FIRST CAPE REFUNDS TARGETED FOR MAY 11

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has identified May 11, 2026, as the anticipated date for the first refunds of International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) duties processed through the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) platform. The timing, confirmed through a recent U.S. Court of International Trade order, marks the first point at which entries processed through CAPE are expected to move beyond liquidation and into actual Treasury disbursement.

WHAT PORTION OF ENTRIES HAS REACHED THE REFUND STAGE?

Initial data shows that only a small portion of entries have advanced to the final stage of the CAPE process. Approximately 3 percent of entries subject to IEEPA duties have been liquidated and are currently in the refund stage. At the same time, CBP has accepted roughly 21 percent of eligible entries into CAPE for duty removal. This gap between accepted entries and those reaching refund status highlights the sequencing required before payments are issued.

WHAT FACTORS MAY AFFECT IEEPA DUTY REFUND TIMING?

Early feedback indicates that system access constraints, including delays in credential management and user onboarding, have affected how quickly some importers are able to submit and manage CAPE declarations. There are also ongoing questions related to how interest is calculated on refunded duties and which entries qualify under Phase 1. CBP has stated that additional guidance will be issued to address these topics.