For most importers between $250K and $20M in International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) duties, contingency wins. Investors are paying 40-70¢ on the dollar to buy claims. Contingency attorneys typically charge 3-28% of recovery — leaving the importer with 72-97% of the refund. The tradeoff is timing: selling pays now, contingency typically pays in 4-12 months.
The math on a $1M claim
| Path | Importer keeps | Time to cash | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sell at 50¢ | $500,000 | ~30 days | None — fixed |
| Sell at 70¢ | $700,000 | ~30 days | None — fixed |
| Contingency (15%) | $850,000 | 4-12 months | No fee unless recovered |
| Contingency (8% admin) | $920,000 | 4-12 months | No fee unless recovered |
When selling makes sense
- You need cash within 30-60 days and cannot wait for the refund to process.
- Your claim is small (under $250K) and most contingency firms have minimums.
- You're closing or selling the business and want the asset off the balance sheet.
When contingency makes sense
- You can wait 4-12 months and want maximum dollars.
- Your claim is $250K+ and qualifies for contingency representation.
- You want U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT)-admitted counsel to handle protests and litigation in parallel.
How TRS prices. 8-15% on administrative refunds (PSCs, protests). 15-25% on litigation recoveries. If U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) launches the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) portal and we obtain a refund through it, the administrative fee is reduced by 50%. No upfront fees, no hourly billing.
Run your numbers with TRS →