Denied or Rejected IEEPA Refund Claims and Denied Protests

A CAPE rejection is usually not a final decision

CAPE validates each entry in a declaration. Entries that fail validation are rejected, and CBP allows them to be corrected and submitted again on a separate declaration. Common reasons include:

• The filer was not the Importer of Record or the broker that filed the entry
• The entry type is not accepted in CAPE, such as warehouse entry types 21 and 22 after July 7, 2026
• The entry is past 80 days after liquidation, or has an open protest
• The duties in question were not IEEPA duties

Read the rejection message first. It usually points to which of these applies. Our guide on why claims get rejected goes through each one.

A denied protest starts a court deadline

If CBP denies a protest, a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade is generally due within 180 days after CBP mails the notice of denial (28 U.S.C. 2636(a)). That is attorney work, and the window does not wait. We can email you a list of attorneys who handle these cases.

What we do and do not do

We explain the general options and send you a list of licensed professionals. We do not prepare or file corrections, declarations, or protests, and we do not give legal advice. Importers can file their own CAPE declarations and protests with CBP at no cost.

General information, not legal or customs advice. Facts last reviewed September 24, 2026. Confirm dates and options for your entries with a licensed professional.