The eligibility checker at tariffrefundchecker.com and the Impact Assessment at tariffresolution.com are designed to work together — but they answer fundamentally different questions. Understanding the distinction prevents wasted effort and ensures importers move through the recovery process efficiently.
What the screening tool does
The eligibility checker evaluates four binary criteria: Are you the importer of record? Did you import from affected countries? Do your entries likely include IEEPA HTS codes under headings 9903.01 or 9903.02? What is your approximate annual import volume?
It takes under two minutes, requires no import data, and provides an immediate preliminary result. No login, no data storage, no cost. Think of it as a triage tool — it tells you whether a full assessment is worth your time.
The four-criteria screening was designed to reflect the actual qualification standards established by the February 2026 Supreme Court ruling in Learning Resources v. Trump. The 6-3 decision struck down $166 billion in IEEPA tariffs as unconstitutional, creating refund eligibility for over 330,000 U.S. importers. But most importers do not know whether their specific entries are affected. The checker answers that threshold question in minutes.
Screening is deliberately conservative. If you pass all four criteria, there is a high probability that your entries contain recoverable IEEPA surcharges. If you do not pass, it does not necessarily mean you have zero exposure — it means the standard indicators are not present and manual verification may be warranted.
What an Impact Assessment does
A full assessment analyzes your actual CBP entry data — every line item, every HTS code, every duty payment. It requires your ES-003 Entry Summary Line Levels Detail report or CF-7501 entry summaries, which your customs broker can export from the ACE Secure Data Portal. For a step-by-step guide to pulling that data, see how to export your ES-003 report.
The assessment calculates your specific recoverable dollar amount, identifies which entries are liquidated versus unliquidated, flags entries approaching their 180-day protest deadline under 19 U.S.C. section 1514, and presents all four recovery paths with estimated timelines and net recovery projections.
Each recovery path applies to a different entry status:
- Post-Summary Correction for unliquidated entries (days to weeks)
- Formal CBP Protest for entries within the 180-day window (weeks to months)
- CIT Litigation for entries past the protest deadline (months to years)
- Immediate Capital via claim acquisition for importers who prefer certainty (tariffbuyouts.com)
The assessment takes 5 to 10 business days and is provided at no cost. It produces a detailed report mapping every affected entry to its optimal recovery path, with dollar amounts, deadlines, and projected net recovery after fees.
When to use each
Start with screening if you are not sure whether your imports are affected at all. Most importers know they paid tariffs during 2025, but do not know whether those tariffs were imposed under IEEPA authority specifically. The distinction matters because Section 301 tariffs (HTS 9903.88) and Section 232 tariffs remain in effect and are not refundable. Only IEEPA tariffs under 9903.01 and 9903.02 were struck down. Our screening criteria help you differentiate between these programs.
Go straight to an assessment if you already know you imported from affected countries during the covered period (February 2025 through February 2026) and want to know your exact exposure. The screening step is useful but optional — any importer can request an assessment directly at tariffresolution.com.
The key distinction
Screening tells you whether you likely qualify. An assessment tells you how much you can recover and which path gets you there. Both are free. Screening is instant. An assessment takes business days but delivers actionable numbers.
For importers with complex entry profiles — multiple countries of origin, mixed HTS classifications, entries in various liquidation states — the assessment is where clarity emerges. A screening result of “likely eligible” becomes a specific dollar figure, a prioritized action plan, and a timeline.
What screening cannot tell you
The checker does not access your CBP data. It cannot tell you your exact recoverable amount, which entries are approaching protest deadlines, or which recovery path is optimal for your situation. These require entry-level analysis that only a full assessment provides.
It also cannot distinguish between IEEPA surcharges and other Chapter 99 duties on a line-by-line basis. If you import from China, for example, your entries may include both IEEPA tariffs (refundable) and Section 301 tariffs (not refundable). The assessment separates these precisely.
Customs brokers and trade attorneys in the partner network at tariffpartners.com can assist with the assessment process and coordinate directly with your broker of record if needed.
Recommended sequence
- Screen your eligibility — two minutes, no data required
- If you pass, request a full Impact Assessment or go directly to tariffresolution.com
- Review the assessment report with your trade counsel or customs broker
- Execute the recommended recovery path for each entry category
CBP has 2,500 staff processing 53 million affected entry lines. The earliest 180-day protest windows are already closing. Starting with a two-minute screening is the most efficient first step toward recovering what you may be owed.