One of the most common questions we hear from importers starting the IEEPA recovery process is: “What exactly do I say to my customs broker?” It’s a reasonable question. The terminology is specialized, the data requests are specific, and asking for the wrong thing wastes everyone’s time.
So we’ve written the emails for you. Below are five copy-paste templates covering every broker communication you’re likely to need during the IEEPA recovery process. Customize the bracketed fields, add your company details, and send.
These templates assume your customs broker is handling your entries through the ACE portal and has access to your entry data. If you’re unsure about your broker’s capabilities or their familiarity with IEEPA recovery, see our customs broker guide to IEEPA recovery for background you can share with them.
Template 1: Initial Data Request
This is the first email you should send. It requests the core data needed for your Impact Assessment and establishes the recovery conversation with your broker.
Subject: Request for IEEPA Tariff Recovery Data — [Your Company Name]
Dear [Broker Contact Name],
As you may be aware, the Supreme Court ruled in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump on February 20, 2026, that IEEPA tariffs imposed between February 4, 2025, and February 24, 2026, are unconstitutional. We are evaluating our recovery options and need data from our import entries during this period.
Could you please provide the following at your earliest convenience:
- ES-003 Entry Summary Status Report from ACE for all entries between February 1, 2025, and February 28, 2026 (with buffer for boundary entries)
- Entry summary detail showing HTS codes, duty amounts by tariff line, and country of origin — specifically entries with duties under HTS headings 9903.01 and 9903.02
- Liquidation status for each entry (unliquidated vs. liquidated, and liquidation dates where applicable)
- Total IEEPA-specific duties paid across all qualifying entries
We’d appreciate this data in CSV or Excel format if possible.
Please also let me know:
- Have you already taken any recovery actions on our IEEPA entries (Post-Summary Corrections, protest filings, etc.)?
- Are any of our liquidated entries approaching the 180-day protest window deadline?
We are working with Tariff Solutions on an Impact Assessment and may authorize them to coordinate with you directly on data questions. I’ll confirm that authorization separately if needed.
Timeline: We’d like to receive this data within [2-5] business days if possible.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this. Happy to discuss by phone if any questions.
Best regards, [Your Name] [Your Title] [Company Name] [Phone Number]
Why This Template Works
It gives your broker everything they need in one communication: the legal context, the specific data you need, the format you want it in, and a clear timeline. It also asks the two critical threshold questions — has anything already been done, and are there approaching deadlines — that many importers forget to ask.
The date range includes a buffer (February 1 through February 28) beyond the exact IEEPA period (February 4 through February 24) to catch boundary entries that might otherwise be missed.
Template 2: Urgent Protest Filing Request
Use this template if you’ve identified entries approaching the 180-day protest deadline and need protective protests filed immediately. Time is the critical factor here.
Subject: URGENT — Protective Protest Filing Request for IEEPA Entries — [Your Company Name]
Dear [Broker Contact Name],
We have identified [number] entries with IEEPA duties that are approaching or have recently passed their liquidation dates, putting them at risk of exceeding the 180-day protest window under 19 U.S.C. Section 1514.
Please file protective protests on the following entries as soon as possible:
[List entry numbers, or attach spreadsheet with entry numbers, liquidation dates, and calculated protest deadlines]
The basis for the protest is the Supreme Court ruling in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump (February 20, 2026), which invalidated IEEPA tariffs. The CIT’s March 4 order directed CBP to process refunds. These protests should cite the unconstitutionality of IEEPA tariff collections under the ruling.
For any entries where the protest deadline falls within the next 30 days, please prioritize those filings immediately.
Please confirm:
- Receipt of this request
- Your timeline for filing these protests
- Any entries where you believe the 180-day window may have already closed
- Your fee for protest filing services
I’m available at [phone number] if you’d like to discuss before proceeding.
Best regards, [Your Name] [Your Title] [Company Name]
When to Use This Template
Only send this after you’ve confirmed specific entries are at risk. Your ES-003 report shows liquidation dates; add 180 days to each date to calculate the protest deadline. Any entry with a deadline within the next 90 days warrants this urgent request.
If you haven’t yet received your ES-003 data, send Template 1 first with a note flagging your concern about approaching deadlines. Don’t guess at which entries need protests — that leads to unnecessary filings and broker fees.
Template 3: Post-Summary Correction Request
For entries that are still unliquidated, a Post-Summary Correction is the fastest government recovery path. This template requests that your broker file PSCs on qualifying entries.
