5 Mistakes That Will Get Your CAPE Declaration Rejected
The CAPE portal is now live, and importers are rushing to file their IEEPA tariff refund claims. But CBP has built strict validation checks into the system, and errors will result in rejection — either of your entire declaration or individual entries. Here are the five most common mistakes and how to avoid them.
Mistake 1: Wrong Entry Number Format
Every entry number must be exactly 11 alphanumeric characters. No dashes, no spaces, no extra characters. If your customs broker gives you a spreadsheet with entry numbers formatted as ‘123-4567890-1,’ you need to strip the dashes before uploading. The CAPE system will reject any entry number that does not match the exact 11-character format.
Mistake 2: Duplicate Entry Numbers
If the same entry number appears twice in your CSV file, the entire declaration may be rejected. Worse, if an entry number was included in a previously accepted CAPE declaration — whether filed by you, your broker, or anyone else — it will be rejected as a duplicate. You cannot file the same entry twice. Before uploading, deduplicate your list and confirm with your broker that no prior CAPE declaration has been filed for those entries.
Mistake 3: Including Ineligible Entries
Phase 1 of CAPE only accepts certain types of entries. If your declaration includes entries that have been fully liquidated for more than 80 days, entries subject to active protests, entries flagged for reconciliation, entries with drawback claims, or entries subject to antidumping or countervailing duties, those entries will be rejected. In some cases, including ineligible entries can cause the entire file to fail initial validation. Screen your entries before uploading.
Mistake 4: Missing ACH Registration
Even if your CAPE declaration is accepted and your refund is approved, CBP will not send you a check. All refunds are issued electronically through ACH. If your bank information is not on file with CBP through the ACE Portal, your refund will be held indefinitely until you register. And here is a detail many importers miss: the ACH account designated for refunds is separate from the ACH account used to make duty payments. You must specifically enroll for refund ACH through your ACE Importer sub-account.
Mistake 5: Filing Entries Without IEEPA Tariff Codes
CAPE only processes entries that contain IEEPA-related Harmonized Tariff Schedule Chapter 99 codes. If an entry was subject to Section 232, Section 301, or Section 122 tariffs but not IEEPA tariffs, it will be rejected. Not every tariff your business paid is eligible for a refund — only IEEPA tariffs. Your customs broker can identify which entries have IEEPA HTS Chapter 99 codes and which do not.
The Bottom Line
Once a CAPE declaration is accepted, it cannot be amended. You get one shot to get it right. If entries are rejected, you can submit them in a new declaration — but that means more delays, more work, and more opportunity for errors. The best approach is to get it right the first time.
Don’t leave money on the table. Contact Tariff Recovery Services today for a free evaluation of your refund eligibility. Call (508) 365-9992 or visit TariffRecoveryAttorneys.com.
We work on a contingency basis — you pay nothing unless we recover money for you.