New CAPE portal and US-local account access to help exporters recover duties paid under IEEPA tariffs
Indian exporters affected by tariffs imposed by the United States under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) may now be eligible to recover duties paid during the affected period. Bengaluru-based fintech platform Skydo, in partnership with Intoglo, has introduced support services to help exporters identify eligible shipments, complete filings, and receive refunds through US-local accounts.
The development follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s February 20, 2026 ruling that struck down the tariffs introduced during the Trump administration. Duties paid between August 27, 2025 and February 6, 2026 are now eligible for refund claims, subject to filing requirements.
To process these claims, U.S. Customs and Border Protection is launching Phase 1 of its Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) portal on April 20, 2026. The portal will act as the official mechanism for filing refund applications. According to U.S. Customs estimates, nearly $166 billion was collected globally under these tariffs.
According to Intoglo, Indian exporters could collectively recover more than $150 million from duties paid on US-bound shipments during the eligible period. The refunds are expected to support cash flow management, margin recovery, and operational investments, particularly for SMEs.
“A significant amount of tariffs paid by Indian exporters is now eligible for refunds, but is hard to claim simply because the CAPE system is cumbersome and requires exporters to have a US bank account,” said Srivatsan Sridhar. “In partnership with Intoglo, and through our RBI-regulated cross-border payments infrastructure, we’re removing that friction and giving exporters a clear way to access these funds through US-local accounts.”
The refund process requires exporters to comply with several conditions. Eligible shipments must have been made under Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) terms, where the exporter bore the tariff costs. Refunds are issued only to the entity listed as the Importer of Record (IOR), which may require coordination when third parties are involved. Payments are typically credited through ACH into a U.S. bank account, making access to US-local banking infrastructure necessary. Processing timelines are generally estimated at 60–90 days after acceptance of a valid claim, subject to additional review where applicable.
“We’ve seen a sharp increase in exporters reaching out for guidance on the IEEPA refund process. With guidelines still evolving and multiple versions circulating, it’s been difficult for exporters to navigate with confidence. Importantly, not having a US bank account is not a blocker now. Through our partnership with Skydo, we aim to provide Indian exporters with up-to-date, verified, and actionable guidance on navigating the IEEPA refund process. For many mid to large exporters, this could mean recovering crores of rupees that can be reinvested directly into their business,” said Sufal Roongta.
The companies said many exporters may be handling a process of this nature for the first time, where successful recovery depends on accurate filing, coordination with the Importer of Record, and receipt of funds through a U.S. account. As an example, a mid-sized textile exporter shipping DDP goods to the U.S. may have paid $50,000 in tariffs during the affected period, which can only be recovered through successful filing on the CAPE platform and proper routing of funds.
“Imposed tariffs were never built into the original cost structure; they effectively eroded margins. Recovering them would restore profitability and serve as a key lever for reinvestment in growth and capacity,” said Mayur Khara.
“The U.S. is a key market for us, but tariffs have slowed us down. Getting that money back would help us invest more and grow faster there,” said Suneet Yogesh Bhutta.
