U.S. CBP introduces new automated tool for IEEPA duty refunds
Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) is scheduled for deployment on April 20
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has developed a new automated tool, the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE), to streamline the refund process for duties collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). This new functionality within the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) is scheduled for deployment on April 20, 2026.
As explained in the CBP release—CSMS # 68340863 (April 13, 2026)—this development follows recent court rulings that directed CBP to liquidate or reliquidate entries without regard to the IEEPA duties. The CAPE system will allow CBP to manage the high volume of refunds by consolidating payments for Importers of Record (IOR) rather than issuing them on an entry-by-entry basis.