At a glance
- What changed
- U.S. Customs Announces How Importers Can Request IEEPA Tariff Refunds
- Who is affected
- North America
- Business impact
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has officially announced that it is activating a new system to return tariffs that were collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). This system is now moving from…
U.S. Customs Announces How Importers Can Get IEEPA Tariff Refunds
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has officially announced that it is activating a new system to return tariffs that were collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). This system is now moving from planning to live operation.
Beginning April 20, 2026, CBP will launch Phase 1 of a new process called CAPE (Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries) within its existing customs platform, ACE. CAPE is how Importers will request refunds of IEEPA tariffs they previously paid.
If your Importer paid special IEEPA-related tariffs during the affected period, this is the first official step by CBP that allows refunds to be requested and processed through a centralized system.
- Refunds will not be automatic. Importers must submit a request.
- All refund requests must be submitted through CBP’s CAPE system.
- CBP will group refunds together by Importer instead of issuing one refund per shipment.
How The Refund Process Works (Simple Terms)
- Importer or customs broker submits a refund request through the CAPE system.
- CBP removes the IEEPA tariff charges from the affected imports.
- CBP recalculates duties as if the IEEPA tariffs never applied.
- CBP completes its normal final review of the import.
- Once that review is finished, CBP issues the refund electronically.
- Importer must have access to CBP’s ACE Portal.
- Importer must be set up to receive electronic refunds (ACH/direct deposit).
- If electronic payment details are missing or incorrect, refunds may be delayed.
- This process does not guarantee a refund.
- It does not speed up CBP’s normal review timelines.
- It does not change other duties, fees, or tariffs unrelated to IEEPA.
Refund timing will depend on CBP’s normal review and approval process. Submitting a request does not mean money is returned immediately. CBP will only issue refunds after completing its standard review steps.
This update summarizes CBP’s public announcement for general awareness only. CRANE does not guarantee refund approval, amount, or timing. All refunds remain subject to CBP review, system limitations, and applicable court orders. Crane Worldwide Logistics does not determine eligibility and relies on information provided by the importer of record.
If IEEPA tariff refunds or CBP’s new CAPE process may impact your organization, our Trade Consulting team is available to support you. We can assist with refund eligibility reviews, import and liquidation analysis, CAPE submission strategy, and CBP compliance considerations as implementation continues to evolve. Contact our Tariff Response Unit to discuss next steps.
Need help understanding your exposure?
Crane Trade Consulting can help assess tariff impacts, validate exclusions and develop practical mitigation strategies.