Chicago Importers: Recover Your IEEPA Tariff Refund
Chicago's O'Hare International Airport is one of the busiest cargo airports in the country, and the city's rail network makes it the largest intermodal freight hub in North America. Illinois importers paid significant IEEPA duties across manufacturing, retail, and industrial sectors. TariffIQ™ identifies your eligible entries and sequences your CAPE filing.
📞 (404) 882-5839 • Mon–Fri 9am–6pm ET • No obligation
Chicago’s Role in U.S. Import Trade
The Supreme Court’s February 20, 2026 ruling in Learning Resources v. Trump held that IEEPA tariffs were unlawful, opening $166 billion in refunds across 53 million entry summaries and 330,000 importers of record. Chicago and Midwest importers are among those eligible. CBP’s CAPE system is actively processing refunds through Phase 1 and Phase 2. Phase 3, covering finally liquidated entries, was ordered July 17, 2026, but the general portal function remains undeployed, with no new date given as CBP continues building additional system validations.
Chicago's position as North America's largest rail hub means Illinois importers move high volumes of goods from China and Southeast Asia through intermodal terminals — all potentially IEEPA-refund eligible.
Illinois's diversified manufacturing base — machinery, industrial equipment, and heavy components — imports parts and materials from IEEPA-affected origins.
Chicago-area retailers and distributors importing apparel, electronics, and home goods from China, Vietnam, and Cambodia faced some of the highest effective IEEPA duty rates.
Illinois's food processing and agricultural equipment sectors import ingredients, packaging, and machinery from IEEPA-affected origins with significant refund potential.
Which Phase Covers Your Entries?
CBP is processing IEEPA refunds in three phases. Your eligibility depends on your entry liquidation status and whether a Type 09 reconciliation entry has been filed.
Unliquidated & Recent Entries
Entries not yet liquidated, or liquidated within 80 days of your CAPE Declaration filing date. Open since April 20, 2026. No Type 09 restriction.
Reconciliation Entries
Entry Types 01, 02, 06 flagged for reconciliation with no Type 09 filed. Open since June 29, 2026. File CAPE Declaration before Type 09 — sequence matters.
Finally Liquidated Entries
Entries liquidated more than 80 days ago. The July 17, 2026 order is case-linked and limited to importers who already filed individual CIT lawsuits — roughly ~3,700 companies. CBP's most recent report confirms the general portal function is still not live, with no new date given.
The Tariff Bureau Recovery Process
From eligibility screening to CAPE Declaration delivery — TariffIQ™ handles the analysis, we prep the filing, your licensed broker submits in ACE.
Free Eligibility Assessment
Submit your import profile at tariffbureau.com/assessment. TariffIQ™ screens your HTS codes, entry history, and liquidation status against CAPE Phase 1, 2, and 3 eligibility criteria. No obligation.
Refund & Interest Modeling
We build a CFO-ready financial model of your recoverable duties plus statutory interest under 19 U.S.C. § 1505. You see your number before signing anything.
CAPE Declaration Preparation
We build your CAPE Declaration CSV, validate Chapter 99 HTS codes, check ACH enrollment status in ACE, and verify filing sequence. Your licensed customs broker submits in ACE — we do the prep work.
Contingency Recovery
No recovery, no fee. We take a percentage of the refund when CBP pays. If you don’t recover, you owe nothing. The Form 4811 designee model means your ACH refund can flow directly through our account for disbursement.
Remote Advisory for Chicago & Midwest Importers
The Tariff Bureau serves Chicago, Illinois, and Midwest importers remotely through our digital engagement platform. Submit your free assessment online at tariffbureau.com/assessment and receive a TariffIQ™ eligibility report within minutes. For direct assistance, reach us at (404) 882-5839 or legal@tariffbureau.com, Monday through Friday, 9 AM – 6 PM Eastern.
With CAPE Phase 3 ordered but its general portal function still not deployed, and Section 122 having expired July 24 (replaced same-day by new Section 301 forced-labor tariffs of 10–12.5% on 60 countries), the tariff landscape continues shifting rapidly. Importers who act now capture more of the statutory interest that continues to accrue on unpaid IEEPA duties. The earlier you file, the higher your queue position and the more interest you collect.
Find Out What Chicago Owes You
TariffIQ™ identifies your exact CAPE phase position, your refund estimate, and your next step. Free assessment, no obligation, no recovery no fee.
Mon–Fri 9am–6pm ET • legal@tariffbureau.com