Frequently Asked Questions

TariffVault is built and operated by Venture Outsource LLC.

Platform and Privacy

How is access granted if there is no login?

After payment, you receive a unique license code in your receipt email. Paste it once into TariffVault and the platform stores a signed access token in your browser - no account, no password, no email entry on subsequent visits. The license code is the only thing that links a paying customer to platform access. TariffVault stores a one-way hash of the code (not the code itself) and the payment provider's transaction ID, so even with full database access there is no way to recover the original code or associate a paying user with their activity.

Do I need to create an account?

No. TariffVault does not create or store user accounts. There is no username, no password, and no profile. After payment, you receive a license code in your receipt email - paste it once into TariffVault and you are in. The license code is the only thing TariffVault uses to authorize access, and it is stored only as a one-way hash. The email address you provided at checkout is held by our payment provider under their own privacy policy, never copied into any TariffVault database, and never used for marketing or newsletters.

What data does TariffVault collect about me?

None. No cookies, no analytics, no session recording, no behavioral tracking, no browser fingerprinting. TariffVault does not collect or store your name, email address, IP address, or any personally identifiable information. The only exception is the email address you provide to our payment provider during payment, which is handled entirely by that provider under their own privacy policy. See the full privacy policy for details.

Where is my scenario data stored?

On your device only. All calculations - tariff impact modeling, workforce scenarios, risk analysis, notebook entries - run entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your inputs and results are saved in your browser's local storage. Nothing is transmitted to a server. Venture Outsource LLC has no access to your scenario data and no ability to view, retrieve, or recover it.

What happens to my saved data if I clear my browser or switch devices?

It's gone. This is the tradeoff of a privacy-first architecture - your data is never stored on a server, which means there is no server-side backup. Export your analysis as PDF or CSV before clearing browser data or switching devices. Exports capture your scenario inputs and results in portable formats you control.

Which browsers and devices are supported?

Works in modern Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. The Electronics Sourcing Risk Atlas requires a desktop or tablet (480px or wider screen). On phones, Atlas shows a list view instead of the interactive map; the report and workforce modeler tools work on phones.

Tools and Features

How is TariffVault different from a tariff database?

The published rates come from official sources. What you act on, the effective stack by origin, concentration, corridor risk, and absorb / pass-through / relocate, is TariffVault's decision layer. It is built from more than 25 years of contract electronics manufacturing sourcing strategy and execution work at Venture Outsource LLC. The platform does not ask for your supplier list. It applies that operating judgment to the pre-loaded electronics HTS codes ready when you open the workspace.

What tools are included?

Every license includes all three tools with no tier gating or feature paywalls: the HTS Tariff Report, the Workforce and Sourcing Scenario Modeler, and the Electronics Sourcing Risk Atlas. Other tools are in development and will be available when released. See the About page for detailed capability descriptions.

What does the HTS Tariff Report cover?

Search by Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code to retrieve current tariff rates, trade program eligibility, Section 301/201/232 applicability, reciprocal surcharges, and Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duty orders combined into an effective rate per source country. Also includes global export concentration showing which countries dominate world supply, country-of-origin tariff rate comparisons, country-level regulatory flags for UFLPA forced labor risk and Entity List proximity, alternative HTS classifications with potentially lower tariff rates, and sourcing geography evaluation based on current tariff structures.

What can I model with the Workforce and Sourcing Scenario Modeler?

Enter your own inputs - import value, tariff rates, headcount, revenue, margin - and model the financial and workforce impact of tariff scenarios. Includes multi-country landed cost comparison across up to 3 alternative sourcing origins, breakeven analysis, three-slider tariff cost response strategy (cost absorption, customer pass-through, sourcing relocation), multi-year financial projections, sourcing-driven headcount planning across 8 role categories, and a 6-paragraph executive summary tailored to your specific scenario.

What does the Electronics Sourcing Risk Atlas show?

