Last reviewed: October 2, 2026. Reading time: about 9 minutes.
Once a CAPE Declaration is submitted, the waiting starts, and so does the temptation to refresh your email every day hoping for news. CBP will not proactively notify you at most stages. You have to go check. This guide shows exactly where to look, what the different outcomes mean, and what to do if nothing seems to be moving.
If you have not filed yet, start with our step-by-step filing guide. If your status has you questioning whether the original filing was even done correctly, our second opinion guide covers that decision.
The short version: log into the ACE Secure Data Portal, open the CAPE tab, and check Claim Status. Entries show as accepted with a CAPE claim number, or excluded with a reason. If you do not have ACE access, your customs broker can check this for you. There is no separate public tracking tool outside ACE.
Transparency note: this guide is educational. Further down, we link to referral partners and may earn a commission if you apply through those links. Read our affiliate disclosure and disclaimer.
In this guide
Where to actually check
There is exactly one official place to check an IEEPA refund claim status: the ACE Secure Data Portal, inside the CAPE tab. CBP does not operate a separate public tracker, and there is no way to check status by phone or by entering an entry number on a public website.
- If you have your own ACE Portal account, you can check status directly, any time.
- If a customs broker filed on your behalf, they check status using their own ACE access. Ask them directly rather than trying to find a workaround.
- If you want independent visibility going forward, you can apply for your own ACE Portal importer account even if a broker filed the original declaration.
Step-by-step: checking your status
- Log into the ACE Secure Data Portal. Use your importer account credentials. If you do not have one, this is also where you would apply.
- Navigate to the CAPE tab. This is the same section used to submit CAPE Declarations in the first place.
- Open Claim Status. This shows the declarations you have submitted and the outcome for the entries inside each one.
- Review each entry's result. Entries typically show as accepted, with a CAPE claim number, or excluded, often with a reason noted.
- Check back periodically, not just once. Status can take time to update, and it is worth a weekly check rather than assuming no news is good news.
What each outcome means
Broadly, your entries will fall into one of these categories once CBP processes your declaration.
Accepted, with a CAPE claim number
Good newsYou're on the standard track
This means ACE validated the entry and it is moving forward for recalculation and eventual liquidation or reliquidation. No action is needed beyond continuing to monitor and ensuring your ACH refund details are on file.
Excluded, with a reason noted
Needs attentionSomething stopped this entry
Common reasons include a filer or importer of record mismatch, the entry falling outside CAPE's current scope (such as being past the 80-day window), or the entry matching an excluded category like drawback or surety-paid duties. The reason shown tells you what to fix, if anything can be fixed.
Declaration rejected at file level
File-level problemNothing in this file was processed
This usually means a formatting issue or a widespread problem, such as every entry being filed under the wrong party. You generally need to correct the issue and submit a new declaration, since the rejected file itself cannot be edited.
No status change after a while
Still processing, or something is offWorth a closer look
Processing is not always instant, but a prolonged lack of movement is worth investigating rather than assuming. Check the sections below before concluding something is wrong.
What normal progress looks like
A status that shows “accepted” the same day you file, followed by a payment roughly two to three months later, is the normal shape of a straightforward claim. Entries with more complex liquidation timing can take longer, covered in our pillar guide.
What to do if it looks stuck
Check these before assuming something is wrong
- ACH refund enrollment. An entry can show as accepted and still not pay out if your refund banking details are not on file. This alone has reportedly held up thousands of refunds.
- Any outstanding CBP balance. CBP nets out what you owe before releasing a refund, which can affect timing or the final amount.
- Your own status interpretation. "Accepted" and "paid" are different stages. An accepted entry still has to liquidate and process before the refund is issued.
- Messages in ACE. CBP may have requested additional information. Check for any notices tied to your declaration, not just the claim status screen itself.
If you have checked all of the above and something still looks off, especially if you never personally verified the original filing yourself, this is a reasonable point to consider a second opinion on what was actually submitted.
Frequently asked questions
No. Status is only available through the ACE Secure Data Portal, by you directly if you have an account, or through the customs broker who filed on your behalf.
Accepted means the entry passed validation and is moving through liquidation or reliquidation. Payment follows afterward, generally within CBP's 60 to 90 day window from acceptance, assuming your ACH refund details are on file.
Not for individual claim status. The official channel is the ACE Portal. Be cautious of anyone offering to check your status through another channel, especially if they ask for your login credentials.
Check the reason given. Common causes include a filer mismatch, the entry falling outside CAPE's current scope, or an excluded category like drawback. Some excluded entries can be corrected and refiled; others, like those past the 80-day window, generally cannot through standard CAPE.
Weekly is reasonable for an active claim. Checking obsessively will not speed up processing, but going months without checking can mean missing a correctable issue.
Not for that specific declaration unless you have your own ACE access tied to the same entries, but you can apply for your own ACE Portal importer account to get independent visibility going forward.
Status unclear or concerning? Get a free second opinion
If checking your status raised more questions than it answered, Tariff Refund Agency offers a complimentary second-opinion audit for importers who have already filed, alongside a look at advance funding eligibility.
Get My Free Second-Opinion Audit
Affiliate disclosure: if you apply through this button, we may earn a commission from Tariff Refund Agency. Refund eligibility, amounts and timing depend on individual circumstances and are never guaranteed. Read our affiliate disclosure and disclaimer.
Haven’t filed a claim yet?
There is nothing to check status on until a declaration exists. Start with a free eligibility check instead.
Start Your Free Eligibility Check
Affiliate disclosure: if you apply through this button, we may earn a commission from Tariff Refund Agency. Refund eligibility, amounts and timing depend on individual circumstances and are never guaranteed. Read our affiliate disclosure and disclaimer.
Sources and further reading
- Tariff Refunds Finder: IEEPA Tariff Refund: Are You Owed Money by CBP?
- Tariff Refunds Finder: Already Filed Your IEEPA Refund Claim? Check These 5 Things
- Tariff Refunds Finder: How to Claim a Tariff Refund, Step-by-Step for US Importers
- Tariff Refunds Finder: Second Opinion on Your Tariff Refund Claim, Is It Worth It?
- CBP: IEEPA Duty Refunds (official page)
Educational only. Tariff Refunds Finder is not CBP, U.S. Customs or a government agency, and this guide is not legal, tax or financial advice. Verify current details in the ACE Portal and with a qualified professional before you act.
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