CAPE Phase 1 Launches April 20
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed Phase 1 of the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) portal launches on April 20, 2026, to handle IEEPA tariff refunds. This follows the Court of International Trade’s (CIT) directive after dismissing Atmus Filtration, Inc. v. United States and selecting Euro-Notions Florida, Inc. v. United States as the new lead case. Importers must act quickly to prepare ACE accounts and entry lists for refunds expected in 60-90 days.
Eligibility and Submission Rules
Phase 1 covers unliquidated entries, those within 80 days of liquidation, plus suspended, extended, or under-review entries, including warehouse entries. Submit via a new CAPE tab in ACE using CSV files listing entry numbers (up to 9,999 per file); multiple submissions allowed but no amendments. Only Importers of Record or authorized brokers can file directly—no ABI or third parties—and ACH must be enabled for refunds.
Preparation Steps for Importers
Set up or verify ACE importer subaccount with ACH linked to a bank; update CBP Form 5106 for accurate contact info. Compile eligible entry lists with IEEPA HTS Chapter 99 duties; limit to Phase 1 scope now, as later phases cover protests and older entries. Monitor status via ACE REV-603 reports; avoid Post Summary Corrections for IEEPA claims.
Key Risks and Next Steps
A government appeal is possible by June 8, 2026, so file protests for non-Phase 1 entries as backups. CAPE validations check filer status, formatting, entry existence, and no duplicates, secure ACE access against fraud. Contact experts like OFW Law for ACE or litigation guidance to maximize refunds.
Our team is assisting importers with ACE and CAPE training should you need support. Please contact Denise Calle [email protected]
