Can I file a CAPE declaration myself?
Quick answer
Technically yes, if you have ACE portal access and a licensed customs broker willing to file. However, preparing the declaration data requires cross-referencing entry-level HTS codes against the CAPE-eligible tariff schedule, calculating duty differentials, and formatting to CBP's specifications. Tariffi automates this and includes broker filing at no extra cost.
Detailed Answer
You can file a CAPE declaration yourself, but the process involves significant data preparation that most importers find impractical without automation.
What self-filing requires:
- ACE portal access with entry-summary export capability. If you do not have it, see our ACE signup guide.
- A licensed customs broker willing to transmit the declaration under their ABI filer code. Under 19 U.S.C. § 1641, only a licensed broker can transact customs business on your behalf. If your existing broker offers CAPE filing services, they can handle this.
- CAPE declaration data preparation. This is the hard part. You need to:
- Export your ES-003 entry-summary CSV
- Cross-reference each entry's HTS codes against the CAPE-eligible tariff schedule
- Calculate the duty differential per entry (what you paid minus the revised rate)
- Determine each entry's liquidation status and applicable filing mechanism
- Format the declaration to CBP's CAPE CSV specification
- Identify entries that require special handling (drawback conflicts, PSC corrections, CIT filing)
- 10-digit HTSUS determinations. Per CBP Ruling HQ H350722, AI platforms may classify at the 6-digit HS heading level only. All 10-digit statistical-suffix determinations must be the broker's professional judgment call.
Why most importers use Tariffi instead:
- The ES-003 analysis, CAPE data preparation, and broker filing are all automated.
- The broker partner's filer integration fee is included in Tariffi's contingency.
- Contingency-only pricing means you pay nothing up front and nothing if claims are denied.
- Status tracking and milestone notifications are built in.
- For a single-digit number of entries, self-filing might make sense. For portfolios with dozens or hundreds of entries across multiple HTS codes, automation saves weeks of manual work.
Your existing broker option. If your current customs broker already offers CAPE filing services, that is a perfectly valid path. Tariffi exists for importers whose brokers do not offer this service or who want the convenience of automated preparation.
Related Questions
Do I need a customs broker for a tariff refund?
Yes. Federal law (19 U.S.C. § 1641) requires a CBP-licensed customs broker to file CAPE declarations. Tariffi is a data-preparation platform, not a broker — we prepare your declaration data and route it to a licensed broker partner who reviews, approves, and transmits under their own ABI filer code at no extra cost to you.
What documents do I need to file a CAPE declaration?
You need your ES-003 entry-summary CSV from the ACE portal — the universal export every U.S. broker and importer of record can produce. Tariffi extracts all required data (entry numbers, HTS codes, duty amounts, liquidation dates) from this single file. No additional paperwork is required to start the process.
How do I get a tariff refund?
Upload your ACE ES-003 entry-summary CSV to Tariffi. Our platform analyzes your entries for IEEPA and Section 301 overpayments, prepares the CAPE declaration data, and routes it to a CBP-licensed customs broker partner who files under their own license. No advance fees — you pay a contingency only when CBP approves your refund.
What is an ES-003 file and how do I get it?
An ES-003 is CBP's standardized entry-summary export from the ACE portal in CSV format. It contains all data needed for CAPE declarations: entry numbers, HTS codes, duty amounts, and liquidation dates. Your customs broker can pull it, or you can export it directly from ace.cbp.gov if you have portal access.
Need help?
Upload your ES-003 to see how much you could recover, or talk to our team.