ACE Portal Access and ACH Setup Guide for CAPE Refund Claims

Informational only — not legal advice.

Why ACE and ACH matter for CAPE

CBP's CAPE (Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries) system processes IEEPA refund claims entirely through the ACE Portal (Automated Commercial Environment). Refunds are paid via ACH (Automated Clearing House) direct deposit.

Starting February 6, 2026, CBP stopped issuing paper refund checks entirely. The transition was required by the Electronic Refunds Interim Final Rule, which eliminated the paper-check exception for most trade-related refunds. (Federal Register Doc. 2025-24171 — Electronic Refunds Interim Final Rule, Jan. 2, 2026)

The consequence is straightforward: no ACH enrollment = no refund delivery, regardless of whether your underlying claim is valid. The 12,300+ bounced refunds CBP cited on March 27, 2026 are a direct illustration — those refunds were certified but could not be paid because recipients hadn't enrolled. (CSMS #68179006)

Step 1 — Verify or create your ACE Portal account

Your ACE Portal account is the gateway to everything else. If you don't have one, or aren't sure whether you do, this is the first thing to resolve.

If you already use a customs broker

Your broker almost certainly has an ACE Portal account, but a broker's account is not the same as your importer account. ACH enrollment for your IOR number must be tied to your Importer sub-account in ACE. Confirm with your broker:

• "Is there an Importer sub-account in ACE tied to my IOR number?"
• "Is ACH bank information enrolled in that account?"

If you need to create a new ACE account

CBP offers two paths depending on your situation:

Option A — Automated importer application tool (faster)

Use this if:

• Your company has an existing CBP Form 5106 record on file with CBP
• You do not already have an ACE Portal top account
• The email address you'll use is not already tied to another ACE account

Apply at: https://ace-accounts.cbp.gov/s/importer-form

During the application, CBP sends a verification code to the email address on file in your company's 5106 record (the physical address email, not the mailing address). If no email is on file with CBP, ask your broker to add one — then allow 24 hours for CBP systems to sync before applying.

Option B — Legacy PDF application (3–5 business days)

Use this if:

• Your EIN is already tied to an existing ACE account and you need to add an IOR suffix code (not create a new top account)
• You need to add multiple IOR suffix codes
• The automated tool doesn't work for your situation

Download the application form and email it to ace.applications@cbp.dhs.gov. CBP notes that high application volume may extend the typical 3–5 business day window. (CBP — How to Use ACE: Portal Applying)

Portal support: ace.support@cbp.dhs.gov or (866) 530-4172

Step 2 — Add ACH bank information

Once you have an ACE Portal account with an Importer sub-account covering your IOR number, enroll your bank information using these steps (from CBP's official ACH Bank Information Quick Reference Card):

1. Log in at https://ace.cbp.gov/s/login/
2. From the top Accounts drop-down, select Importer to list your importer accounts
3. Select the importer account name for the IOR you want to enroll
4. Open the ACH Refund Authorization tab — if it is not visible in the main row, click More
5. Click Get Info/Refresh to check whether bank information already exists
6. If "No ACH data found" appears, click Add ACH Info
7. In the "Submit Banking Information (US Banks Only)" pane, enter:
   • Bank Control Key (drop-down): select checking or savings
   • Routing number (9 digits, entered twice to confirm) — must process FedACH payments
   • Account number (up to 17 digits, entered twice to confirm)
8. Click Submit — you should see: "ACH info submitted successfully. Click 'Get Info/Refresh' to view the updated info"
9. Click Get Info/Refresh to confirm — only the last four digits of your account number will display

The submission is processed in real time within the portal. There is no separate waiting period once ACH bank information has been accepted.

Enrollment error support: GMB.ACHREFUNDSUPPORT@CBP.DHS.GOV or (317) 298-1200 ext. 1178

Multiple IOR suffix codes

If your company imports under more than one IOR number (e.g., multiple EIN suffixes), each IOR suffix requires a separate ACH enrollment — even if you use the same bank account for all of them. Repeat steps 2–9 for each Importer sub-account.

Step 3 — Verify your ACH is active and correctly configured

CBP does not send an email confirmation after ACH enrollment. The only verification method is the Get Info/Refresh button in the ACH Refund Authorization tab. If you see the bank name and last four digits of your account number after clicking refresh, the enrollment is on file.

Two common configuration errors to check:

1. Routing number doesn't process FedACH payments

CBP's system will reject a routing number that doesn't handle FedACH at submission time. If you're unsure whether your routing number qualifies, contact your bank and ask: "Does this routing number handle FedACH direct deposits?" Wire-only accounts sometimes use a different routing number than ACH accounts.

2. ACH enrolled under the wrong IOR number

Make sure the Importer sub-account you're looking at matches the IOR number shown on your entries. If your Form 7501 shows IOR number ending in -0001 but you enrolled under -0000, the refund cannot route correctly.

