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US Customs Opens IEEPA Tariff Refund Portal - Action May Be Required

Recently the U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed that it will begin accepting IEEPA tariff refund and the portal is now OPEN as of 8:00 AM EST today. If your business paid these tariffs, you may now be eligible to get that money back. Here’s what you need to know to get started:

Step 1: Make sure you’re set up to file
To submit a refund claim, you must:

Be the importer of record (or a designated filer)
Have an account on the ACE portal
Have ACH (electronic payment) set up to receive refunds
You can get started here

Step 2: Check if you’re eligible in Phase 1
The first phase includes:

Entries that are unliquidated, or entries within 80 days of liquidation. (For most businesses, this likely includes imports from roughly the past 314 days.)
You can check your entry status directly in the ACE portal.

Step 3: Submit your refund request
CBP has launched a new system inside ACE (called CAPE) to process refunds. To file:

Download the upload template spreadsheet
Enter your 11-digit entry numbers (this is the only required field)
Upload the file and certify your claim
Step-by-step instructions are available here

Step 4: Track your claim
Once submitted, you’ll be able to track:

Claim status and CBP review outcome
Approved refunds are expected within 60–90 days and will be issued via ACH.

Get Started

Happy Returns: Driving Guest Loyalty

Many restaurant operators have observed a noticeable shift in guest behavior over the last few years. According to Tillster’s 2025 Phygital Index Report, one in three diners say their favorite restaurant has changed in the past year – a clear sign that loyalty is increasingly up for grabs. Rather than defaulting to a familiar favorite, today’s guests are more willing to explore new concepts, resulting in potentially fewer repeat visits to any single restaurant. The result is less repeat patronage, the lifeblood of any successful restaurant.

The survey suggests that operators are under more pressure than ever to cement lasting relationships with their customers. That includes ways to keep your restaurant top-of-mind when they make plans to dine out. Here are some best practices to drive restaurant customer loyalty in this market.

Click Read More below for practical tips on driving guest loyalty.

Operations Tips

What's Good Wednesday

WRA Member Culver's of Waukesha just brought home the first-ever Ultimate Hometown Hero Award at this year's Culver's reunion in Nashville. Out of more than 1,050 restaurants in the entire system, only one award was given, and Waukesha's Sunset Drive and Main Street locations were chosen for their community involvement throughout the year. From volunteering at local events to serving up ButterBurgers with a smile, the team has made giving back a priority alongside great customer service. It's a win that belongs to the whole community who supports them every day.

#WRAProud of the tremendous impact they are making on the community!