The May 11 tariff refund was a one-time payment for certain imports that entered the United States between specific dates in 2024

On May 11, 2024, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced a refund program for duties collected on goods imported during a particular window. This was not a standing program — it was a specific action tied to tariffs that were imposed, then reversed or modified. The refund covered import duties that businesses and importers had already paid to CBP when their goods cleared customs.

The refund applied only to shipments that met exact criteria: the goods had to have entered during the specified date range, they had to fall into particular product categories, and the importer had to have been the one who paid the duty at the time of entry. This was not a consumer rebate. Importers and businesses who brought goods into the country were the ones who could request the money back.

The program had a filing important date. Once that important date passed, CBP stopped accepting new refund requests. If you missed the window, the duty you paid remained with the government. This is why the date matters — May 11 marked the announcement, but the actual filing period had its own start and end dates that you needed to know.

Key Takeaways

  • The May 11 refund covered import duties paid on goods that entered the U.S. during a specific date range in 2024, not all tariffs or all imports.
  • Only the importer of record — the person or business whose name appeared on the customs entry — could request the refund.
  • CBP required proof of payment and entry documentation to process refund requests, and the filing window had a hard important date.
  • This was a one-time program tied to a specific tariff action, not an ongoing refund process for all duties.

Who could request the May 11 refund

The importer of record had to be the one who filed the refund request. The importer of record is the name that appears on the CBP entry document — the official paperwork filed when goods arrive at a U.S. port. If you hired a customs broker to clear your shipment, the broker filed the entry on your behalf, but you were still the importer of record.

If you were a business owner or purchasing manager who imported goods, you could request the refund yourself. If you worked with a customs broker or freight forwarder, they could file the request on your behalf, but only with your written authorization. You had to provide them with the entry numbers and proof that you paid the duty.

Consumers who bought imported goods at retail did not may have access to. The duty is paid when the goods enter the country, not when you buy them at a store. The retailer or distributor who imported the goods was the one who could request the refund, not the person who purchased the item later.

What documentation you needed to file

CBP required the entry number for each shipment. This is a nine-digit number assigned by customs when your goods were processed at the port of entry. You can find it on your customs entry paperwork, your broker's invoice, or your shipping documents. Without the entry number, CBP could not locate your shipment in their system.

You also needed proof that you paid the duty. This could be a receipt from CBP, a bill from your customs broker showing the duty amount, or a bank statement showing payment to CBP. The proof had to show the exact amount of duty paid and the date it was paid.

If you used a customs broker, you needed a power of attorney or written authorization allowing them to file the refund request on your behalf. CBP required this in writing — a verbal agreement was not enough. Your broker could provide the form, or you could write a straightforward letter stating that you authorized them to request the refund for specific entry numbers.

The filing important date and how to submit

The refund program had a specific filing important date set by CBP. Once that date passed, CBP no longer accepted new requests. If you had may be able to access shipments but missed the important date, you could not file after that point. The important date was not extended, and there was no grace period.

To file, you submitted a refund request directly to CBP through their online system or by mail to the port of entry where your goods cleared customs. The online method was faster — CBP could acknowledge receipt when ready. By mail, you sent your request with copies of your entry documents and proof of payment to the CBP office at the port where your shipment arrived.

CBP processed requests in the order they received them. Processing time varied depending on how many requests they received and whether your documentation was complete. If CBP needed more information, they contacted you and gave you a window to respond. If you did not respond, they closed the request without issuing a refund.

What happened after you filed

CBP verified that your shipment met the program criteria — that it entered during the correct date range and fell into the may be able to access product categories. They checked their records against your entry number to confirm the duty amount you claimed. This verification could take several weeks.

If everything matched, CBP issued a refund. The refund was usually sent by check to the address on your entry documents, or it could be applied as a credit against future duties you owed. You could request which method you preferred when you filed.

If CBP found a discrepancy — for example, if the entry number did not exist, or if the shipment did not meet the criteria — they denied the request. They sent you a letter explaining why. You could appeal a denial, but you had to do so within a specific timeframe. The appeal process required additional documentation showing why you believed the refund should be granted.

Why this refund was different from other tariff relief programs

The May 11 refund was a one-time action, not a standing program. It was created to address duties collected during a specific period when tariffs were in place. Once the filing important date closed, the program ended. This is different from ongoing tariff exclusion programs, which allow importers to request that certain goods be exempt from duties before they enter the country.

This refund also did not require you to prove hardship or economic impact. You did not have to show that the tariff hurt your business. You only had to prove that you imported goods during the may be able to access period and paid the duty. The refund was automatic if your shipment met the criteria.

Other tariff relief programs, such as Section 301 exclusions or Section 232 exemptions, work differently. Those programs let you request that future shipments be excluded from tariffs before they arrive. The May 11 refund was about money already paid, not about preventing future payments.

What to do if you think you had may be able to access shipments

If you imported goods in 2024 and believe some shipments may have may have access to for the May 11 refund, check your customs entry documents and shipping records. Look for the entry numbers and the dates your goods cleared customs. Compare those dates to the may be able to access period announced by CBP.

Contact your customs broker or freight forwarder if you do not have your entry documents. They keep records of all shipments they cleared for you and can tell you which ones fell within the refund window. They can also help you determine whether your products were in the may be able to access categories.

If the filing important date has already passed, you cannot file for this specific refund. However, you may have other options. If tariffs on your products have changed since then, you might be able to request relief through other CBP programs. A customs broker can review your situation and tell you what options remain available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund if I bought imported goods at a store?

No. The tariff duty is paid when goods enter the country, not when you buy them at retail. The business that imported the goods — the wholesaler, distributor, or retailer — is the one who paid the duty and could request the refund. The duty is not passed back to consumers through a refund program.

What if my customs broker filed the refund request but I never received the money?

Contact your broker and ask for the status. They can check with CBP using your entry numbers. If CBP approved the refund, the money may have been sent to the address on your entry documents, or it may have been applied as a credit against future duties. Your broker can request that CBP reissue the refund or explain where it went.

Can I file a refund request after the important date?

No. CBP set a hard important date for filing. Once that date passed, they no longer accepted new requests. If you missed the important date, you cannot file for this specific refund program. You may have other tariff relief options available, but they work differently and have their own requirements.

Do I need to hire a customs broker to file the refund request?

No, but many importers do because brokers know the entry numbers and have the documentation ready. You can file the request yourself if you have your entry numbers and proof of payment. However, if you used a broker to clear your shipment, they often file the refund request as part of their service.

What if CBP denies my refund request?

CBP sends a letter explaining why. Common reasons include the entry number not matching their records, the shipment not falling into an may be able to access product category, or the entry date being outside the refund window. You can appeal the denial, but you must do so within the timeframe CBP specifies in their letter.