Since the CAPE portal launched on April 20, 2026, importers have been asking the same question: after I submit my CSV, what actually happens? Here’s a step-by-step explanation of the process.
Step 1: Submission and Immediate Acknowledgment
When you upload your CAPE CSV through the portal, CBP’s system performs an immediate format check. If your file passes the initial validation (correct column headers, correct delimiter, correct date format, UTF-8 encoding), you receive an automated acknowledgment with a claim submission ID.
Save this claim ID. It is your reference number for all follow-up inquiries to CBP.
If the format check fails, you receive an error message specifying which validation rules were not met. Correct the errors and resubmit. There is no limit on the number of times you can resubmit a corrected claim.
Step 2: Entry Matching
Within a few business days of submission, CBP’s system attempts to match each row in your CSV to the corresponding entry record in CBP’s database. This is the most critical matching step.
CBP checks:
- Entry number matches an actual entry in their records
- Entry date matches (within a tolerance for different date fields)
- IOR EIN matches the IOR on the original entry
- The entry falls within the IEEPA coverage period
Rows that match cleanly are marked “Validated.” Rows with discrepancies are flagged for manual review.
Step 3: Manual Review (If Required)
Claims with flagged rows are assigned to a CBP trade specialist for manual review. The specialist may:
- Request additional documentation (your CBP 7501 form for the specific entry)
- Contact you or your customs broker with questions
- Adjust the claimed amount if the actual IEEPA duty amount on file differs from what you submitted
Manual review significantly extends processing time. This is why clean, accurate CSV data is so important — the goal is to have 100% of your rows match automatically without manual intervention.
Step 4: Refund Calculation and Approval
Once all entries are validated or manually reviewed, CBP calculates the total refund for your claim. This is based on the IEEPA duty amounts actually on file in CBP’s records for each matched entry — not necessarily the amounts you reported. If CBP’s records show a slightly different duty amount than you submitted, CBP’s figure controls.
Approved refund amounts are sent to CBP’s accounting office for payment processing.
Step 5: ACH Transfer
CBP initiates an ACH transfer to the bank account registered in your ACE importer profile. ACH transfers typically settle in 1–3 business days from CBP’s initiation. You will not receive a separate notification from CBP when the transfer initiates — monitor your bank account.
The ACH transfer description will include “CBP IEEPA REFUND” or similar language. The amount will match your approved claim total, which may differ slightly from your submitted total if CBP’s records showed different duty amounts on some entries.
What If Your Refund Is Less Than Expected?
If you receive less than you claimed, the most common reasons are:
- CBP’s records showed lower IEEPA duty amounts than you submitted for some entries
- Some entries were found to be outside the coverage period
- Some entries had FTA exemptions that zeroed out the IEEPA duty assessment
- Some rows were rejected due to unresolvable data discrepancies
CBP will provide an explanation with the payment. You have the right to protest CBP’s decision under 19 U.S.C. § 1514 within 180 days. Consult a licensed customs broker or trade attorney before filing a protest.
Estimated Timeline Summary
| Stage | Estimated Duration |
|---|---|
| Format validation | Immediate |
| Entry matching | 2–5 business days |
| Manual review (if needed) | 2–6 weeks additional |
| Refund approval | 30–60 days from submission |
| ACH transfer | 1–3 business days from approval |
| Total (clean claim) | 60–90 days |
| Total (with manual review) | 90–120+ days |