How we got here
The U.S. used IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act) authority to apply tariffs on imports from a wide range of countries. Importers, including cross-border ecommerce merchants shipping DDP, paid those tariffs at the U.S. border.
The IEEPA tariffs have been challenged in court, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) launched CAPE (Customs Automated Processing Engine) on April 20, 2026 as the system for processing refund filings on tariffs that may be returned.
CAPE is built around the Importer of Record, the entity officially registered in CBP's ACE system for a given shipment. Only the IOR and authorized brokers with an ACE Secure Data Portal account can submit refund requests. In a typical DDP cross-border ecommerce transaction, the carrier's brokerage is the IOR, not the merchant, and not the shopper. Merchants generally do not have legal standing to file a CAPE declaration directly, even when they absorbed the cost of IEEPA tariffs through DDP pricing.
That's the core reason merchants are hitting a wall: the money flowed through the merchant, but the filing authority went through the broker.
What this means for your U.S.-bound shipments
The pathway, or lack of one, depends on how your shipments move. Here's the picture for each.
Commercial carrier shipments
For commercial cross-border ecommerce shipments moved via FedEx, UPS, DHL, and similar carriers, the carrier's brokerage is typically designated as the IOR, not the merchant.
That means any IEEPA tariff refund filing must go through the carrier broker. Each carrier is working through its own approach and communicating with customers as plans take shape.
Talk to your carrier account rep for their specific plan.
Postal shipments
Refunds on postal shipments cannot be requested through CAPE. Postal shipments were not entered into ACE, and CAPE only has access to ACE entries. Since postal shipments aren't part of CAPE, there is no way to request refunds on them today.
CBP hasn't announced what process merchants will use to claim refunds on postal IEEPA duties. Until that mechanism exists, even eligible merchants have nowhere to file.
Zonos is in close contact with CBP and will update this page as soon as a postal pathway is announced.
Bottom line: if you're shipping commercially, the refund path runs through your carrier broker. If you're shipping via post, there is no defined path yet. CBP has not announced what process merchants will use to claim postal refunds.
What Zonos is doing
We know this isn't the answer many merchants were hoping for. Here's how Zonos is supporting you while the regulatory picture evolves.
In direct contact with CBP
Active dialogue
Our trade team is in direct contact with CBP on the postal refund process. The moment CBP defines a path, we'll know, and we'll tell you what it means for your account.
One place for answers
This page
This page is a single source of truth for where things stand. As pathways open, or don't, we'll update it with the facts, not speculation.
Ready when it changes
When a path opens
When CBP announces a direct merchant pathway, a postal refund mechanism, or a broker-facilitated process, Zonos will communicate what it means for your account and what action (if any) is required.
What is CAPE?
CAPE (Customs Automated Processing Engine), deployed by CBP on April 20, 2026, is the system for handling IEEPA tariff refund filings. It's tied to ACE entries and IOR designation, meaning only the Importer of Record or an authorized broker with an ACE Secure Data Portal account can submit requests through it.
Can I file for an IEEPA tariff refund through CAPE as a merchant?
In most cases, no. CAPE filings must be made by the Importer of Record or an authorized broker, both of whom need ACE Secure Data Portal accounts. For typical cross-border ecommerce, the carrier's brokerage is the IOR, not the merchant, so merchants do not have legal standing to file directly.
Who is the Importer of Record on my shipments?
It depends on how your shipments move. For DDP cross-border ecommerce where the carrier clears the shipment (FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc.), the carrier's brokerage is typically the IOR. For postal shipments, there is no formal ACE entry, so the standard IOR framework does not apply in the same way.
How will I know if I am the importer of record?
You are the importer of record if the following is true: you have a U.S. EIN number, you maintain a U.S. Customs Bond, and you contracted with a broker accordingly.
What do I do to claim my refund if I am the importer of record?
You will need to set up an ACE account, if you have not already done so, and then submit your refund request into the CAPE system through your ACE account. CBP has published detailed instructions for how to do this. Your broker should be able to provide you more details.
I absorbed the IEEPA duty cost through DDP pricing. Doesn't that give me standing?
Economically, yes. The money came out of your pocket. Legally, no. CAPE is tied to the IOR designation in ACE, not to who ultimately paid for the duty. That's the gap most merchants are running into.
What about my postal shipments?
CAPE cannot be used for postal shipments. Postal shipments were not entered into ACE, and CAPE only processes ACE entries, so CAPE's process doesn't fit. CBP has not yet announced what mechanism merchants will use to claim refunds on postal IEEPA duties. The process simply doesn't exist yet.
Will the carriers file on my behalf?
That's the most likely pathway for commercial shipments, but it requires ACE portal registration and banking enrollment on the broker's side, and each carrier is handling it differently. Talk to your carrier account rep for their specific plan.
What is Zonos doing to help?
We're in direct contact with CBP on the postal refund process and tracking court developments closely. When CBP defines a path, directly or through carrier brokers, we'll communicate what it means for your account and help you act on it.
Bookmark this page — we'll update it as CBP issues new guidance.
IEEPA tariff refunds through CAPE: what merchants need to know
Many merchants are asking the same question: can I file for a refund on the IEEPA tariffs I've already paid? The honest answer is that most merchants don't have a direct pathway, and the reason comes down to who the Importer of Record (IOR) is on your shipments. This page explains where things stand for commercial carrier shipments, postal shipments, and your account with Zonos.
Status at a glance
The short answer
Most merchants currently have no direct pathway to file for IEEPA tariff refunds through CAPE. CAPE is designed for the Importer of Record, which, for typical cross-border ecommerce, is the carrier's brokerage or customs broker, not the merchant.
Current status