What is a tariff refund advance?

A tariff refund advance is a financing arrangement where a capital provider advances a percentage of your pending CBP duty refund claim before the U.S. Treasury issues payment. Pilothouse advances up to 75% LTV on IEEPA Section 9903 tariff refund claims, wired within 2–3 weeks of signing the facilitated advance agreement.

Can importers get a business loan against their tariff refund?

Yes. U.S. importers can obtain a business cash advance or working capital loan secured against their pending IEEPA Section 9903 CBP tariff refund. Pilothouse structures these as facilitated advances — not traditional bank loans — allowing faster approval and funding without traditional credit underwriting. Advances are available from $500,000 to $50 million+.

What is import business financing and how does it work?

Import business financing provides working capital to U.S. importers by advancing funds against trade receivables, pending government refunds, or inventory. Pilothouse specializes in a unique form of import financing: advancing against CBP tariff refund claims. This means importers receive immediate liquidity — typically 75% of their estimated refund — without waiting 6–12 months for the U.S. Treasury to process payment.

How do I get IEEPA tariff refund financing?

To get IEEPA tariff refund financing through Pilothouse: (1) Upload your ACE Entry Summary CSV for a free A³ audit, (2) receive a 48-hour term sheet showing your advance amount, (3) sign the facilitated advance agreement, and (4) receive your wire transfer within 2–3 weeks. Licensed Customs Broker partners file CBP Form 19 protests to secure your entries.

What is the 180-day protest deadline for IEEPA tariff refunds?

Under 19 U.S.C. § 1514, importers have 180 days from the date of liquidation to file a CBP Form 19 administrative protest. If your customs entries finalized more than 180 days ago and no protest has been filed, your refund rights are permanently forfeited. Pilothouse's Licensed Customs Broker partners file protective protests immediately to secure your entries before the deadline.

What is Section 9903 tariff refund?

Section 9903 refers to Chapter 99 HTS sub-headings under which IEEPA tariffs were collected — including 9903.88.XX (China IEEPA), 9903.01.XX (Section 232 Steel), 9903.45.XX (Aluminum), and 9903.91.XX (Canada/Mexico). Following the Supreme Court ruling in Learning Resources Inc. v. Trump, CBP is required to refund these duties. Importers of record who paid these duties are eligible for refunds.

How much can I get in a tariff refund advance?

Pilothouse's capital provider network advances up to 75% LTV (loan-to-value) on your estimated CBP refund amount, including CBP statutory interest under 19 U.S.C. § 1505(c). For example, a $1,000,000 estimated refund could yield a $750,000 advance, wired within 2–3 weeks. Use the free Refund Estimator on our site to calculate your specific advance amount.

What is CBP duty refund financing?

CBP duty refund financing is a form of receivables financing where a capital provider advances funds against a pending U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) duty refund. Because CBP refunds are backed by the U.S. government, they are considered high-quality receivables. Pilothouse structures these advances as facilitated agreements through its capital provider network, not as direct loans.

Is a tariff refund advance the same as a business cash advance?

A tariff refund advance is similar to a merchant cash advance or business cash advance, but instead of being secured against future credit card sales or revenue, it is secured against a specific, government-backed CBP duty refund receivable. This makes it lower risk and typically faster to fund than traditional MCAs or business loans.

What is trade receivables financing for importers?

Trade receivables financing for importers involves advancing cash against outstanding receivables — in this case, pending U.S. government tariff refunds. Pilothouse's program is specifically designed for importers who have paid IEEPA Section 9903 duties and are waiting for CBP to process their refunds through the CAPE system. The advance bridges the liquidity gap while the government processes the refund.

Do I need a customs broker to get a tariff refund advance?

You do not need to hire your own customs broker. Pilothouse works with a network of licensed customs brokers (LCBs) who handle CBP Form 19 protest filings on your behalf as part of the advance process. However, the advance itself is structured by Pilothouse's capital provider network and does not require a broker to initiate.

What is the CAPE system and when will CBP pay tariff refunds?

The CAPE (Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries) system is CBP's new portal being built to process IEEPA tariff refunds. CBP has confirmed CAPE Phase 1 will be operational by late April 2026, with mass disbursements expected 4–6 months after that. Pilothouse advances funds now — before CAPE pays — so importers don't have to wait 6–12 months for their money.

Is the CBP CAPE portal open yet?

As of March 2026, the CBP CAPE portal is not yet open for importer submissions. CBP has declared to the Court of International Trade that CAPE Phase 1 is targeted for late April 2026. Phase 1 will allow importers to submit refund claims. Mass processing and disbursement is expected 4–9 months after Phase 1 launch. Pilothouse provides advance funding now so importers do not have to wait.

What is ACH enrollment for CBP tariff refunds?

