ACE Portal (Automated Commercial Environment)

The ACE Portal (Automated Commercial Environment) is U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) primary web-based system for the electronic filing of import and export data. It is the mandatory platform for processing trade transactions in the United States and is essential for claiming IEEPA tariff refunds in 2026.

What ACE Does

ACE serves as the single window for all trade-related data exchange between the U.S. government and the trade community. Key functions include:

Entry Filing — Importers and customs brokers file entry summaries (CBP Form 7501) electronically through ACE
Duty Payment — All customs duties, taxes, and fees are paid through ACE via the Automated Clearinghouse (ACH) system
Cargo Tracking — Real-time tracking of shipment status from manifest filing through release
Compliance Reporting — Generation of trade compliance reports, including duty payment history and entry status
Partner Government Agency (PGA) Messaging — ACE connects with over 47 federal agencies (FDA, USDA, EPA, etc.) that regulate imports

Who Uses ACE

ACE is used by multiple parties in the trade ecosystem:

Importers of record — Companies that import goods into the U.S.
Customs brokers — Licensed professionals who file entries on behalf of importers
Carriers — Ocean, air, rail, and truck carriers filing manifest data
Port authorities — For cargo tracking and release management
Foreign Trade Zone operators — For FTZ admission, manipulation, and withdrawal tracking

ACE Portal Account Registration

Obtaining an ACE Portal account requires several steps:

Apply online at ace.cbp.dhs.gov
Verify your identity — CBP validates business information and the applicant's authority to act on behalf of the company
Set up ACH payment — Link a bank account for duty payments and refund deposits
Complete training — CBP offers online resources for navigating the portal

The registration process can take several weeks to complete, including identity verification and system provisioning. Importers who do not yet have ACE accounts should apply immediately, particularly if they expect to receive IEEPA tariff refunds.

ACE and IEEPA Refunds

ACE is the required platform for receiving IEEPA tariff refunds following the Supreme Court ruling. The new CAPE (Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries) module operates within ACE to process the $166 billion in refunds ordered by the Court of International Trade.

To receive refunds through ACE, importers must:

Have an active ACE account with current login credentials
Have ACH banking details on file for electronic refund deposits
Ensure their importer of record number is accurate across all affected entries

ACE vs. CAPE

ACE is the comprehensive trade processing platform that handles day-to-day import/export operations. CAPE is a specialized module within ACE built specifically for the one-time IEEPA refund operation. Think of ACE as the operating system and CAPE as a dedicated application running on it.

Tips for Importers

Keep your ACE account active — Inactive accounts may be deactivated, requiring reapplication
Update banking information — Ensure your ACH details are current before refund processing begins
Use ACE reports to pull your entry history and identify IEEPA-affected shipments
Grant broker access appropriately — Your customs broker needs ACE permissions to file on your behalf