CAPE Phase 1 Now Live

CAPE Phase 1 Now Live: Key Steps and What to Expect Next

The CAPE functionality for submitting IEEPA refund requests officially went live in the ACE Portal at 8:00 AM ET on April 20, marking the launch of Phase 1.

ACE Account Setup – Required for Refund Eligibility

As a reminder, all importers must establish an account in the Customs ACE Portal and ensure that bank account information is properly linked in order to receive any potential refunds.

Please note:

• The ACE account must be created by the Importer of Record (IOR)

• Accounts cannot be established by third parties

Please refer to our previous blog for step-by-step instructions on setting up an ACE account.

Upcoming Change from U.S. Customs: Refunds Moving to Electronic Payment Only Through ACE Portal

Although Importers may file through CAPE directly, IFF is offering CAPE filing services for entries filed through our office. If you are interested, please contact our customer service team for additional details and pricing.

What Happens After ACE Account Setup?

CBP has introduced the CAPE system (Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries) to streamline the refund process for recently liquidated entries.

Under Phase 1, CAPE allows CBP to process refund requests for entries liquidated within the past 80 days, enabling reliquidation within the 90-day statutory window where applicable.

Phase 2 has not yet been released but is expected to expand CAPE into a broader platform encompassing entry processing, refunds, and post-summary corrections.

How CAPE Works (Phase 1 Overview)

Once an ACE account is established, Importers of Record (IORs) can submit refund requests directly through the ACE Portal. Importers may also authorize their customs broker to submit requests on their behalf.

CAPE Tab – ACE Portal

• IORs and brokers can access the CAPE tab within the ACE Portal to submit CAPE Declarations

• Declarations are submitted via CSV upload and may include up to 9,999 entry numbers per file

• Only entry numbers should be included—no additional data is required

• Only specific entry types are eligible under Phase 1 (see applicable CSMS guidance) 

• CAPE Declarations may only be submitted by the IOR or the filing broker

• ACE performs validation at both the file and entry level before assigning a  CAPE claim number

• Entries failing validation are removed, while valid entries continue processing

Mass Processing by CBP

• CBP conducts mass processing on all accepted entries within a CAPE Declaration

• Applicable IEEPA Chapter 99 HTSUS numbers are removed

• Duties are recalculated as if IEEPA duties were not applied

• The refund amount is the difference between duties paid and recalculated duties owed.

• Interest is applied in accordance with 19 CFR 24.36

Refund Process

• Refunds are consolidated by IOR (or designated 4811 party) and liquidation date

• Payments are issued as a single refund per grouping

• CBP will offset any outstanding debts prior to issuing refunds

• Processing times may vary if entries are under review, suspended, extended, or selected for further examination

• In most cases, refunds are expected within 60–90 days of CAPE Declaration acceptance, absent compliance issues.

• Refund status can be monitored via ACE Reports, including the REV 615 CAPE Refunds Trade Report

Additional Important Notes

• Protests filed solely for IEEPA refunds may be withdrawn and replaced with a CAPE Declaration (subject to timing requirements)

• IEEPA refund requests cannot be submitted via Post Summary Corrections (PSC)

• All refunds are issued electronically via ACH; enrollment is required to avoid delays

Helpful Resources

• CAPE Declarations Quick Reference Guide here.

• ACH Refund Enrollment here.

• CAPE Functionality and Information here.

International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) Duty Refunds | U.S. Customs and Border Protection

For technical questions, please contact: IEEPARefunds@cbp.dhs.gov