the refund legally belongs to them. Your options: negotiate a written passthrough agreement with the IOR before they file CAPE; or ask them to set up Form 4811 designating your bank account as the refund recipient. Check your CF-7501 to confirm who is listed as IOR — it may be FedEx Logistics, your freight forwarder, or your supplier depending on how the shipment was arranged.

IEEPA Refund Calculator

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