Note sull'episodio
IEEPA tariff refunds are now legally available and the filing system is live. In this episode of the Ecommerce Finance Podcast, Stephen Brown, COO at LedgerGurus and co-owner of Sole Toscana, walks through the complete IEEPA tariff refund process from start to finish alongside Stacy Walker, Director of Growth at LedgerGurus.
The Supreme Court ruled IEEPA tariffs unconstitutional. The Court of International Trade followed up and ordered Customs and Border Patrol to issue refunds. CBP has since built a new system called CAPE, the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries, inside the ACE portal to process IEEPA tariff refunds electronically. Phase one went live on April 20, 2026.
Today’s Key Takeaways:
- IEEPA Tariffs Were Ruled Unconstitutional and Refunds Are Now Legally Available
- The CAPE System Went Live April 20, 2026 and the Refund Process Has Officially Started
- Only the Importer of Record Qualifies, If Your Manufacturer Filed, the Refund Goes to Them
- Refunds Are Electronic and Take 60 to 90 Days Once Your Application Is Submitted
- Your First Move Is Getting Set Up in the ACE Portal at ace.cbp.gov
- This Is Not Automatic, You Have to Initiate the Process Yourself
- Do Not Count on This Money Until It Actually Hits Your Account
- Expect the Refund to Be Taxable Income and Plan Ahead Now
- Your Broker Probably Will Not Come to You, You Have to Go to Them
- Avoid Pop-Up Services With No Track Record and Work With People You Already Trust
Chapters:
- 00:00 Are IEEPA Tariff Refunds Real and Can Brands Actually Count on the Money?
- 00:27 What Is Being Refunded and Why the Supreme Court Ruling Changed Everything
- 02:00 What Is the CAPE System and Why Does It Matter for Ecommerce Sellers?
- 02:40 Who Qualifies and Who Gets Left Out?
- 04:52 How Long Will It Take to Actually Get Your Money Back?
- 06:46 Where Do You File and How Do You Track the Progress?
- 09:08 How Much Money Are We Talking and Is It Worth the Effort?
- 09:57 The Step-by-Step Process for Filing Your IEEPA Tariff Refund
- 13:25 Where Does the Refund Go in Your Books and What Are the Tax Implications?
- 15:35 Three Things Every Operator Should Do Right Now
- 22:15 How to Avoid Surprises and Stay Ahead as the CAPE System Evolves
Guest Info
Stacy Walker is the Director of Growth at LedgerGurus, where she leads the sales and growth strategy for one of the ecommerce industry's most specialized accounting firms. With a background that spans business development, sales, and marketing, Stacy brings a front-line perspective on what ecommerce brands are actually dealing with, having spent years talking directly with seven and eight-figure sellers navigating everything from scaling challenges to profitability gaps.
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If your ecommerce business paid IEEPA tariffs in 2025 and you need help navigating the refund process or getting your books in order, reach out to LedgerGurus at ledgergurus.com.