For refund-specific questions after enrollment: revenuerefunds@cbp.dhs.gov or (317) 298-1200 ext. 4015

Broker vs. direct filer: CBP Form 4811

CAPE routes refunds to either:

• the Importer of Record directly (via the IOR's ACH enrollment), or
• a designated notify party via CBP Form 4811

When a broker receives the refund

If your broker manages your entries and you want refunds routed to them — common when the broker's surety bond backed the duty payment — the broker must be designated via CBP Form 4811 (or the equivalent ACE Portal Notify Parties tab). The broker must also have their own ACH bank information enrolled in their own ACE account.

If the broker is not ACH-enrolled, CBP defaults the refund to the IOR's ACH account. CBP does not hold payments pending the broker's setup.

Submitting Form 4811

Two methods are equally valid:

1. Email the completed CBP Form 4811 PDF to your assigned CBP Center of Excellence and Expertise
2. Use the Notify Parties tab in the ACE Portal — CBP states this is "the electronic equivalent of CBP Form 4811 and a CBP-approved method to submit CBP Form 4811"

Both sides must be set up: the Form 4811 designation on the importer's side, and ACH enrollment on the broker's side. Neither alone is sufficient for the broker to receive the refund.

Existing Form 4811 designations on file before February 6, 2026 remain valid. (CBP Form 4811 overview; CSMS #62234804)

Foreign importers without a U.S. bank account

CBP does not accept foreign bank accounts. A foreign importer that lacks a U.S. bank account should designate a U.S. customs broker as the Form 4811 notify party so refunds route to the broker's enrolled U.S. account.

What happens if ACH isn't set up

CBP's position is direct: if a refund recipient has not provided valid U.S. bank information in ACE, CBP cannot deliver the refund.

The 12,300+ rejected certified refunds CBP cited in CSMS #68179006 (March 27, 2026) all occurred because recipients hadn't completed ACH enrollment. CBP issued that bulletin as a warning before CAPE launch, explicitly tying the number to refunds that had already been certified (i.e., approved in principle) but couldn't be paid. (CSMS #68179006, Mar. 27, 2026)

Unlike a failed bank transfer that auto-retries, CBP does not automatically re-attempt rejected refunds. If your refund was among the 12,300+ rejected, CBP has published a separate process for requesting payment of previously rejected amounts — check the current guidance at https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/trade-remedies/ieepa-duty-refunds.

Urgency: CAPE Phase 1 launches April 20, 2026

CBP confirmed in CSMS on April 10, 2026 that CAPE Phase 1 launches April 20, 2026. (CSMS #68315804, Apr. 10, 2026)

Phase 1 scope is limited to:

• Certain unliquidated entries, and
• Certain entries within 80 days of liquidation

More complex scenarios — entries under protest, drawback claims, AD/CVD entries, entries not filed in ACE, and final-liquidated entries — are deferred to later CAPE phases.

Given that setup can take days, the timeline for Phase 1 eligibility is:

CBP states refunds will "generally be issued within 60–90 days following acceptance of the CAPE Declaration, unless a compliance concern requires further CBP review." (CSMS #68315804)

Technical questions about CAPE can be directed to: IEEPARefunds@cbp.dhs.gov

Frequently asked questions

I already use ACE for filing entries. Am I automatically enrolled in ACH?

Not necessarily. An ACE Portal account does not automatically mean ACH bank information is enrolled. Your existing account may be scoped to entry filing only. You need to separately add bank information in the ACH Refund Authorization tab under your Importer sub-account. See: CBP — ACE Portal and ACH Refunds FAQs

My broker filed all my entries. Do I need my own ACE account?

If you want the refund paid directly to you, yes — you need your own Importer sub-account in ACE with ACH enrolled for your IOR number. If you prefer to have your broker receive and pass through the refund, the broker needs a Form 4811 designation and their own ACH enrollment. Confirm which arrangement applies before April 20.

Can I use a foreign bank account?

No. CBP only accepts U.S. bank accounts with routing numbers that process FedACH payments. Foreign bank accounts cannot be enrolled. See: CBP — ACH Refund enrollment overview

What does "the routing number must process FedACH payments" mean?

FedACH is the Federal Reserve's ACH network, which most U.S. banks use. If you're unsure, ask your bank: "Does routing number [XXX] handle FedACH direct deposits?" Wire-only accounts sometimes use a separate routing number from ACH accounts — use the ACH routing number, not the wire routing number.

I have multiple IOR suffix codes. Do I need ACH enrolled for each one?

Yes. CBP requires a separate ACH enrollment for each IOR number / suffix code combination, even if you use the same bank account for all of them. Repeat the ACH enrollment steps for each Importer sub-account.

What if my entries were filed under a broker's IOR number (the broker was named as IOR)?

This is a standing question as much as a setup question. If the broker is named as IOR on the entry papers, refund rights under CAPE may run to the broker first. Confirm what the Form 7501 actually shows as the IOR, then coordinate with your broker on how the refund would flow to you. See: IOR vs Consignee: Who Has Standing?

My refund was among the 12,300+ rejected. What do I do?

CBP has published a process for requesting payment of previously rejected refunds. Enroll ACH first, then check https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/trade-remedies/ieepa-duty-refunds for the current instructions. For refund-specific questions: revenuerefunds@cbp.dhs.gov or (317) 298-1200 ext. 4015.