Where to find your entry number on a 7501
The only field CAPE actually needs is the entry number. Here's how to find it without hunting through broker emails.
What an entry number looks like
An entry number is exactly 11 alphanumeric characters, commonly written with dashes for readability: ABC-1234567-8. CBP's CAPE validator strips dashes and special characters before checking — so ABC12345678, ABC-1234567-8, and abc 1234567 8 are all the same entry to the system.
The format, decoded
- First 3 characters — filer code, assigned by CBP to your broker or self-filer.
- Next 7 characters — sequential entry number for that filer.
- Last 1 character — check digit.
On CBP Form 7501
Look at the top of the form. The field labeled "1. Entry No." in the top-right is what CAPE wants. The other numbered fields (importer number, surety code, etc.) are not needed for the refund CSV.
If you don't have your 7501s
Your customs broker filed them and keeps copies. Email a short request:
Hi [broker], for CAPE IEEPA refund filings we need a list of all entry numbers you filed on our behalf between [start] and [end]. Plain text or CSV is fine — one entry number per row. Thanks.
Most brokers can produce this from their filing system in minutes. If they push back or try to charge you a lot, that's a signal — the data is yours.
Pulling entry numbers from ACE directly
If you have an ACE Secure Data Portal importer account, you can pull your own entry summaries under the Reports module. Filter by entry date and export to CSV. Paste that CSV into the CAPE Filing Helper — we pick out the entry-number column automatically even if other columns come along for the ride.