The CAPE portal — Customs Automated Protest and Entry system — is how you file for IEEPA refunds with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It's the only way to submit a refund claim, and there's no paper alternative.
Before You Start
You need three things before you touch the CAPE portal.
First, you need to know which entries are refund-eligible. That means you've already screened your 7501s, identified the lines where IEEPA duties were paid, confirmed they're not Section 232 or 301, and calculated the refundable amount. Filing without this analysis is like submitting a tax return without reviewing your W-2s.
Second, you need your entry documentation. This includes the entry number, line item details, HTS codes, Chapter 99 codes, duty amounts paid, country of origin, and entry dates. Your customs broker can provide this data.
Third, you need an ACE account. ACE — the Automated Commercial Environment — is CBP's trade processing system. If you're an importer of record, you likely already have access. If not, you'll need to register at ace.cbp.dhs.gov.
Step 1: Register for CAPE Access
The CAPE portal is accessed through your ACE account. Once logged in, navigate to the CAPE section. If you don't see it, you may need to request access — your broker or a CBP client representative can help.
Registration requires your importer of record number, your ACE credentials, and banking information for refund payment. CBP issues refunds via ACH, so your banking details must be on file and verified before a payment can be processed.
Important: having an ACE account does not mean refunds happen automatically. ACE gives you visibility into your entries. CAPE is where you file the actual claim. These are separate systems with separate purposes.
Step 2: Prepare Your Claim Data
For each entry line you're claiming, you need to provide the entry number and line number, the original HTS code and Chapter 99 code, the duty rate that was applied, the duty amount paid, the correct IEEPA rate (after rollback), the refundable difference, and supporting documentation.
Organize this data in a spreadsheet before you start entering it in the portal. The CAPE interface is functional but not forgiving — if you lose your session, you may need to re-enter data.
Step 3: Submit the Claim
In the CAPE portal, create a new claim. Select the appropriate claim type (IEEPA refund). Enter the entry information line by line. Attach supporting documentation. Review everything for accuracy. Submit.
After submission, CBP assigns a case number. You'll use this to track status. Processing times vary — some claims are processed in weeks, others take months. There is no way to expedite the process.
Step 4: Track and Follow Up
After filing, monitor your claim status through the CAPE portal. Common statuses include received, under review, approved, and denied. If your claim is denied, you'll receive a reason — the most common are incorrect entry data, wrong tariff program identification, and insufficient documentation.
If a claim is denied, you may have the option to refile with corrected information, depending on the reason and the deadline situation.
Common Mistakes That Cause Rejections
Wrong tariff program. Filing an IEEPA claim for a duty that was actually Section 232 or 301. This is the most common and most preventable error. Always confirm the Chapter 99 code maps to an IEEPA program before filing.
Incorrect entry number format. Entry numbers have a specific format. Transposing digits, omitting the check digit, or using the wrong filer code will cause the system to reject the line item.
Mismatched data. The duty amount you claim must match what CBP's records show. If your 7501 shows a different number than what you enter in CAPE, the system flags it.
Missing documentation. CAPE claims require supporting documents. Submitting a bare claim without the underlying entry data, duty calculation, and explanation is a fast way to get denied.
Filing after deadline. Refund claims have time limits. If your entry has fully liquidated and the protest window has closed, you're out of options. Don't wait.
Should You File Yourself or Use a Broker?
You can file through CAPE yourself if you have the data, the ACE access, and the confidence that your screening is accurate. The portal is self-service by design.
However, if you're not certain which duties are IEEPA versus 232/301, if you have a large number of entries to review, or if you want someone to handle the filing and follow-up, working with a broker or trade advisor makes sense. The cost of professional screening is small relative to the potential recovery — and far smaller than the cost of a rejected claim or missed deadline.