A specialist compliance practice for independent fuel marketers, wholesalers, haulers, and pipeline throughputters. Federal and multi-state filings, audit defense, and exposure remediation — run by an operator, not a generalist.
Every engagement starts with a free Refund Recovery Audit. We recover unclaimed federal excise refunds on contingency — most operators see six- and seven-figure findings, but the three-year claim window closes quietly.
A generalist CPA who files four 720s a year is not the same as a practitioner who files dozens every quarter. The difference shows up as cash quietly leaving the business — overpayments that never come back and refundable claims that are never filed. We have recovered more than $350k in federal excise refunds from a single systemic pattern.
There are categories of federal excise tax that independent distributors and wholesalers routinely pay twice — once upstream, then again on their own 720. It is consistent, it is industry-wide, and most operators have no idea it is happening on their own returns.
Off-highway use, dyed diesel, exports, and feedstock claims on Form 8849 add up to real money. A generalist preparer filing a handful of 720s a year does not know what to look for, and the client never finds out.
By the time the IRS letter lands, the failure-to-file or failure-to-deposit penalty has already compounded with interest. The owner hears about it from the bookkeeper, not the preparer.
Federal excise refund claims carry a three-year statute of limitations from the date of the original filing. Every quarter that passes, another claim expires. Refunds you were entitled to become money the IRS simply keeps.
“ The refund is already yours. It is sitting with the IRS, and it is on a three-year clock. The only question is whether anyone claims it before the window closes. Practice note, RO/2026
Two engagements. One wedge, one retainer. Both built around motor fuel excise and nothing else.
We review your last three years of federal excise filings at no cost to you. If we identify recoverable overpayments, we prepare and file the amended return on your behalf. When the IRS issues the refund directly to you, we collect an agreed share of the recovered amount. If we don’t recover anything, you owe nothing. Free audit → we find refunds → you receive the check → we take a share → you keep the rest. Specific contingency terms are quoted after a discovery call.
Once the historical refund window is captured, clients who want this handled correctly going forward engage us on a fixed monthly retainer. Fixed monthly pricing based on states, entities, and complexity — quoted after a discovery call. The forms and reporting below are what the retainer covers.
The practice is led by Nate Rawlins, who has spent more than a decade inside the fuel industry. The last six years were spent as the financial controller responsible for excise compliance at scale.
A practitioner’s practice. Built by someone who has filed these returns from the operator’s seat, not from a generalist tax shop reading them for the first time.
Refyned Ops was founded after years of watching independent operators overpay excise tax and absorb penalty notices that never should have been issued. The thesis is simple: a narrow practice, run by a practitioner, that recovers what is owed and files it correctly from here forward.
Independent fuel marketers, wholesalers, haulers, and pipeline throughputters. Operating in 1–5 states, $5M–$50M in revenue, bonded in at least one state. Current geography is the Southeast (GA, FL, SC, AL) with capacity to expand nationwide.
Four phases. Free to start, contingency on recovery, optional retainer going forward. Documented at every step so the client knows exactly what is happening and what is owed.
We collect the last three years of federal excise filings and supporting schedules. We review them for recoverable overpayments and missed credits, and quantify the refund opportunity. Zero cost to you. No engagement beyond this phase unless you elect to proceed.
Once an engagement letter is signed, we prepare and file the amended returns and refund claims (8849, amended 720, and state equivalents where applicable). The IRS issues the refund directly to the client. We collect our contingency share once you’ve received the money.
Clients who want excise filed correctly going forward convert to a monthly retainer. Monthly: state distributor returns. Quarterly: 720. As filed: 8849 refund claims. Annual: 637 registration renewals and state license maintenance. Fixed monthly pricing based on states, entities, and complexity — quoted after discovery call.
Workpapers organized to IRS audit standard from day one. If an examination opens, we represent the filing position with the underlying data already structured for review.
The form below opens a file under RO-1040 and starts the audit. No cost. No obligation. We respond within two business days, from a person, not a queue.