Subject: Post-Summary Correction Request for IEEPA Entries — [Your Company Name]
Dear [Broker Contact Name],
Per the Supreme Court ruling invalidating IEEPA tariffs, we’d like to request Post-Summary Corrections on all of our unliquidated entries that include duties under HTS headings 9903.01 and 9903.02.
Based on the ES-003 data you provided on [date], the following entries appear to be unliquidated and eligible for PSC:
[List entry numbers, or attach spreadsheet]
The corrections should remove all IEEPA-specific duty lines (9903.01.xx and 9903.02.xx codes) from each entry summary, resulting in recalculation of duties owed without the IEEPA surcharge.
Please confirm:
- Whether all listed entries are confirmed unliquidated as of today
- Your timeline for filing the PSCs through ACE
- Any entries that may require additional documentation before filing
- Your fee structure for PSC filings
We’d like to proceed as quickly as possible to ensure these corrections are filed before any of these entries liquidate.
Thank you, [Your Name] [Your Title] [Company Name]
Important Note on Timing
The window for PSC filing closes when an entry liquidates. Entries that are unliquidated today could liquidate next week. That’s why this request should be treated with urgency — once an entry liquidates, you lose the PSC option and move to the protest path, which is slower and more complex.
Template 4: Authorization for Third-Party Coordination
If you’re working with Tariff Solutions or another advisory firm and want to authorize them to coordinate directly with your broker, this template handles the authorization cleanly.
Subject: Authorization for IEEPA Recovery Coordination — [Your Company Name]
Dear [Broker Contact Name],
We are working with Tariff Solutions (tariffresolution.com) on our IEEPA tariff recovery. Please authorize the following individuals to coordinate with your team regarding our entry data and recovery filings:
- [Name], [Title], [email], [phone]
- [Name], [Title], [email], [phone]
They are authorized to:
- Request and receive entry summary data, ES-003 reports, and liquidation status information for our entries during the IEEPA period (February 4, 2025 – February 24, 2026)
- Discuss filing strategies, timelines, and entry statuses
- Coordinate on PSC filings, protest submissions, and CAPE portal preparations
They are NOT authorized to:
- Make binding commitments on our behalf regarding fees or new services
- Modify our account or broker of record status
- Access data outside the specified IEEPA period
Please confirm receipt of this authorization and provide a point of contact on your team for IEEPA recovery coordination.
This authorization is effective immediately and remains in force until revoked in writing.
Best regards, [Your Name] [Your Title] [Company Name]
Why Explicit Authorization Matters
Customs brokers are bound by legal and professional obligations regarding client data. They can’t share your entry data with a third party — no matter how legitimate — without your explicit written authorization. Getting this in place early prevents the frustrating delays that happen when an advisory team calls your broker and gets told “we can’t share anything without client approval.”
Be specific about what the authorized party can and cannot do. This protects both you and your broker from misunderstandings. If you have concerns about data security when working with advisory firms, review our guide on NDA and data protection requirements.
Template 5: CAPE Preparation Coordination
As the CAPE system approaches its projected launch, this template helps you coordinate with your broker to ensure you’re ready for day-one filing.
Subject: CAPE System Preparation — IEEPA Refund Filing Readiness — [Your Company Name]
Dear [Broker Contact Name],
With CBP’s CAPE system projected to launch in the coming weeks, I’d like to ensure our IEEPA refund data is validated and ready for submission as soon as the portal opens.
Could you please confirm the following:
- Filing readiness: Are our entry data packages prepared and validated for CAPE submission? If not, what’s remaining?
- Entry inventory accuracy: Have all qualifying entries (February 4, 2025 – February 24, 2026, HTS 9903.01/9903.02) been identified and cataloged?
- Documentation completeness: Are there any entries with documentation gaps that need to be resolved before filing?
- CAPE portal access: Will you be filing on our behalf through the CAPE portal, or do we need to take any registration steps?
- Filing priority: Based on our entry statuses, which entries should be submitted first?
Our goal is to file on day one of CAPE availability to secure the earliest possible queue position. Based on our assessment, our total IEEPA recovery is approximately $[amount] across [number] entries.
Can we schedule a 15-minute call this week to review readiness and address any open items?
Thank you, [Your Name] [Your Title] [Company Name]
The Queue Position Advantage
Why the urgency around CAPE preparation? Because CBP has indicated that claims will be processed sequentially. Importers who file validated declarations first will be processed first. With an estimated 330,000+ importers in the CAPE queue, the difference between filing on day one and filing in month two could mean 12-24 months of additional waiting.
