CBP announced CAPE tool launch for IEEPA duty refund claims
CBP title: Introduction - Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) for IEEPA Refunds, April 20, 2026 Deployment
This message is from April 10, 2026. Later CSMS messages may have changed it. See the latest trade news
What did CBP announce?
CBP announced that on April 20, 2026 it would launch the first phase of CAPE (Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries) in the ACE Portal. CAPE lets importers of record and authorized brokers file CAPE Declarations to request consolidated IEEPA duty refunds with interest, instead of entry-by-entry processing. Phase 1 covers certain unliquidated entries and certain entries within 80 days of liquidation. CBP said it would issue further CSMS messages as it adds functionality.
What is Allied's position?
This announcement set up the CAPE process that CBP now uses for IEEPA refunds. We file CAPE Declarations in the ACE Portal for clients seeking IEEPA duty refunds on eligible entries, and this remains the current CBP process. Clients who believe they have IEEPA duties to recover should confirm they have an ACE Portal account with refund bank information on file and ask us to review their entries for eligibility.
General information, not legal advice.
What does the CBP message say?
On April 20, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will launch the first phase of the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) tool in the Automated Commercial Environment Secure Data Portal (ACE Portal). CAPE will simplify International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) duty refund requests made pursuant to court order and in accordance with appropriate statutory authority by providing an electronic pathway to submit valid IEEPA duty refund claims.
CAPE is designed to consolidate refunds of IEEPA duties including interest rather than processing refunds on an entry-by-entry basis. CBP plans to implement CAPE through a phased development approach, adding more functionality in subsequent phases for more complicated scenarios. CAPE Phase 1 is limited to certain unliquidated entries and certain entries within 80 days of liquidation.
Requesting refunds of IEEPA duties requires only the following summarized actions:
- Importers of Record (IORs) and authorized Customs brokers have an established ACE Secure Data Portal account (ACE Portal account)
- Refund recipients use the ACE Portal account to provide CBP with bank account information for refunds
- IORs and authorized Customs brokers submit CAPE Declarations in the ACE Portal
The CAPE process starts with the filing of the CAPE Declaration in the ACE Portal by the IOR or the authorized broker who filed entries on behalf of the IOR. Once accepted, CBP will remove the IEEPA Harmonized Tariff Schedule number and recalculate the duties due without IEEPA, updating the entry to a new version. CBP will review the updated version of the entry and liquidate or reliquidate. Refunds will be consolidated by IOR or the party designated via CBP Form 4811 and liquidation date.
IORs and brokers who will be filing CAPE Declarations are encouraged to prepare for CAPE filing by ensuring that they have an ACE Portal account and that their bank account information for refunds has been added to their account. For additional information about ACE Portal access and ACH refunds visit the resources below:
- One Page Overview: ACH Refund Enrollment (https://www.cbp.gov/document/guidance/cbp-modernizes-electronic-refund-enrollment-process)
- Frequently Asked Questions: ACE Portal and ACH Refunds FAQs (https://www.cbp.gov/trade/automated/ace-portal-and-ach-refunds-faqs)
- Training Video: Applying for an ACE Portal Importer Account and Enrolling in ACH Refunds (https://www.cbp.gov/medialibrary/assets/video/65945)
- Training Guide: ACE Portal Importer Account Application (https://www.cbp.gov/document/guidance/automated-ace-portal-account-application-importers)
- Training Guide: ACH Refund Enrollment in the ACE Portal (https://www.cbp.gov/document/guidance/ace-portal-ach-bank-information-electronic-refunds)
- Rejected ACH Refund Information: Replacement Refund Instructions (https://www.cbp.gov/trade/priority-issues/revenue/replacement-checks)
To learn more about CAPE functionality in ACE, please see the CAPE Information Notice (https://www.cbp.gov/document/guidance/trade-information-notice-cape). For more information on the CAPE filing process, please see the CAPE Refund Quick Reference Guide (https://www.cbp.gov/document/guidance/ace-portal-cape-declarations-quick-reference-guide).
CBP will continue to issue messaging via the Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) to ensure the trade community is informed and prepared to utilize this new tool and as new enhancements are deployed.
Technical questions regarding this message should be directed to IEEPARefunds@cbp.dhs.gov (mailto:IEEPARefunds@cbp.dhs.gov). General questions regarding this message should be directed to traderelations@cbp.dhs.gov (mailto:traderelations@cbp.dhs.gov).
learn more about CAPE functionality in ACE, please see the CAPE Information Notice. For more information on the CAPE filing process, please see the CAPE Refund Quick Reference Guide.
CBP will continue to issue messaging via the Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) to ensure the trade community is informed and prepared to utilize this new tool and as new enhancements are deployed.Technical questions regarding this message should be directed to IEEPARefunds@cbp.dhs.gov. General questions regarding this message should be directed to traderelations@cbp.dhs.gov.