ACH (Automated Clearing House) enrollment is a mandatory requirement for receiving IEEPA tariff refunds from CBP. As of March 2026, CBP no longer issues paper checks — all refunds are disbursed via electronic ACH transfer directly to the importer's bank account. Importers must enroll their bank account in the ACE Secure Data Portal under 'Bank Information for Electronic Refunds' before CBP will process any payment. Pilothouse includes ACH enrollment coordination as part of its advance service.

How do I use the ACE portal to check my tariff refund status?

The ACE (Automated Commercial Environment) Secure Data Portal is CBP's primary trade processing system. Importers can log in at ace.cbp.dhs.gov to view entry summaries, check liquidation status, and manage ACH bank enrollment. To identify IEEPA-eligible entries, export your Entry Summary report and filter for HTS codes beginning with 9903. Pilothouse's free A³ scanner can analyze your ACE CSV export and identify all eligible entries automatically.

What is CBP Form 4811 and do I need it?

CBP Form 4811 (Acceptance of Refund Check) is used when an importer designates a third party to receive a CBP refund on their behalf. Under 31 U.S.C. § 3727, direct assignment of federal refunds before issuance is prohibited, so Pilothouse structures all IEEPA advances as secured bridge loans — not refund assignments. Form 4811 may be relevant after the refund is issued. Pilothouse's team will guide you through the correct documentation for your specific situation.

Can I get working capital while waiting for my IEEPA refund?

Yes. Pilothouse connects U.S. importers with capital providers who advance working capital secured against pending IEEPA Section 9903 tariff refund claims. This is ideal for importers who need immediate liquidity to fund operations, inventory, or supply chain costs while waiting 6–12 months for CBP to process refunds through the CAPE system. Advances range from $500,000 to $50 million+ with funding in 2–3 weeks.

What is the difference between a tariff refund advance and a business loan?

A tariff refund advance is secured specifically against a pending U.S. government CBP duty refund receivable, making it faster and easier to obtain than a traditional business loan. Traditional business loans require credit history, financial statements, and collateral. A tariff refund advance is underwritten primarily on the strength of your CBP refund claim — the government-backed receivable serves as the primary collateral. Pilothouse structures these as facilitated advances through its capital provider network, not as bank loans.

Is the CAPE portal open right now?

No. As of March 27, 2026, the CAPE portal is not yet open to the public. CBP is still in active development. The Claim Portal module is 73% complete, but the Mass Processing Engine — which actually disburses funds — is only 45% complete. Importers cannot yet submit claims through CAPE.

What is the CAPE portal?

CAPE (Customs Automated Processing Engine) is the CBP system being built to process IEEPA tariff refunds following the February 20, 2026 Supreme Court ruling in Learning Resources Inc v. Trump. It will allow importers who paid Section 9903 duties to file claims and receive ACH refunds directly from the U.S. Treasury.

How long will it take to receive my IEEPA tariff refund from CBP?

Once the CAPE portal launches, CBP estimates 4–9 months for the full refund cycle — including claim review, liquidation, and ACH disbursement. Pilothouse connects importers with capital providers who can advance up to 75% LTV of the estimated refund in 48 hours, eliminating the wait.

What is the 180-Day Wall for IEEPA refund protests?

Under 19 U.S.C. § 1514, importers have 180 days from the date of liquidation to file a CBP Form 19 protest. Entries that liquidated before August 2025 are already outside this window. Importers must file protective protests immediately to preserve their refund rights before their entries expire.

Do I need ACH enrollment to receive my IEEPA refund?

Yes. Per the February 6, 2026 CBP Electronic Refund Mandate, all IEEPA refunds will be disbursed exclusively via ACH direct deposit. Paper checks are no longer issued. Importers must enroll their bank account in ACE before the CAPE portal launches to avoid payment delays.

What is CBP Form 4811 and do I need it?

CBP Form 4811 (ACH Enrollment for Electronic Refunds) is the form importers must submit to register their bank account for IEEPA refund disbursement. The December 2025 version (12/25) is required. Pilothouse provides a Form 4811 pre-fill generator to help importers complete this form correctly.

Can I get an advance on my IEEPA tariff refund before CAPE launches?

Yes. Pilothouse acts as an intermediary connecting importers with capital providers who advance up to 75% LTV of your estimated Section 9903 refund — wired within 48 hours of signing the facilitated agreement. You do not need to wait for the CAPE portal to access your capital.

Live StatusLast updated: March 27, 2026 · Source: CIT Status Report (March 19, 2026)

CBP CAPE Portal Status:
Is the IEEPA Refund System Open?

The CBP CAPE (Customs Automated Processing Engine) is the system being built to process IEEPA Section 9903 tariff refunds following the February 20, 2026 Supreme Court ruling. Here is the most current build status, sourced directly from the March 19th CIT Status Report.