Getting your broker aligned now — before CAPE launches — is the single highest-leverage action you can take for your filing position.
Tips for Effective Broker Communication
These templates give you the words, but the relationship matters too. Here are practical tips for getting the best results from your broker communication.
Be Direct About Urgency
Customs brokers handle hundreds of clients. A generic “please send my data when you get a chance” goes to the bottom of the pile. If you have approaching deadlines — especially protest windows — say so explicitly and request a specific response date.
Understand Your Broker’s Position
Your broker may be fielding IEEPA recovery requests from dozens or hundreds of importers simultaneously. Be patient, but be persistent. If you don’t get a response within the timeline you specified, follow up with a phone call rather than another email.
Ask About Fees Upfront
Brokers charge for data extraction, PSC filings, and protest filings. These fees vary widely. Ask for a fee schedule before authorizing any work so there are no surprises. Typical ranges:
| Service | Typical Fee Range |
|---|---|
| ES-003 data extraction | $0 - $250 |
| Entry summary detail report | $0 - $500 |
| Post-Summary Correction filing (per entry) | $50 - $200 |
| Formal protest filing (per entry) | $150 - $500 |
| CAPE portal submission (per entry) | TBD (system not yet live) |
Some brokers waive data extraction fees for existing clients. Others charge per report. Clarify this before you need the data, not after.
Document Everything
Keep copies of all broker communications regarding IEEPA recovery. If a dispute arises about what was requested, when it was delivered, or what actions were authorized, email records are your protection. This is standard advice from any trade attorney and it applies doubly in a recovery process involving potentially large dollar amounts.
Know When to Escalate
If your broker is unresponsive after multiple follow-ups, is unfamiliar with IEEPA recovery procedures, or is quoting fees that seem unreasonable, you have options. You can engage a different broker for recovery-related filings without changing your primary broker relationship. You can also authorize your advisory team to coordinate broker-side activities directly.
The customs broker guide to IEEPA recovery explains what brokers should know about this process. If yours doesn’t seem prepared, sharing that guide can help — or it may signal that you need supplementary support.
Handling Common Broker Responses
Not every broker response will be straightforward. Here’s how to handle the most common responses you might receive.
”We’re not familiar with IEEPA recovery.”
Don’t change brokers over this — it’s a new area for most brokerages. Instead, share our customs broker guide to IEEPA recovery and offer to schedule a brief call to discuss the data you need. Most brokers are willing to learn when a client makes a specific, funded request.
”We’ll get to it when we can.”
Not acceptable if you have approaching protest deadlines. Respond with a specific date: “I need this data by [date] because entries liquidated in [month] may have protest windows closing. Can you confirm you can meet this deadline?” If not, escalate within the brokerage.
”We’ve already filed PSCs on your behalf.”
Great news if true — but verify. Ask for confirmation of which entries were corrected, the filing dates, and the current status. Some brokers have proactively filed PSCs for clients; others may have started but not completed the process. Confirm the scope matches your full IEEPA portfolio.
”There will be a fee for data extraction.”
Normal. Most brokers charge $0-$500 for ACE data extraction. Ask for the fee amount before authorizing the work. If it seems excessive, negotiate or request that the fee be credited toward future filing services.
”We recommend handling the recovery ourselves.”
Your broker may offer recovery management services. This can be a good option — they already have your data and broker-client relationship. But evaluate the offer against independent advisory options. Ask for specific scope, fees, and timelines, then compare using the firm evaluation framework.
After You Send the First Email
Once Template 1 is sent, here’s what to expect and how to stay on track:
Day 1-2: Broker should acknowledge receipt and confirm timeline for data delivery. If no acknowledgment within 48 hours, follow up by phone.
Day 2-5: Data should arrive. When it does, cross-reference with your internal records as outlined in our data preparation guide.
Day 3-7: Identify any approaching deadlines and send Template 2 if needed. Request PSCs via Template 3 for unliquidated entries.
Concurrent: Request your Impact Assessment — don’t wait for all broker data. Start with what you have and provide additional data as it arrives.
The first 48 hours of your recovery process are about establishing momentum. These email templates remove the friction of figuring out what to say and let you focus on moving forward.
Get your free Impact Assessment →
Your broker data is one piece of the puzzle. The Impact Assessment takes that data and turns it into a recovery strategy — with specific dollar amounts, timelines, and recommendations for every entry in your portfolio. Start both processes today and you’ll have a clear picture within days.
