--- title: CAPE and ACE, Explained | IEEPA Refund Hub | PLS Logistics description: How CBP's ACE portal and CAPE refund tool work, what you need before filing an IEEPA refund, which entries qualify, and why files get rejected. --- [![PLS Logistics Services](https://www.plslogistics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/PLS-Logo-Standard.png)](https://www.plslogistics.com) [IEEPA refunds](https://plslogistics.com/ieepa-refund-resource-hub?hsLang=en) [Key dates](https://plslogistics.com/ieepa-key-dates?hsLang=en) [Entry status](https://plslogistics.com/ieepa-entry-status?hsLang=en) How to file [CAPE and ACEHow refund claims get filed](https://plslogistics.com/ieepa-cape-and-ace?hsLang=en) [Questions for your brokerA worksheet to bring to your broker](https://plslogistics.com/ieepa-questions#broker-questions) Resources [Readiness reviewHave our team look over where you stand](https://plslogistics.com/ieepa-readiness-review?hsLang=en) [Readiness checklistGet your records in order, step by step](https://plslogistics.com/ieepa-checklist?hsLang=en) [Compliance tool ↗See which import documents you may need](https://plslogistics.com/compliance-readiness-tool?hsLang=en) [FAQCommon questions, quick answers](https://plslogistics.com/ieepa-questions?hsLang=en) [GlossaryThe jargon, translated](https://plslogistics.com/ieepa-glossary?hsLang=en) [Request a Readiness ReviewGet a review](https://plslogistics.com/ieepa-readiness-review?hsLang=en) IEEPA Refund Resource Hub # CAPE and ACE, explained Every IEEPA refund runs through two CBP systems. Here's what each one does, what you need before you file, and what happens after you upload. [Walk me through it](https://plslogistics.com/ieepa-readiness-review?hsLang=en) [Back to the refund hub](https://plslogistics.com/ieepa-refund-resource-hub?hsLang=en) ACE Short for Automated Commercial Environment. It's CBP's online portal for customs business, where your account, entry reports, and refund bank details live. CAPE The refund tool inside ACE. You upload a list of entries here, CBP checks it, and accepted refunds get paid out. Set up first ## Three things CBP needs before it'll take your file If any of these are missing, your claim can't move. Start on them now, even if you're still pulling your entry list. 1 of 3 ### An ACE Portal account This is how you get into CAPE. If you don't have one yet, apply now. Approval can take a while. 2 of 3 ### Refund bank details CBP pays refunds by direct deposit only. You set this up in ACE as ACH Refund, separate from how you pay duties. 3 of 3 ### An active importer number Your importer of record number has to be active and match the importer on the entries you're claiming. Setup item 2, step by step ### Setting up refund bank details CBP only pays refunds by direct deposit, and you have to sign up for that separately in ACE, even if you already pay duties electronically. Without it, approved refunds sit on hold. [Help me get this set up →](https://plslogistics.com/ieepa-readiness-review?hsLang=en) 1. **01** **Log in to ACE** with the account tied to your importer number. 2. **02** **Enroll in ACH Refund** and add the bank account you want refunds paid to. 3. **03** **Wait for approval.** Refunds can't go out until CBP approves it, so do this before you upload your entry list. **Who can upload?** You, or the customs broker who filed the entries. A broker can't submit entries another broker filed. If that's your situation, we'll help you gather the right information, get organized, and figure out the next step. What you're uploading ## A CAPE Declaration is a list of entry numbers - **It's a spreadsheet file.** CBP gives you a template. Your file needs to follow it exactly. - **Up to 9,999 entries per file.** If you have more, split them across files. - **You get a claim number.** Use it to check where your refund stands. - **One entry, one claim.** An entry that's already been claimed will be rejected if you send it again. cape-declaration.csv Sample | # | Entry number | | --- | --- | | 1 | ABC-1234567-8 | | 2 | ABC-1234568-6 | | 3 | ABC-1234571-0 | | 4 | ABC-1234590-0 | Up to 9,999 rowsClaim number: **assigned after upload** After you upload ## What happens to your file Here's who's doing what at each step, so you know when the ball's in your court. 1. You ### Upload your entry list in ACE You or your filing broker submits the CAPE Declaration and gets a claim number. 2. CBP ### Checks the whole file CBP looks at the file itself first: the format, the template, and who's filing. A problem here can hold up everything in the file. 3. CBP ### Checks each entry Entries that pass are accepted. Ones that don't are rejected, and you can fix them and send them again. 