The classification error you don't catch is the one CBP will.
CBP enforcement is up 41% since 2023. The average civil penalty is $4,000 per entry. Misclassification multipliers hit 4x. Declaro gives customs brokers AI-powered HTS classification backed by 220,000+ CBP CROSS rulings — so you catch errors before CBP does.
The enforcement reality customs brokers face today
Three reasons misclassification is getting more dangerous
CBP enforcement is intensifying. The talent pipeline is shrinking. And the penalties are compounding. Every entry is a liability — or a defense.
The Penalty Trap
Under 19 USC 1592, a single misclassified entry can trigger a civil penalty of $4,000. Multiply that across a shipment manifest and add the 4x misclassification multiplier — and one audit can define a quarter.
License Exposure
It is not just fines. CBP can pursue broker license suspension or revocation under 19 USC 1641. The SpecGrade LED case is a reminder that classification errors on high-volume accounts carry license-level consequences.
The Talent Gap
The broker exam pass rate is sub-15%. Experienced classifiers are retiring. Firms are being asked to handle more SKUs with fewer senior staff — creating a growing quality gap at exactly the moment enforcement is accelerating.
Classification is broken — and getting worse
Manual CROSS research was never designed for the speed and volume of modern trade. Three problems compound daily.
Hours lost to CROSS research
Finding the right ruling for a novel product means reading dozens of CBP letters. Senior classifiers spend 30–90 minutes per SKU on research alone — time that should be billable.
Tariff volatility outpaces manual updates
Section 301 lists change. HTS schedules update. Broker teams are the last to know. A classification that was correct six months ago may be wrong today.
License on the line
Under 19 USC 1592, one misclassified entry can mean a $4,000 civil penalty. A pattern of errors can trigger 19 USC 1641 license proceedings. The SpecGrade LED case is not an outlier — it is a preview.
What happens when you give 12.5 hours a day back to your team
David Park, a customs broker with 85 active importer accounts, modeled what Declaro would mean for his practice.
From product description to ruling-backed HTS code
Declaro searches 220,000+ CBP CROSS rulings in real time, surfaces the most applicable precedents, and returns a confidence-scored HTS code — with the ruling citations to defend it.
Your clients have $166B in eligible refunds. You're the authorized filer.
As the licensed customs broker of record, you are uniquely positioned to identify overpaid duties in your clients' entry history and file CBP protests on their behalf. CAPE is how you turn that position into a revenue stream.
Share your client entry list
Provide a list of importer accounts and entry dates. No ACE credentials required at this stage.
Declaro surfaces refund opportunities
Declaro provides the analysis for your review — identifying entries where HTS classification may have resulted in overpaid duties, backed by CROSS ruling citations.
You file, you earn
As the licensed broker, you file the CBP protests. Declaro charges a 20% contingency fee — you only pay when clients recover duties.
Founding partner access — no charge to see the numbers.
Be one of the first 25 broker firms.
Founding partners get preferred pricing, direct access to the product team, and early access to every new feature — in exchange for feedback that shapes the roadmap.
Apply for founding partner access
Connect your classification workflow — API or web app
Founding partner pricing — first 25 firms only.
Your import clients may be overpaying. Declaro helps you find out.
Importers trust their customs broker to find opportunities they cannot see themselves. Declaro gives you the analysis to make that conversation happen.
Share your product catalog
Submit your current product list with descriptions and countries of origin. No special format required.
Declaro audits prior entries
We review your past entries against the 180-day protest window from entry liquidation (CAPE has a separate lookback period).
Your broker files, you recover
CBP protests are filed by your licensed customs broker. Declaro provides the analysis. You share in the recovered duties.
What Declaro does for your practice
Ruling-cited classification engine
Paste a product description. Get an HTS code backed by the most applicable CBP CROSS rulings, with the ruling citations to support it.
Duty Rate Breakdown
See base rate, Section 301, antidumping, and countervailing duties stacked side-by-side for every classification result.
Real-Time Tariff Monitoring (Early Access)
Get notified when tariff schedules change for your active product catalog. Stop finding out from clients.
CROSS Ruling Search
Full-text search across 220,000+ CBP ruling letters. Find precedent for any product description without manual CROSS lookups.
Prior Entry Audit (CAPE)
Identify past entries where clients may have overpaid. Review the analysis, file CBP protests, recover duties.
Broker API
Integrate Declaro directly into your clearance workflow. Batch classify, retrieve rulings, and pull duty rates programmatically.
How Declaro compares
Existing tools were built for enterprise trade teams, not customs brokers. Declaro is the first platform designed around broker workflows — ruling citations, broker API, and CAPE analysis included.
Two ways to work with Declaro
Whether you want to classify faster or unlock refunds for your clients, there is a path for your practice.
CAPE Analysis
Let Declaro audit your client entry history for duty overpayments. You review the analysis, file protests as the broker of record, and share in the recovery.
- 20% contingency fee — no upfront cost
- Results delivered within 24 hours
- You remain the broker of record
Founding Partner Program
Join the first 25 broker firms building Declaro. Get preferred pricing, direct product access, and early features in exchange for shaping the roadmap.
- Preferred founding partner pricing
- CBP ruling citations included
- First 25 firms — apply now
The classification error you make today is the CBP notice you receive tomorrow.
Declaro is purpose-built for customs brokers. Every classification is backed by CBP CROSS rulings. Every result is reviewable before it goes into a filing.
We are building Declaro with the first 25 firms.
Founding partners get preferred pricing, direct product influence, and early access to every capability — including CAPE. If you classify for a living, this program is for you.
Frequently asked questions
No. Declaro provides AI-assisted classification analysis backed by CBP CROSS ruling citations. It is a research and workflow tool for licensed customs brokers. The broker of record is responsible for the final classification decision on every entry. Declaro accelerates the research — you own the determination.
You share a list of importer accounts and entry dates. Declaro analyzes the entries and identifies where prior HTS classifications may have resulted in overpaid duties. You review the analysis, decide which entries to protest, and file as the licensed broker of record. Declaro charges a 20% contingency fee — no charge until your clients recover duties.
Under U.S. customs law, importers generally have 180 days from the date of entry liquidation to file a protest with CBP disputing the classification or duty assessment. CAPE analysis identifies entries still within this window — or entries that may qualify under a separate lookback period. Your broker determines which entries to pursue.
Founding partners receive preferred pricing confirmed directly during onboarding. Founding partners also get direct product team access, early feature access, and the ability to shape the roadmap. This program is limited to the first 25 broker firms.
Declaro indexes CBP's public CROSS (Customs Rulings Online Search System) database, which contains over 220,000 binding and informational ruling letters. Our system searches this corpus in real time against your product description, surfaces the most applicable precedents, and uses them to anchor the HTS recommendation. You can review every ruling citation before using the result.
The classification error you don't catch is the one CBP will.
Declaro gives customs brokers AI-powered HTS classification backed by 220,000+ CBP CROSS rulings. Catch errors before CBP does. Recover overpaid duties for your clients. Join the founding partner program before the first 25 spots are filled.
220,000+ CBP CROSS rulings · Founding partner program · 20% contingency fee on recovery