Tariff Refund Deadline: August 19, 2026
The 180-day window to file for your IEEPA tariff refund is closing. Here's what you need to know about the deadline.
Feb 20, 2026
Supreme Court Ruling
Aug 19, 2026
Filing Deadline
180 Days
Total Filing Window
Why the 180-Day Deadline Matters
Under 19 U.S.C. §1514, importers have 180 days from the date of a qualifying event to file a protest with CBP. The Supreme Court's February 20, 2026 ruling is that qualifying event. This means all protests must be filed by August 19, 2026. This is a hard deadline — there are no provisions for extensions, late filings, or hardship exceptions. If you miss it, your refund rights are permanently forfeited.
Why You Should File Early
While the deadline is August 19, 2026, there are compelling reasons to file as early as possible: CBP will be processing an unprecedented volume of protests, and early filers will be in the queue first. Early filing also allows time to correct any issues that CBP identifies during review. If you wait until the last minute, there's no buffer for document gathering delays, broker response times, or filing errors.
What Counts as the Filing Date
The filing date is the date CBP receives your protest, not the date you send it. For electronic filings through ACE, this is typically the same day. For paper filings, it's the date CBP stamps the document as received. To be safe, file electronically or ensure paper filings arrive well before August 19, 2026.
Entries Covered by the Deadline
The 180-day deadline applies to all entries that were liquidated (finalized) and subject to IEEPA tariffs. Most entries from April 2025 through early 2026 will have liquidated by now. For entries that haven't yet liquidated, the 180-day clock starts from the liquidation date rather than the Court ruling date. Check your entry status in ACE or with your broker to confirm your specific deadlines.
What Happens After the Deadline
After August 19, 2026, CBP will no longer accept new protests related to the IEEPA ruling for liquidated entries. Any unfiled claims are permanently extinguished. The government retains the duties, and there is no judicial or administrative remedy available. This is not a situation where you can file late and ask for forgiveness.
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
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