Importers are unknowingly losing China tariff refunds because customs liquidation deadlines expire without notification, and brokers lack automated tools to track eligibility.

Existing solutions (CBP website, Form 19) are manual, require proactive tracking, and provide no alert when liquidation deadlines are approaching or passed, leading to permanent loss of refunds.

Severity

4High

Willingness to Pay

implied

Added

Apr 27, 2026

Workarounds Described

CBP only accepts shipments liquidated within 80 days of CAPE claim without notification
Backup is Form 19 protest within 180 days of liquidation
Asking broker about open protests on entries

Implied Software Gaps

Automated liquidation deadline tracking and notification system
Centralized view of entry eligibility and protest status

App Concept

TariffRefund Tracker

A software that automatically monitors customs liquidation dates for all entries, alerts importers and brokers before the 80-day CAPE deadline, and flags blocked or ineligible entries. Integrates with brokers' systems to streamline refund claims and protests.

Key Features

Automatic tracking of liquidation dates per entry
Real-time alerts 30, 15, and 5 days before CAPE deadline
Entry eligibility checker (type, open protests)
Dashboard showing refund status and history
Integration with broker systems for seamless filing

Target Users: Importers and customs brokers in shipping & logistics, especially small to mid-size companies without dedicated compliance teams.

Revenue Model: $99/mo per user SaaS subscription with a free tier for up to 10 entries

Existing Solutions Mentioned

CBP program pageForm 19 protest

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