Interactive map-based risk intelligence for electronics manufacturing supply chains. Three computed metrics - TariffVault Sourcing Dependency Index (TSDI), Commodity Source Concentration (CSC) across 11 electronics HS categories, and Logistics Corridor Risk scoring across preset and custom shipping corridors. Includes chokepoint disruption simulations, country and corridor risk timelines, a "What If" notebook for comparing risk snapshots, corridor comparison mode, and infrastructure layers showing semiconductor fabs, OSAT packaging facilities, manufacturing concentration clusters, critical mineral sources, cargo ports, and maritime chokepoints.

Can I export my analysis?

Yes. All tools support PDF and CSV export. PDFs include formatted reports suitable for sharing with stakeholders. CSVs provide structured data for use in spreadsheets or other systems. Exports are generated in your browser - no server-side processing.

Data and Freshness

Where does TariffVault source its data?

Automated feeds from dozens of official and public sources, including HTSUS, USTR, CBP, BACI/CEPII, WITS, UN Comtrade, IMF PortWatch, USGS, BGS, BEA, BIS, GDELT, and more. Full source list and refresh cadence on our data sources page. Sources supply the facts. The decision layer is how those facts are combined for an OEM sourcing decision.

How current is the data?

All data is pre-computed on TariffVault's servers, encrypted, and delivered to your browser as a one-time bundle on license activation. No runtime API calls. To pull the latest data, click Refresh in your browser.

What happens when tariff rates or trade policies change?

The next scheduled data refresh pulls updated rates and policy changes from official sources. Updated risk scores reflect the new conditions. You see the current score and the timestamp of the last refresh - not the news headline. This architecture means no loading spinners, no outages from third-party API failures, and no dependency on external services during your analysis session.

Pricing and Access

How does pricing work?

One-time payment. No subscriptions, no auto-renewals, no usage-based billing. Two options: 1-Year Access or Lifetime Access. Both include every tool and feature - no tier gating. See pricing for full details.

How does TariffVault compare to enterprise platforms like Kinaxis or Anaplan?

TariffVault delivers tariff intelligence, supply chain risk modeling, and workforce impact analysis purpose-built for OEM electronics manufacturing supply chain teams. Matching this scope across enterprise incumbents like Kinaxis, Anaplan, Everstream, Altana AI, Resilinc, or o9 Solutions typically requires three separate vendor contracts plus a multi-month integration project. TariffVault includes all three tools in a single license, ready out of the box. See the feature parity comparison for a side-by-side view of capabilities and pricing.

Is there a free trial?

No. Instead, TariffVault offers a 14-day money-back guarantee - no questions asked. Buy access, use the full platform with all tools, and request a full refund within 14 days for any reason. This gives you a real evaluation with real data, not a limited trial with gated features.

What's the difference between 1-Year and Lifetime access?

Both include exactly the same tools and features. 1-Year access lasts 12 months - you'll receive a 30-day expiry reminder before it ends and can purchase a new 1-Year license at the then-current rate or upgrade to Lifetime. Lifetime access never expires, includes all future features at no additional cost, and locks in your price permanently - no future price increases for existing Lifetime buyers.

Can I upgrade from 1-Year to Lifetime?

Yes. Upgrade anytime during your 1-Year term. Your full 1-Year payment applies as credit toward the Lifetime price, regardless of when you upgrade. One transaction, no proration. See pricing for current rates.

What is the refund policy?

Full refund within 14 days of purchase, no questions asked. Email insight@ventureoutsource.com to request a refund. See full terms.

Do you offer team or volume pricing?

Yes. Volume discounts start at 5 licenses. Each license is for a single user - all tools and features included. Email insight@ventureoutsource.com with your team size for a quote. Volume pricing details are listed on the pricing page.

What payment methods do you accept?

Payment is processed by our third-party payment provider. TariffVault never sees or stores your payment card details.

What if I lose my license code?

Two options. First, check your payment receipt email - the original code is included there and the provider retains receipts indefinitely. If you cannot find the receipt, email insight@ventureoutsource.com from the address you used at checkout. We will look up your purchase with our payment provider, issue a fresh license code linked to the same purchase, and revoke the old one. The previous code stops working as soon as the new one is issued.