UPDATED May 11
CAPE portal live — first ACH refunds expected May 12
CBP launched Phase 1 of the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) system within ACE on April 20, processing IEEPA duty refund requests following the February 20 Supreme Court ruling. As of early May, CBP has accepted roughly 21% of all submitted entries, with approximately 3% advanced to the refund queue. Electronic ACH refunds are now targeted to begin on or about May 12, 2026 — 60–90 days after entry acceptance.
Filing notes: Only the importer of record or the customs broker who filed the original entry may submit a CAPE Declaration (CSV upload via ACE). Refunds are not automatic — active filing is required. CAPE Phase 1 covers unliquidated entries and entries liquidated within 80 days of declaration acceptance. Reconciliation entries (Type 09) are excluded from Phase 1.
| CAPE PHASE 1 ELIGIBILITY | STATUS |
|---|---|
| Unliquidated entries | Eligible |
| Entries liquidated within 80 days of declaration | Eligible |
| Entries flagged for reconciliation | Excluded |
| Entry Type 09 – Reconciliation Summary | Excluded |
| Fully liquidated entries (80+ days) — Phase 2 | Pending CBP guidance |
Published May 4
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will deliver its next progress report on the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) Phase 1 rollout to the U.S. Court of International Trade on May 12 at 12 p.m. ET, followed by a closed settlement conference later that afternoon.
This update comes less than a month after CAPE Phase 1 went live on April 20—marking a critical checkpoint in the government’s effort to process refunds tied to IEEPA duties.
Early CAPE Performance and Refund Timeline
According to CBP’s April 28 update to the court:
- 21% of eligible entries have been accepted into CAPE for IEEPA duty removal
- ~3% of entries have already been liquidated and moved into the refund stage
- Initial refunds are expected to begin around May 11, issued by the U.S. Treasury
These early figures signal progress—but also highlight that the majority of entries are still working through the system.
Operational Challenges Emerging
During the April 28 proceedings, multiple issues were raised by stakeholders:
- ACE access delays, including long wait times for login resets
- Overcapacity in CAPE training sessions
- Confusion around importer identification when submitting declarations
- Uncertainty around interest calculations on refund amounts
CBP confirmed it will address these issues through updated guidance and expanded FAQ resources.
Eligibility Gaps and Ongoing Collection Issues
The court also discussed gaps in CAPE Phase 1 coverage and inconsistencies in duty collection:
- IEEPA duties may still be collected on reconciliation entries, particularly when values are adjusted
- Certain entry types remain excluded from Phase 1, including:
- Reconciliation entries
- Suspended entries
- Finally liquidated entries
These limitations reinforce that CAPE is not a universal solution—at least not in its current phase.
What to Watch on May 12
The upcoming court update is expected to provide clarity on:
- Refund processing speed and volume
- Resolution of ACE system access issues
- Guidance on interest calculations
- Potential expansion or adjustments to Phase 1 eligibility
This will be a key signal for how quickly importers can expect funds to be returned—and how operational bottlenecks are being addressed.
How The Alba Group Can Help
CAPE is moving—but not without friction. Execution still matters.
The Alba Group supports importers by:
- Managing CAPE declaration strategy and submission prioritization
- Identifying entries at risk due to eligibility limitations
- Monitoring refund progress and resolving ACE-related issues
- Advising on protest strategy for entries outside Phase 1 scope
As CBP continues to refine CAPE, having a clear plan—and the right partner—can make the difference between delayed recovery and timely refunds.
Contact us: https://albawheelsup.com/contact-us/
