Methodology
“That was not our tariff”: why it matters which version was in force
Published: 2026-09-25
Written by Vytautas Natys, director of UAB NVGroup.
The typical turn in a dispute looks like this. You bring a claim, relying on the tariff. The other side replies that a different edition was in force during that period. And the conversation stops, because both sides are relying on a document whose versions do not match.
Why this happens
Tariffs change more often than people assume. Terminal tariffs are reviewed on annual cycles, carrier surcharges quarterly, and some rates — fuel excise refund rates, for instance — can change every few months and be suspended temporarily.
A dispute about a past period is held once the edition in force is already a different one. And the web page shows the latest version, not the one that applied.
What has to be recorded
Four things for every rule you rely on.
The value — the rate, the deadline or the condition itself.
The period of validity — from when and until when this edition applies.
The source — where it was published, with a precise reference.
The moment of capture — when you wrote it down, and preferably a raw copy of that page or document.
The fourth point is the one almost nobody covers, and it is precisely the one that settles the dispute. A dated copy shows what was published at the time, regardless of what is displayed today.
The practical consequence
If you run the audit yourself, save a copy of the tariff on the day you use it, not on the day the dispute arises. By then it can no longer be done.
If you buy the audit, ask whether the report will state the tariff version and the date it was captured. A report that says only “under the tariff” will not help in a dispute.
What else this gives you
Repeatability. If every input and every rule is on record, anyone can redo the calculation — your accountant, an auditor or the other side itself.
A calculation nobody can redo is, in a dispute, merely an opinion.
Frequently asked questions
Why is a link to the tariff page not enough?
The page shows the latest version, not the one in force during the disputed period. A link without a capture date and a copy does not prove what was published at the time.
What does “moment of capture” mean?
The date on which the value was written down, and preferably a raw copy of that document. It is the only way to show later what was published on that day.
Is this needed for every finding?
For every finding that rests on an external rule — a tariff, a standard rate or a provision of law. Findings based solely on the client's own contract rest on the contract document itself.