Are your entries eligible for the CAPE refund portal?

5 questions. 60 seconds. No email, no signup. Get a straight read on whether your entries qualify for CAPE Phase 1, fall into Phase 2 territory, or need a different filing vehicle entirely.

Phase 1 eligibility check

Answer each question. Your result appears at the bottom.

Did your business pay IEEPA-based duties on entries filed between April 5, 2025 and February 24, 2026?

Are your IEEPA entries either not yet liquidated, or liquidated within the past 80 days?

Do you (or your licensed customs broker) have an active ACE Portal sub-account?

Is your ACH refund banking enrolled and current in the ACE Portal?

Are you the original Importer of Record on these entries (or do you have your broker’s authorization to file)?

You’re a strong candidate for CAPE Phase 1.

All five gates met. Your entries fit CAPE Phase 1 criteria. We can file your CAPE Declaration end-to-end on a pure contingency basis — no upfront fees, no commitment until we recover. Book a free 30-minute call or give us a ring; we’ll quote contingency and start filing within 30 days.

Schedule a Free Call Call (347) 670-3777

You’re partially eligible.

Some Phase 1 requirements aren’t met yet — but most are solvable. ACE Portal access can be requested, ACH enrollment is a one-time setup, broker authorization can be arranged. Schedule a call so we can review the specific gates that need fixing — we often resolve them within a week and file shortly after.

Schedule a Free Call Call (347) 670-3777

Phase 2 territory — or another pathway.

Your entries likely fall outside CAPE Phase 1, but recovery is still very possible. Older liquidated entries can be recovered through 19 USC §1514 protests within the 180-day window, or queued for CAPE Phase 2. Plus you may have unclaimed refunds under Section 301 exclusions, HTS misclassification, duty drawback, or USMCA/FTA post-import claims. Let’s talk through the right vehicle for your portfolio.

Schedule a Free Call Call (347) 670-3777

It looks like CAPE may not apply — let’s confirm.

Based on your answers, IEEPA / CAPE may not be the right pathway. But you may still have refund opportunities under Section 301 exclusions, HTS misclassification, duty drawback, or USMCA / FTA post-import claims. A 30-minute call clarifies what fits.

Schedule a Free Call Call (347) 670-3777

— What Each Gate Means

The five gates explained.

01 · Entry date window (Apr 5, 2025 – Feb 24, 2026)

IEEPA tariffs were imposed starting April 2025 and continued until the Supreme Court vacated them on Feb 20, 2026. CAPE Phase 1 covers refunds for entries filed during this window.

02 · Liquidation status (unliquidated or within 80 days)

An entry “liquidates” when CBP finalizes the duty owed. Phase 1 uses the 90-day voluntary reliquidation window under 19 USC §1501, so entries liquidated within ~80 days of your filing date still qualify. Older liquidated entries need a §1514 protest or wait for CAPE Phase 2.

03 · ACE Portal access

CAPE lives inside the ACE Secure Data Portal. The IOR — or the licensed broker that filed the original entries — needs an active sub-account. No portal access means no filing. Cardinal Customs files through your broker’s ACE account with formal authorization.

04 · ACH refund banking enrolled

CBP stopped issuing paper refund checks on Feb 6, 2026. Every refund is now ACH. Banking details must be in the Importer sub-account, and they must be current — CBP holds refunds indefinitely on stale or rejected ACH info.

05 · Filing authority (IOR or broker)

Only the IOR or the licensed broker that originally filed the entry can submit a CAPE Declaration. Third-party filers are rejected. If you’re the IOR, you can file directly or authorize Cardinal Customs to file through your broker.

Want to estimate the dollar amount before scheduling?

Use the IEEPA refund calculator →

Find out what you’re owed.

Book a free 30-minute call with Cardinal Customs. We’ll review your import footprint, estimate your IEEPA refund window, and flag other duty recovery opportunities. No commitment, no upfront fees.

Schedule a Free Call

— Or call us directly

(347) 670-3777

Speak with a recovery specialist. No automated menus, no gatekeeping.

Mon–Fri · 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM ET