Terms of Service

Section 1

Acceptance of Terms

By accessing tariffbureau.com, engaging with TariffIQ™, submitting an intake form, or entering into any service engagement with The Tariff Bureau LLC (“The Tariff Bureau,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (“Terms”) and all policies incorporated by reference, including our Privacy Policy.

If you are accessing or using our services on behalf of a company, organization, or other legal entity — including a foreign entity — you represent and warrant that you have the authority to bind that entity to these Terms. These Terms apply to all users globally, including U.S. domestic importers, foreign corporations, DDP manufacturers, and international freight principals.

If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use our website or services.

Section 2

Nature of Services — Advisory Only

The Tariff Bureau provides trade intelligence and business advisory services. Our services are strictly advisory in nature and do not constitute:

• Legal advice or legal representation of any kind
• Licensed customs brokerage services
• Tax advice or tax preparation services
• Accounting or auditing services
• Investment advice or financial planning
• Guaranteed outcomes, refund amounts, or recovery timelines

No advisory, analysis, report, or communication from The Tariff Bureau or TariffIQ™ should be construed as legal advice. Clients are strongly advised to retain independent legal counsel and/or a licensed customs broker before filing any CAPE Declaration, CBP protest, or Court of International Trade action.

Section 3

No Guarantee of Recovery

The Tariff Bureau does not guarantee any specific refund amount, recovery timeline, CAPE Declaration acceptance, or CBP processing outcome. IEEPA tariff refund eligibility is determined solely by CBP based on applicable law, entry data, liquidation status, and applicable court orders.

Refund estimates provided through TariffIQ™ or written advisory are estimates only and are not binding commitments. Actual recovery amounts depend on factors outside The Tariff Bureau’s control, including CBP processing decisions, pending government appeals, compliance flags identified during CBP validation, and offsets against other duties owed.

The client acknowledges that the government retains the right to appeal court orders governing IEEPA refunds and that a successful stay could halt or reduce refund processing at any time.

Section 4

Client Responsibilities & False Claims Act Notice

Clients engaging The Tariff Bureau for refund recovery advisory are solely responsible for:

• The accuracy and completeness of all entry data, customs documentation, and information provided to The Tariff Bureau
• The accuracy of all CAPE Declarations submitted to CBP, whether prepared with or without advisory assistance
• Ensuring ACE Secure Data Portal account setup and ACH banking enrollment prior to filing
• Compliance with all applicable CBP regulations, recordkeeping requirements, and court orders
• Independent verification of all HTS classifications, valuations, and country-of-origin determinations

False Claims Act Notice: Filing a CAPE Declaration containing materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent entry data may constitute a violation of the False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. §§ 3729–3733) and subject the filer to significant civil and criminal penalties. The Tariff Bureau’s advisory services do not shield clients from False Claims Act liability. Clients with $250,000 or more in estimated IEEPA refund claims are strongly advised to complete a pre-submission audit before filing.

Section 5

International Client Disclaimer

• U.S. Law Governs: All engagements are governed exclusively by the laws of the State of Georgia and applicable U.S. federal law
• No Foreign Law Advisory: The Tariff Bureau does not provide advice on the laws of any foreign jurisdiction
• U.S. Banking Requirement: CBP issues IEEPA refunds via ACH to U.S.-compliant bank accounts only
• IOR Documentation Required: Foreign entities seeking refunds must be or become the Importer of Record on CBP entry summaries
• Tax Implications: IEEPA tariff refunds may create taxable income or transfer pricing obligations in the client’s home jurisdiction
• Currency Risk: All engagements are priced and invoiced in U.S. Dollars
• Sanctions Compliance: International clients represent and warrant that they are not subject to U.S. OFAC sanctions, export control restrictions, or any applicable trade embargo
• Jurisdiction and Arbitration: International clients expressly consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of Fulton County, Georgia for all disputes arising from or relating to their engagement

Section 6

Governing Law

These Terms and all engagements with The Tariff Bureau LLC shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia, United States of America, without giving effect to any choice-of-law or conflict-of-law rules that would cause the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

The parties acknowledge that the advisory services described herein relate to U.S. federal customs law, CBP regulations, and U.S. Court of International Trade proceedings. U.S. federal law governs all substantive matters relating to IEEPA tariff refunds, CAPE portal procedures, and CBP compliance obligations.

Section 7

Dispute Resolution & Binding Arbitration

Arbitration Forum & Rules: All disputes shall be submitted to and resolved by final and binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) under its Commercial Arbitration Rules then in effect.

Seat of Arbitration: The seat, place, and location of arbitration shall be Fulton County, Georgia, United States of America. All proceedings shall be conducted in the English language.

Arbitrator Selection: The arbitration shall be conducted by a single neutral arbitrator with experience in commercial disputes, international trade, or business advisory services, mutually agreed upon by the parties. If the parties cannot agree within 14 days, the AAA shall appoint the arbitrator.

Scope: This arbitration clause covers all disputes including those relating to the interpretation, performance, breach, termination, or validity of any engagement letter, service agreement, or these Terms. It applies to all clients — domestic and international.

Class Action Waiver: All arbitration proceedings shall be conducted on an individual basis only. You expressly waive any right to bring or participate in any class action, collective action, or consolidated arbitration proceeding against The Tariff Bureau.

Emergency Relief: Either party may seek emergency injunctive or interim relief from a court of competent jurisdiction in Fulton County, Georgia, solely to prevent irreparable harm pending arbitration.

Enforcement: The arbitration award shall be final and binding and may be entered as a judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction. International clients consent to enforcement of arbitration awards under the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards.

Section 8

Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE TARIFF BUREAU LLC, ITS MEMBERS, OFFICERS, ADVISORS, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF REFUND RECOVERY, LOSS OF DATA, OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR ANY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE TARIFF BUREAU, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

The Tariff Bureau’s total cumulative liability to any client for any cause of action arising from or related to any engagement shall not exceed the total fees paid by that client to The Tariff Bureau in the three (3) months preceding the claim.

Section 9

Confidentiality

The Tariff Bureau treats all client business information, entry data, import volumes, and refund estimates as confidential and will not disclose such information to third parties except as required to deliver the agreed services, as required by law or legal process, or with the client’s written consent. This obligation survives termination of any engagement.

Clients agree not to disclose The Tariff Bureau’s proprietary methodologies, TariffIQ™ advisory frameworks, or written deliverables to competitors or third parties without prior written consent.

Section 10

Intellectual Property

TariffIQ™ is a trademark of The Tariff Bureau LLC. All content on tariffbureau.com — including written materials, advisory frameworks, the Alex Monroe analyst persona, and TariffIQ platform — is the proprietary intellectual property of The Tariff Bureau LLC. No content may be reproduced, distributed, or used commercially without prior written consent.

Section 11

Modifications

The Tariff Bureau reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Updated Terms will be posted at tariffbureau.com/terms with a revised “Last Updated” date. Continued use of our services after any modification constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. For active engagement clients, material changes will be communicated via email with 14 days’ notice.

Section 12

Contact & Legal Notices

For legal notices, dispute notices, or Terms-related inquiries, contact: