CBP to launch IEEPA tariff refund portal

The International Fresh Produce Association BB #:378962 released this member alert on April 13, 2026:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced that Phase 1 of its new refund tool—Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE)—will go live on April 20, 2026, in CBP’s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Secure Data Portal. 

This announcement confirms CBP’s timeline and provides the first concrete details on how refunds of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) will be processed following the Supreme Court’s February 20 decision invalidating those duties. 

Phase 1 Scope 

• Applies to certain unliquidated entries and entries within 80 days of liquidation 
• Additional functionality for more complex scenarios will be added in later phases 

How the CAPE Refund Process Will Work 

Under CAPE, Importers of Record (IORs) or their authorized customs brokers will: 

• Submit a CAPE Declaration through the ACE Secure Data Portal 
• Once accepted, CBP will:
  • Remove the IEEPA tariff classification 
  • Recalculate duties without IEEPA measures 
  • Update the entry record 
  • Liquidate or reliquidate the entry as appropriate 
• Refunds (including interest) will be consolidated by importer (or designated party) and paid electronically 

What Importers Need in Place 

To submit refund claims through CAPE, importers or their brokers must: 

• Have an active ACE Secure Data Portal account 
• Provide U.S. bank account information in ACE 
• Be enrolled in Automated Clearinghouse (ACH) Refunds, which CBP requires for electronic duty refunds 

CBP has emphasized that many affected companies are not yet enrolled in ACH refunds, which could delay receipt of funds. 

What Comes Next 

CBP has indicated it will continue to issue guidance via Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) as CAPE functionality expands. IFPA will monitor the situation closely and provide updates as additional phases are rolled out and eligibility broadens to additional entries. 

Please find more information on the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) Phase 1. 

Please find CBP’s one page overview of the ACH Refund Enrollment.  

Please find CBPs Frequently Asked Questions ACE Portal and ACH Refunds FAQs. 

Please direct any questions to USGR@freshproduce.com.