CBP & Customs articles and guides

25 posts in CBP & Customs · Page 1 of 2

• Do You Pay Duty on Damaged Cargo? 19 CFR 158 Allowance Rules

  GingerControl explains the 19 CFR Part 158 duty allowance for damaged, worthless or short imports, its deadlines, and when drawback or protest fits. Oct 8, 2026·12 min read

• CBP Form 7501 Explained: Reading the Entry Summary Block by Block

  GingerControl walks finance teams through CBP Form 7501: where HTS, chapter 99, value, origin, MPF and HMF sit, and the errors that overpay duty. Oct 8, 2026·14 min read

• ISF 10+2 Filing Requirements: Elements, Deadlines and the $5,000 Claim

  GingerControl explains ISF 10+2 filing requirements under 19 CFR part 149: the ten importer elements, two carrier elements, deadlines and $5,000 claims. Oct 8, 2026·13 min read

• How to Recover Overpaid Import Duties: PSC, Protest, 1520(d), or Drawback

  GingerControl's channel decision tree for recovering overpaid import duties: PSC before liquidation, protest within 180 days, 1520(d) preference claims, and drawback. Aug 3, 2026·3 min read
• Try it Check every deadline on one entry 180-day protest, PSC, deemed liquidation and drawback, from one date.

• How to Check Entry Liquidation Status in ACE (and Why It Gates Your 180-Day Protest Deadline)

  Check entry liquidation status in ACE, read every status value, and see why the liquidation date, not the courtesy email, starts your 180-day protest clock. Jul 20, 2026·16 min read

• Will CBP Refund IEEPA Tariffs Automatically? No, and Here's What You Must Do

  No, CBP does not refund IEEPA tariffs automatically. The IOR or broker must file a CAPE Declaration in ACE, and older entries need a protest within 180 days. Jul 19, 2026·12 min read

• You Inherited Your Brokers and Never Vetted Them: Building a Broker Selection, National-Permit, and POA Governance Program

  GingerControl helps importers build a customs broker selection program: RFP and scorecards, national permit checks, and governed powers of attorney. Jul 1, 2026·18 min read

• When Stacked Tariffs Saturate Your Customs Bond: A Continuous-Bond Sufficiency Program

  GingerControl shows finance and compliance how stacked 301, 232, IEEPA duties saturate a continuous bond and how to forecast sufficiency first. Jun 30, 2026·15 min read

• Responding to a CBP Pre-Penalty Notice: A 19 USC 1592 Defense and Mitigation Program

  GingerControl maps the 19 USC 1592 defense: culpability tiers, the pre-penalty response window, and the mitigation petition as a program. Jun 30, 2026·17 min read

• You Cannot Audit What Your Brokers Filed: Reconciling ACE Entry Data Against Your Own Records

  GingerControl shows how to reconcile what brokers filed in ACE (HTS, value, duty on each 7501) against your internal master before a CF-28 lands. Jun 24, 2026·16 min read

• CBP Focused Assessment Readiness: From One-Time Prep to a Standing Audit-Readiness Program

  GingerControl shows how to prepare for a CBP audit with a standing trade compliance audit readiness program, not one-time Focused Assessment prep. Jun 18, 2026·16 min read

• How to Request ACE Portal Access to File an IEEPA Tariff Refund

  GingerControl walks importers through requesting ACE Portal access and reciprocal-refund registration before filing an IEEPA tariff refund via CAPE. Jun 17, 2026·15 min read

• China-to-Mexico Nearshoring for US Importers: How Do You Qualify Products for USMCA?

  How do Chinese manufacturers qualify Mexico-finished products for USMCA preferential treatment? Tariff shift, regional value content, Mandarin and Spanish support. May 31, 2026·12 min read

• When Will I Get My CAPE Refund? Batch Timing Explained

  I explain why CAPE refunds arrive in multiple batches, how to read the REV-603 and REV-615 reports, and how to forecast cash flow during Phase 1. May 23, 2026·13 min read

• IEEPA Tariff Refund Guide: ACE, CAPE Process & Deadlines

  GingerControl walks through the IEEPA tariff refund process for importers: ACE setup, CAPE declarations, protest deadlines, and organizing claims at scale. May 3, 2026·17 min read

• How to Request a CBP Binding Ruling for HTS Classification

  Step-by-step guide to requesting a CBP binding ruling for HTS classification. Filing requirements, timeline, CROSS database research, and what to include. Apr 13, 2026·13 min read

• Prior Disclosure to CBP: How to Self-Report Classification Errors

  How and when to file a prior disclosure with CBP for classification errors. Penalty reduction benefits, filing requirements, and documentation needed. Apr 13, 2026·13 min read

• Customs Broker vs. In-House Classification: When to Use Each

  GingerControl compares customs broker vs in-house HTS classification on liability, cost, speed and records, and when in-house research with a broker fits best. Apr 13, 2026·9 min read

• Automating Reasonable Care: API-Driven Classification Documentation

  Learn how API-driven classification automates reasonable care documentation. Meet CBP requirements with audit-ready reports for every classification decision. Apr 4, 2026·13 min read

• C-TPAT for Importers: Is Trusted Trader Status Worth the Investment?

  Is C-TPAT worth it for importers? Compare benefits by tier, requirements, costs, and how trusted trader status reduces inspections and speeds customs clearance. Apr 4, 2026·14 min read