How Much IEEPA Tariff Refund Am I Owed? Real Examples for Small Businesses (2026)
The most common question importers ask after hearing about IEEPA tariff refunds is simple: how much am I actually going to get back?
The answer depends on four variables: what you imported, where it came from, how much duty you paid, and when you paid it. This article walks through the calculation with real product examples — and shows you how to estimate your number without a customs broker.
The refund formula
Your IEEPA refund is the IEEPA duty you paid, plus statutory interest at 6% per year from payment date to refund date.
Example: $10,000 duty paid Oct 2025 → refund ~Sep 2026 = 335 days
Interest = $10,000 × 6% × (335/365) = $551
Total refund = $10,000 + $551 = $10,551
Note on interest rate: CBP applies a 6% annual interest rate for corporate importers. The rate is set by statute and does not vary with market conditions. It compounds from your original duty payment date to the date CBP processes your reliquidation.
What counts as IEEPA duty — and what doesn't
This is the most important distinction. Your Form 7501 entry summary typically shows multiple duty lines. Only the IEEPA portion is refundable.
| Duty type | Refundable? | HTS code prefix |
|---|---|---|
| IEEPA fentanyl tariff (China/Canada/Mexico, Feb 2025) | ✅ Yes | 9903.01.xx |
| IEEPA universal reciprocal 10% (all countries, Apr 2025) | ✅ Yes | 9903.08.01 |
| IEEPA country-specific rates (China 145%, Apr 2025) | ✅ Yes | 9903.08.xx |
| Section 301 China tariffs (2018–present) | ❌ No | 9903.88.xx |
| Section 232 steel/aluminum | ❌ No | 9903.80.xx / 9903.85.xx |
| MFN base tariff rate | ❌ No | Standard HTS chapter |
| Anti-dumping / countervailing duties | ❌ No | Case-specific |
China importers — read carefully: If you import from China, you likely paid both Section 301 tariffs (not refundable) and IEEPA tariffs (refundable) on top of the base MFN rate. Only the IEEPA-specific duty lines are being refunded — not the 25% Section 301 tariff you've been paying since 2018.
Worked examples by product type
Example 1: Electronics importer from China
📦 Scenario: 5,000 units of Bluetooth speakers, $18 FOB, sourced from Shenzhen
Example 2: Apparel importer from Vietnam
📦 Scenario: Women's activewear, $45,000 FOB shipment from Ho Chi Minh City
Example 3: Industrial equipment from Mexico
📦 Scenario: CNC machine parts, $120,000 FOB, manufactured in Monterrey
What are small businesses actually recovering?
Based on the $35.46 billion already processed across 8.3 million entries as of mid-May 2026, the average refund per entry is approximately $4,272. But this average masks huge variation:
| Importer type | Typical annual import value | Estimated IEEPA refund range |
|---|---|---|
| Small e-commerce (China-sourced) | $100K–$500K | $8,000–$60,000 |
| Mid-market retailer (multi-country) | $500K–$5M | $25,000–$300,000 |
| Industrial importer (China/Mexico) | $1M–$10M | $50,000–$800,000 |
| Large manufacturer (global supply chain) | $10M+ | $500,000–$10M+ |
Key insight: The refund is calculated on the IEEPA-specific duty only, not your total landed cost. For China imports in 2025, IEEPA duties were layered on top of existing Section 301 tariffs — so your 7501 may show 145% total additional duties but only the IEEPA portion (above the pre-existing Section 301 rate) is refundable.
How to find your actual IEEPA duty amount
The most reliable source is your CBP Form 7501 Entry Summary. Look at Box 27 (HTS classification) for any lines beginning with 9903.01 or 9903.08. The associated duty amounts in the adjacent columns are your IEEPA duties.
If you can access your ACE portal, export your entry history — it includes a breakdown by tariff line that makes this calculation straightforward.
If you have your Form 7501 PDFs but don't want to manually total up each line, our tool does this automatically.
Quick estimate if you don't have your 7501s
Use this rough calculator if you're trying to ballpark your refund before pulling documents:
Estimated IEEPA duty ≈ FOB value × 35%
(10% universal + 25% fentanyl, net of existing 301 stack)
# For Vietnam/India/other countries (Apr 5 – Feb 24 window):
Estimated IEEPA duty ≈ FOB value × 10%
# For Mexico/Canada (Feb 4 – Feb 24 window, fentanyl tariffs only):
Estimated IEEPA duty ≈ FOB value × 25%
These are rough estimates only — your actual 7501s will have the precise figures. But for a back-of-envelope check, multiply your total FOB import value from the eligible window by the applicable rate above.
Get your exact number in under 2 minutes
Upload your ACE export CSV or Form 7501 PDFs. We extract the IEEPA duty amounts from each entry, calculate interest, and show you the full breakdown — plus generate a CAPE-ready CSV for submission.
Analyze my entries →Free eligibility check · Full report $79
When will the money actually arrive?
Importers who submitted CAPE Declarations in late April and May 2026 are reporting ACH deposits hitting their accounts in June and July. The pipeline is moving. If you haven't filed yet, submitting now means your refund could arrive before end of Q3 2026.
Should I hire a customs broker for this?
For most small and mid-sized importers, you don't need to. The CAPE process is designed for self-service by the IOR. If you have fewer than 100 entries, you can likely handle it in an afternoon with the right preparation. If you have hundreds or thousands of entries, a broker's time may be worth paying for — but the refund economics still strongly favor doing it yourself or with minimal assistance.
The most common reason importers hire brokers for this is ACE portal access — many small importers don't have their own ACE account and it was all handled by their broker. In that case, asking the broker to file CAPE on your behalf is the simplest path.
Disclaimer: All refund estimates in this article are illustrative. Actual refund amounts are determined by CBP based on your specific entry records and duty payments. Interest rates and processing timelines may vary. This does not constitute legal or customs brokerage advice.