Traders use CAPE to consolidate refunds of duty paid on imported goods into the US under IEEPA duties, which include interest, rather than separate refunds for each customs declaration.

The current phase, phase 1, is limited to certain unliquidated entries and entries within 80 days of liquidation.

This first phase allows importers and customs brokers to file CAPE declarations through the ACE portal ( Automated Commercial Environment secure data portal).

CAPE Declarations can be submitted by the importer of record or the customs broker that filed the entries on behalf of the IOR.

Refunds are paid electronically. This can be applied for by either the importer or the freight forwarder.

If a broker or other third party is authorised by an importer as a notify party and is set up to receive refunds electronically, the authorised party may receive those refunds via ACH on the importer's behalf.

If a foreign importer chooses to open and maintain a U.S. bank account, the importer can use their ACE Portal account to authorise ACH refunds.

If a foreign importer chooses not to maintain a U.S. bank account, the importer can take the following steps to receive potential refunds:

• The importer can use their ACE Portal account to designate a U.S. Customs broker as an authorised notify party
• Designated notify parties can authorise ACH refunds via their own ACE Portal account’s Importer sub-account view
• On a given entry summary, a filer can indicate the intended notify party
• In the event of a refund, CBP will issue the available refund via ACH to the authorised notify party.

To understand more, please see  the CAPE Information Notice. 

How to file refunds via CAPE can be found on the  ACE Portal: CAPE Declarations Quick Reference Guide.

IEEPA Refunds and CAPE at the IEEPA Duty Refunds page on CBP.gov.

There is further information and support available to traders via two webinars hosted by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP )

CBP state: Please register for only 1 webinar; the same content is used for both webinars.

Please see below further guidance issued by the CBP :

After the live event, this and other previously recorded webinars will be available for replay at Trade Outreach Webinars | U.S.

Customs and Border Protection (cbp.gov). 

• Registration link for webinar on April 21 at 1:00 p.m. ET: Register here 
• Registration link for webinar on April 28 at 1:00 p.m. ET: Register here

ACE Portal and ACH Refunds Resources: 

• One Page Overview: ACH Refund Enrollment 
• Frequently Asked Questions: ACE Portal and ACH Refunds FAQs 
• Training Video: Electronic Refund Enrollment in the ACE Portal 
• Training Guide: Automated ACE Portal Account Application for Importers 
• Training Guide: ACE Portal: ACH Bank Information for Electronic Refunds 
• Training Guide: ACE Reports Trade Refund Report QRC 
• Rejected ACH Refund Information: Replacement Refund Instructions 

Technical questions should be directed to IEEPARefunds@cbp.dhs.gov