ACE Prerequisites: What You Need Before You Start
The CAPE portal operates within CBP's Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). You cannot access CAPE without an active ACE importer account. Before attempting to file:
- Verify your ACE account is active. Go to ACE.CBP.gov and confirm you can log in. If your account has been inactive, contact CBP to reactivate it before attempting CAPE access.
- Confirm your IOR number is correct. The EIN or SSN registered in your ACE account must match the IOR on your 7501 entries. Discrepancies will cause claim rejections.
- Register ACH banking information. This is non-negotiable. Navigate to your importer profile in ACE, find the ACH payment section, and enter your ABA routing number and bank account number. CBP cannot process your refund without this.
- Download the official CAPE CSV template. Find it in the CAPE section of ACE or on CBP.gov. Do not use a homemade template — CBP's system requires exact column names.
ACH Setup in ACE: Step by Step
- Log into ACE at ACE.CBP.gov
- Navigate to Account Management → Importer Profile
- Select "Financial Information" or "Banking Information"
- Enter your bank's ABA routing number (9 digits, printed at the bottom of your checks)
- Enter your checking account number
- Verify the account type (checking vs. savings)
- Save and confirm — CBP may send a small verification deposit
Note: Use a business checking account in the name of the IOR entity. ACH account name should match your business legal name as registered with the IRS.
The CAPE CSV Format
The CAPE CSV is a structured data file with one row per entry line. CBP publishes the official template — use it. Required fields include:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| entry_number | Full entry number exactly as on 7501 (letter + 9 digits) |
| entry_date | Consumption entry date (YYYY-MM-DD format) |
| hts_code | 10-digit HTS classification code |
| country_of_origin | 2-letter ISO country code (e.g., CN, VN, DE) |
| dutiable_value | CBP's dutiable value in USD (from 7501) |
| ieepa_rate | IEEPA rate applied as decimal (e.g., 0.46 for 46%) |
| ieepa_duty_paid | Actual IEEPA duty amount collected by CBP in USD |
The 9,999-Entry Limit
The CAPE CSV has a 9,999-row limit per submission file. This is a technical constraint of the current system. Importers with more than 9,999 entry lines must split their claim into multiple CSV files and submit each separately.
CBP accepts multiple CAPE submissions per importer. There is no announced limit on the total number of submissions. When splitting, use a logical division — for example, by country of origin, by entry date range, or by port of entry — to keep your records organized.
Do not include a header row in continuation files (files 2, 3, etc.). Only the first file needs headers; subsequent files should start with data rows directly.
Issues at Launch (April 20, 2026)
The CAPE portal launch experienced several technical issues in the first hours of operation. CBP addressed most of these by midday, but filers who encountered problems should be aware of:
- Login delays due to higher-than-expected concurrent access
- CSV encoding rejection when files were not saved as UTF-8
- Case-sensitive column headers — use the template exactly
- Trailing whitespace in entry numbers causing lookup failures
Post-Submission: What to Expect
After a successful upload, you receive an acknowledgment with a claim submission ID. CBP processes claims in batches:
- Days 1–5: Entry matching against CBP records
- Days 5–45: Manual review for any flagged rows
- Days 30–60: Refund calculation and approval for matched entries
- Days 60–90: ACH transfer initiated and settled
When to Use a Recovery Partner
Consider a vetted recovery partner if you have any of the following:
- More than 100 entry lines requiring manual data preparation
- Chinese goods requiring Section 301/IEEPA duty separation
- Canadian, Mexican, or South Korean entries with FTA qualification questions
- No existing ACE access or unfamiliarity with the customs system
- Large claim size where accuracy is critical
Our vetted recovery partner can handle the entire process — data gathering, CSV preparation, ACE submission, and post-filing follow-up.