Share
Following the U.S. court's ruling on IEEPA tariffs, the U.S. Customs Service has begun a gradual process of refunding the tariffs paid
So in order to put things in order, we have compiled here what is important to know, step by step:
As of April 20, 2026, the first stage of the refund process has opened.
What shipments are included at this time?
*Shipments outside these ranges are not included in the first stage, and updates are expected to be published later.
Only the Importer of Record (IOR) or a customs broker on its behalf may submit a request for a refund.
To apply for a refund through DHL USA:
- Please contact DHL USA using this form and follow the instructions provided.
- The service is chargeable
To apply for a refund independently:
- You must register for the US customs system CAPE, which allows you to submit several shipments at once. For the system registration guide.
- In order to submit the application, an Entry Number is required for each shipment.
- It is not possible to submit a request using a bill of lading only.
If you do not have the shipment entry numbers, customers with a valid Power of Attorney (POA) on file with DHL may request access to the MyUSEntries platform by contacting: MYUSENTRY@dhl.com
How is the refund received?
If DHL submits the request, make sure that a claim number has been received by the customer registered in the US. The refund will be received by DHL and forwarded to the party who paid the customs.
If the customer is the Registered Importer (IOR) – and submits the request independently – the refund is transferred to a US bank account (ACH). Make sure that a suitable refund account is in place to receive the refund, as no refunds are made by check or cash.
For more information on opening a refund account – visit the US Customs website.
When is the refund expected from the moment the application is submitted?
**The application is expected to take approximately 60 to 90 days to process by U.S. Customs.
In cases where DHL submits the request: Additional processing time of up to 90 days may occur,
So the total duration of treatment may reach up to 180 days.
On February 20, 2026, the United States Supreme Court ruled that IEEPA tariffs were illegal.
In accordance with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) guidelines, these tariffs no longer apply to shipments entering the U.S. beginning February 24, 2026.
It is important to note that the rest of the tariffs, fees, and customs plans remain in effect and are not affected by the ruling.
Yes. IEEPA tariffs will be refunded with plus interest and in several stages.
The U.S. Customs Service (CBP) has established a system called CAPE, which operates under the ACE system, for the purpose of receiving and processing refund requests.
The system has been opened for applications as of April 20, 2026 (Phase 1).
Step 1 includes:
Only the Importer of Record (IOR) or a customs broker on its behalf may submit a request for a refund through the CAPE system.
Yes. If DHL has provided customs brokerage services for the shipment, you can use the DHL US service to submit your refund request.
For this purpose, please contact us by this form and follow the instructions provided.
The service is chargeable.
Yes. The return request can be submitted independently through the CAPE system, which operates within the framework of the American customs system ACE.
To do this, you must be registered with the ACE system. If you do not have an account, you must register in the system according to the instructions.
In order to submit the application, an Entry Number is required for each shipment.
You can't apply with a bill of lading (AWB) only.
Customers with a valid Power of Attorney (POA) on file with DHL may request access to the MyUSEntries platform, which allows users to download entry documents and shipment reporting at no additional cost.
To request access, please email:
MYUSENTRY@dhl.com
Please include:
• IRS number
• Full names of the requested users
• Email addresses of the requested users
If you're not sure:
Nope.
The U.S. Customs Service has determined that the CAPE system is the only way to apply for IEEPA tariff refunds.
Applications submitted through the Customs Registration Amendment (PSC) will be rejected.
Objections that have already been filed can be revoked, to allow the application to be processed through CAPE.
After submitting the application, you will receive a claim number from the CAPE system.
If DHL submits the request for you, it will forward the claim number to the customer's email registered in the U.S., and the status of the request can be tracked.
When you file independently, the claim number is received immediately and can be viewed in the CAPE system (through an ACE account).
The processing of the application by U.S. Customs is expected to take about 60 to 90 days from the moment the application is approved.
In cases where DHL submits the request, there may be an additional processing time of up to 90 days,
So the total duration of the treatment may reach up to about 180 days.
If DHL submits the request:
Make sure that you have received a claim number in the email of your registered customer in the United States.
The refund will be accepted by DHL and forwarded to the party who paid the customs.
If the customer is the Registered Importer (IOR) and submits the application independently:
The refund is transferred to a US bank account (ACH).
Make sure you have a suitable refund account in place to receive your refund, as no refunds are made by check or cash.
If DHL was the IOR, no application fee will be charged.
If the customer is the IOR and asks DHL to submit for them, the service is chargeable.
Nope.
Only the IEEPA tariffs themselves will be refunded.
Fees and levies associated with brokerage, operations, and control services are non-refundable, as they are not government payments.
Currently, the U.S. Customs Service (CBP) has not yet released information or timetables on when shipments that are not included in Step 1 will be eligible to apply for an IEEPA tariff refund.
We are in regular contact with CBP to understand what the next steps will include and when their implementation is expected to begin.
Shipments excluded from Step 1:
We will continue to update as more steps in the refund process are published. We will be happy to be at your disposal for any questions or clarifications.
Updates can also be tracked on DHL's dedicated U.S. Customs Tracking website.
Disclaimer
Although we have made every effort to ensure that the information in this article is collected and obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, the Company shall not assume any responsibility or liability, whether express or implied, for the truthfulness, accuracy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of such information. All information in this article is provided "as is". In no event shall DHL Express, its affiliates or affiliates under the DHL Group, or its affiliates, agencies or employees, be liable to you or any other party for any decision or action taken in reliance on the information contained herein, or for any consequential, special or similar damages, even if you have been warned of the possibility of such damages.
Share