CAPE Portal Is NOT Yet Open

As of March 27, 2026, importers cannot yet submit claims through CAPE. The Mass Processing Engine — the bottleneck — is only 45% complete. Pilothouse can advance your capital now, before the portal launches.

Live Data — Official CBP API

Real-Time ACE Portal & CAPE Status

Live operational status pulled directly from the official CBP ACE Availability Dashboard API. CAPE build progress sourced from CBP court declarations filed in Atmus Filtration, Inc. v. United States.

Live CAPE & ACE Portal Status

Source: CBP Official ACE Dashboard

Unknown

Last checked: 03:12:37 PM · Auto-refreshes every 5 minutes

ACE Secure Data Portal

Status unavailable

ACE applications are operating normally.

Unknown

CAPE System Build Progress

CBP IEEPA FAQ

① Claim Portal (CSV upload interface)73%

② Mass Processing (IEEPA HTS removal)45%

③ Review & Liquidation / Reliquidation80%

④ Refund (ACH electronic disbursement)63%

Declared: March 19, 2026

Next report due: March 26, 2026

Case: Atmus Filtration, Inc. v. United States (CIT 2026)

Progress percentages are sourced from CBP's official court declarations filed with the U.S. Court of International Trade. CBP files updated progress reports approximately every 7 days per Judge Eaton's orders.

Upcoming ACE Maintenance Windows

Saturday, 03/28/2026, starting @ 10:00 PM EDT

ends Sunday, 03/29/2026, @ 04:00 AM EDT · Duration: 6 hrs, 0 mins

Tuesday, 03/31/2026, starting @ 05:00 AM EDT

ends Tuesday, 03/31/2026, @ 07:00 AM EDT · Duration: 2 hrs, 0 mins

Official Sources

ACE Availability Dashboard CBP IEEPA FAQ ACE Portal Login CBP ACH Enrollment

CIT Status Report — March 19, 2026

CAPE Build Progress by Module

Claim Portal

The public-facing portal where importers submit refund claims. Currently in final UI/UX testing.

73%

In Progress

Estimated completion: Late April 2026

Mass Processing Engine

Primary Bottleneck

The backend batch processor that will liquidate and settle millions of entries simultaneously. This is the primary bottleneck to launch.

45%

Critical Path

Estimated completion: May–June 2026 (Est.)

Refund Module (ACH)

The ACH disbursement module that routes refunds to importer bank accounts. Requires ACH enrollment to be active.

63%

In Progress

Estimated completion: May 2026

Don't Wait for the Mass Processing Engine

The bottleneck module is 45% complete. Pilothouse connects importers with capital providers who advance up to 75% LTV of your estimated refund — wired in 48 hours, not 6 months.

CAPE Rollout Timeline

When Will IEEPA Refunds Be Paid?

Feb 20, 2026

Supreme Court Rules for Importers

SCOTUS upholds Section 9903 IEEPA refund rights in Learning Resources Inc v. Trump.

Feb 6, 2026

CBP Electronic Refund Mandate

CBP mandates ACH enrollment for all IEEPA refunds. Paper checks discontinued.

Mar 19, 2026

CIT Status Report Published

CBP reports CAPE build progress: Claim Portal 73%, Mass Processing 45%, Refund Module 63%.

Late Apr 2026

CAPE Phase 1 Launch (Projected)

Claim Portal expected to open for importer submissions. Mass Processing may still be incomplete.

May–Jun 2026

Mass Processing Goes Live (Est.)

The bottleneck module completes. CBP begins batch processing of millions of entries.

Q3–Q4 2026

First ACH Refunds Disbursed (Est.)

Importers who filed protests and enrolled in ACH begin receiving refunds. 4–9 month cycle.

Frequently Asked Questions

CAPE Portal & IEEPA Refund FAQ

These answers are sourced from CBP official communications and the March 19, 2026 CIT Status Report.

Based on the March 19, 2026 CIT Status Report, the CBP CAPE Claim Portal is 73% complete. CBP has indicated a late April 2026 target for Phase 1 launch, though the Mass Processing Engine (currently 45% complete) is the primary bottleneck. Most analysts expect full refund processing to begin May–June 2026.

48-Hour Wire

Capital provider funds your account before CAPE even launches

75% LTV Advance

Up to 75 cents on every dollar of your estimated §9903 refund

Form 19 Coordinated

Pilothouse prepares your CBP protest filing to preserve refund rights

Stop Waiting for CAPE. Get Your Advance in 48 Hours.

Source: KPMG CBP IEEPA Duty Refund Process Update · CBP ACH Enrollment PDF

CBP CAPE Portal Status:Is the IEEPA Refund System Open?