IEEPA Tariff Refund CAPE Portal: Step-by-Step Guide to Claiming Back Duties in 2026

# IEEPA Tariff Refund CAPE Portal: Step-by-Step Guide to Claiming Back Duties in 2026

> **Quick answer:** The CBP CAPE portal went live April 20, 2026 at 8 AM EDT. Importers of record and authorized customs brokers can now file for IEEPA tariff refunds by uploading a CSV file of entry numbers through the ACE Secure Data Portal. Phase 1 covers unliquidated entries and entries liquidated within the past 80 days. Refunds are paid via ACH within 60 to 90 days. Consumers cannot file — only the business that imported the goods qualifies.

The IEEPA tariff refund CAPE portal is open, and if your business paid duties on imports flagged under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the window to reclaim those funds has started. Today, April 20, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) launched the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) tool inside the ACE Secure Data Portal — the exclusive mechanism for recovering IEEPA-related tariff duties. Here is the complete step-by-step guide for importers: what qualifies, how to file, what to expect, and what will get your claim rejected.

> **This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Consult a qualified financial advisor, customs attorney, or licensed customs broker for guidance specific to your situation.**

## What Is the CAPE Portal and Why It Exists

CAPE — Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries — is a new module inside the ACE Secure Data Portal, CBP's existing trade management platform. It was built specifically to process refunds for duties collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), following court rulings in early 2026 that mandated CBP issue those refunds.