4. CBP ### Redoes the math without IEEPA duties CBP recalculates each accepted entry as if the IEEPA tariffs never applied. That's called reliquidation. 5. Treasury ### Sends the refund, with interest Payment goes to your refund bank account. CBP estimates 60 to 90 days after it accepts your request. What CAPE takes ## Which entries you can claim right now CBP is opening CAPE in phases. Where your entry stands decides whether it can go in your file today. | Entry | In CAPE? | What to know | | --- | --- | --- | | Not yet liquidated, or liquidated in the last 80 daysPhase 1 | Yes | Most entries fall here. Don't let ones close to the 80-day mark sit. | | Flagged for reconciliation, no reconciliation entry filedEntry types 01, 02, 06 · Phase 2 | Yes | Same timing rule as Phase 1. Once a reconciliation entry (type 09) is filed, these wait for a later phase. | | Warehouse withdrawalsEntry types 31, 32, 34, 38 | Yes | The IEEPA duties were paid on the withdrawal, so that's what you claim. The refund is processed when the related warehouse entry liquidates. | | Warehouse entriesEntry types 21, 22 | No | CBP has rejected these since July 7, 2026. Claim the withdrawals instead. | | Finally liquidated entriesPhase 3, open since October 6, 2026 | Some | Only for importers with their own case at the Court of International Trade, whose entries are covered by a court order. Everyone else is waiting on the courts. | Not sure which bucket your entries are in? [See what each entry status means →](https://plslogistics.com/ieepa-entry-status?hsLang=en) Avoid rejections ## Why files get bounced Most rejections come down to small data mistakes. Catch them before you upload and you'll save yourself a round trip. ### Already got a rejection? We can help you sort out what went wrong and how to move forward. [Get help with a rejection](https://plslogistics.com/ieepa-readiness-review?hsLang=en) The filer and importer don't match **Fix:** make sure the importer number on your file matches the importer of record on every entry in it. Entry numbers are wrong **Fix:** pull entry numbers from ACE reports or your broker's records instead of retyping them. The file doesn't follow CBP's template **Fix:** start from CBP's current template and don't add, rename, or reorder columns. No refund bank details on file **Fix:** set up ACH Refund in ACE before you upload. Without it, even approved refunds sit on hold. The entry is outside the current window **Fix:** check the liquidation date. Entries liquidated more than 80 days ago aren't part of Phases 1 or 2. The entry doesn't show IEEPA duties **Fix:** only claim entries where IEEPA tariffs were actually charged. Regular duties, Section 301, Section 232, and antidumping duties aren't part of this refund. The entry was already claimed **Fix:** keep a running list of what you've submitted, and check with your broker so you're not both filing the same entries. ## Want a second set of eyes before you upload? Send us what you have. We'll help you gather the right information, get organized, and figure out the next step. [Have us take a look](https://plslogistics.com/ieepa-readiness-review?hsLang=en) [Talk to our team](https://www.plslogistics.com/contact/) [![PLS Logistics Services](https://www.plslogistics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/pls-beli-logo.png)](https://www.plslogistics.com) Get refund updates We'll email you when dates or rules change. ### Refund hub - [Key dates](https://plslogistics.com/ieepa-key-dates?hsLang=en) - [CAPE and ACE](https://plslogistics.com/ieepa-cape-and-ace?hsLang=en) - [Entry status](https://plslogistics.com/ieepa-entry-status?hsLang=en) - [FAQ](https://plslogistics.com/ieepa-questions?hsLang=en) - [Glossary](https://plslogistics.com/ieepa-glossary?hsLang=en) ### Get help - [Compliance tool](https://plslogistics.com/compliance-readiness-tool?hsLang=en) - [Readiness review](https://plslogistics.com/ieepa-readiness-review?hsLang=en) - [Readiness checklist](https://plslogistics.com/ieepa-checklist?hsLang=en) - [Questions for your broker](https://plslogistics.com/ieepa-questions#broker-questions) - [Contact us](https://www.plslogistics.com/contact/) Sources: [U.S. Customs and Border Protection, IEEPA Duty Refunds](https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/trade-remedies/ieepa-duty-refunds), [NCBFAA](https://www.ncbfaa.org/), and [USTR](https://ustr.gov/). This hub is general information, not legal advice. Dates and eligibility vary by entry and by legal path, and they can change as the courts rule. For questions about your specific entries, talk with your customs broker or a trade attorney. © 2026 PLS Logistics Services.