FEDERAL CLAIMS ADVISORS · PRELIMINARY ROUTING

Start With the Record.

Classify the transaction, identify the likely procedural lane, and build the first record list before choosing a recovery, compliance, court, or research path.

Begin Assessment Check Current Updates Open Public Library

This is a preliminary routing tool—not a filing, claim, protest, engagement, or legal opinion. Do not enter names, entry numbers, tax identifiers, account credentials, privileged communications, or confidential business information.

01Identify

Define the transaction and the business objective.

02Verify

Determine entry, liquidation, protest, court, and payment status.

03Connect

Match the facts to the governing authority and current record.

04Route

Choose the next operational, administrative, judicial, or research path.

OBJECTIVEWhat are you trying to determine?

Recover tariff paymentsIdentify entries and the available refund pathway. Apply current tariff rulesEvaluate classification, origin, authority, rate, and effective date. Evaluate court reviewExamine jurisdiction, protest history, finality, and deadlines. Evaluate another federal monetary claimConsider a specialized claim only after the customs pathway is analyzed. Research the public recordFind statutes, government actions, court records, and economic evidence. Organize a company recovery projectAssign owners, workstreams, controls, reporting, and closeout.

TRANSACTIONWhat record is presently available?

Importer relationship * Entry population * Primary authority or program Deadline status *

PROCEDURAL STATUSWhere is the entry or claim now?

UnliquidatedCBP has not liquidated the entry. LiquidatedCBP has liquidated the entry. Protest pendingA protest has been filed and remains unresolved. Protest deniedA protest decision may create a court-review question. Already in courtA complaint, suspension, order, judgment, or appeal exists. Unknown / mixedThe entry universe contains multiple or unverified statuses. Not entry-specificThe matter concerns research, policy, compliance, or another record.

AVAILABLE RECORDSWhich materials can be assembled now?

ASSESSMENT CONTROLConfirm the limits of this tool.

I have not entered confidential, privileged, personal, account, credential, or entry-identifying information. * I understand this assessment does not preserve, extend, calculate, or satisfy any deadline. * I understand this tool does not create an attorney-client, customs-broker, tax, accounting, consulting, fiduciary, or other professional relationship. *

DIRECT PATHWAYS

Know where you need to begin?

RECOVERYTariff Refund GuideIdentify the pathway from entry and procedural status. ACE / CAPEAdministrative Refund OperationsBuild the entry universe and manage CAPE records. CBPProtest GuideEvaluate a specified CBP decision and the protest lane. COURTCIT Litigation RoadmapAnalyze jurisdiction, finality, protest history, and review. COMPLIANCESection 301 GuideApply current authority, classification, origin, rate, and date. PUBLIC RECORDSearch the CatalogFind source records, authority, government action, and evidence.

Start With the Record.

Your likely starting path

Know where you need to begin?