CBP to Launch IEEPA Refund Portal for Importers on April 20
U.S. Customs will launch the CAPE portal for IEEPA duty refunds on April 20, 2026.
Why it matters: Importers and legal professionals handling trade compliance will gain a clear, unified electronic process for claiming refunds on IEEPA duties. The system aims to improve efficiency and transparency following the Supreme Court's decision invalidating the tariffs.
- Phase 1 of CAPE opens April 20, 2026, at 8:00 AM ET for refund submissions.
- Importers and select brokers can submit claims for unliquidated and certain recent entries through ACE.
- Refunds, with interest, are expected in 60–90 days post-acceptance via ACH.
- Future CAPE phases are planned to expand entry type eligibility.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will roll out Phase 1 of the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) system on April 20, 2026, at 8:00 AM Eastern Time. This new portal enables importers and designated brokers to request refunds on duties filed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), after the Supreme Court ruled those tariffs unlawful.
- CAPE is accessible via the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Portal. To submit a request, importers must hold an ACE sub-account and provide U.S. bank information for electronic refunds through ACH.
- Eligible for Phase 1: unliquidated entries and those up to 80 days post-liquidation at the time of CAPE submission. The new system consolidates refund requests, streamlining resolution rather than handling claims one by one.
- Refunds with interest are generally expected within 60 to 90 days after a declaration is accepted, barring compliance complications. CAPE's phased rollout will ultimately cover a wider range of entry types and more complex claims, though specific details and dates are pending.
CBP introduced CAPE in response to the Supreme Court's February 2026 decision that IEEPA tariffs were unlawful, which set the stage for returning an estimated $166 billion in duties paid over more than 53 million entries.
By the numbers:
- $166 billion — Estimated IEEPA duties paid, now subject to refund
- 53 million — Number of entries affected by the IEEPA duty refunds
- 60–90 days — Timeline to issue refunds post-acceptance
Yes, but: The system currently excludes entries over 80 days past liquidation and further guidance on those claims is pending.
What's next: CBP plans to expand CAPE's capabilities in later phases, addressing more entry types and scenarios.