A CAPE Declaration is the specific electronic filing that tells CBP which of your entries qualify for an IEEPA refund. Filed wrong, it gets rejected and sent to the back of the queue. Here's what it actually is, what it needs, and the four mistakes that trigger most rejections.
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CAPE (Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries) is CBP's dedicated electronic mechanism, built into the ACE Secure Data Portal, for identifying and refunding IEEPA duties. A CAPE Declaration is the filing itself — the CSV-based submission that tells CBP which entries you're claiming, under which Chapter 99 HTS codes, and confirms your entries fall within the scope of whichever CAPE phase is currently active.
| Rejection reason | What it means |
|---|---|
| Entry-mix errors | Combining entries from different phases or eligibility categories in one Declaration |
| Wrong tariff authority coding | Misclassifying duties under IEEPA Chapter 99 codes when they're actually Section 301/232 |
| Bad ACH enrollment | Refund can't be issued electronically because banking details aren't on file or don't match |
| Incorrect CSV formatting | File structure doesn't match CBP's required Declaration format |
Source: CBP CSMS guidance, as tracked in our Wire Intelligence updates.
Since February 6, 2026, CBP issues all refunds electronically via ACH only. If you're not enrolled in the ACE Portal with valid banking details, your refund gets held even after approval.
Only entries coded under 9903.01 or 9903.02 qualify. Section 301, Section 232, and antidumping/countervailing duties are separate authorities and won't be accepted on an IEEPA CAPE Declaration.
As of July 7, 2026, warehouse entries (Types 21/22) are no longer accepted directly — file the corresponding withdrawal types (31/32/34/38) instead.
Formatting errors are one of the most common rejection triggers. Validate structure before submission rather than finding out via rejection.
It's filed electronically through the ACE Secure Data Portal, typically by whoever holds ACE access for your entries — often your customs broker, though importers with direct ACE access can file themselves.
A rejected Declaration needs to be corrected and resubmitted. Given the appeal and phase rollout are both still active, a rejected filing can mean real delay, not just an inconvenience — which is why validating data before submission matters.
No. If your entries fall outside the active phase (for example, finally liquidated entries before Phase 3 opens, or without a filed CIT case), CAPE isn't the right mechanism yet — a protest or CIT filing may be your path instead.
No, they're separate steps. Even an accepted, correct Declaration won't result in payment until ACH enrollment is complete and validated.
TariffIQ™ checks your HTS coding, entry types, and phase eligibility before anything goes to CBP — free, in minutes.
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