CAPE Phases 1, 2 and 3 are live·Phase 3: CIT plaintiffs only·Section 122 expired Jul 24·Updated Nov 9, 2026
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HTS Relationship/Sequence Mismatch: CAPE Rejection on FTZ Type 06 Entries

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TL;DR: From the week of April 21, 2026, self-filing FTZ operators saw CAPE rejections on weekly Type 06 entries, first UNABLE TO CALCULATE DUTY, then HTS RELATIONSHIP/SEQUENCE MISMATCH. On June 25, 2026 CBP split this check into two errors with specific causes, and GHY reports entries that failed before may now be accepted. Resubmit once; if you get Invalid HTS or HTS Relationship Mismatch, fix the entry by PSC and resubmit. Watch the 80-day window while you do.

What's Happening

Starting the week of April 21, 2026, some self-filing FTZ operators submitting CAPE Declarations are seeing rejections on their weekly Type 06 (FTZ) entries: specifically one or both of these errors:

  • UNABLE TO CALCULATE DUTY: appearing Monday through Thursday on certain Type 06 entries
  • HTS RELATIONSHIP/SEQUENCE MISMATCH: appearing on those same entries a day or two later, after a CBP system update

Multiple filers report the same sequence on the same entries. And the part that makes this particularly confusing: other Type 06 entries from the same CAPE Declaration are accepted without issue. There is no visible difference between the entries that pass and the entries that get the rejection.

This was not documented in the CBP CAPE FAQ as of April 24, 2026. See the June 25 update below.

What the Error Means

In ACE, HTS RELATIONSHIP/SEQUENCE MISMATCH means the system cannot validate the order or relationship of HTS codes on an entry during processing. For standard consumption entries, CAPE removes the IEEPA Chapter 99 HTS lines and recalculates duties: a straightforward operation. Weekly FTZ Type 06 entries have a different internal data structure, and the CAPE processing engine is running into a conflict on certain entries when it attempts that same removal.

In April, identical-looking 06 entries were split between accepted and rejected with no visible pattern, which pointed to a CBP system-side issue. CBP's June 25 change (below) now names two specific data causes.

What to Do Right Now

1. Email CBP with your specifics

Send to: IEEPARefunds@cbp.dhs.gov For ACE technical issues: ace.support@cbp.dhs.gov or call 866-530-4172

Keep it short:

  • Your IOR EIN
  • The rejected entry numbers
  • The exact error text (HTS RELATIONSHIP/SEQUENCE MISMATCH)
  • Whether those same entries previously showed UNABLE TO CALCULATE DUTY

You're creating a paper trail and flagging your specific entries to the right team.

2. Resubmit, then fix by PSC if needed

GHY reports that on June 25, 2026 (CSMS #69056483) CBP split this check into two errors (GHY):

  • Invalid HTS: the line date falls outside the begin and end dates of an HTS code on the entry. If a code was end-dated and replaced after you filed, file a PSC to swap in the new code, then resubmit on a new CAPE Declaration.
  • HTS Relationship Mismatch: an add, replace or derived HTS code is on the entry without the HTS code it belongs with. File a PSC to add the missing code, then resubmit.

Entries that failed the old check may now be accepted outright, so resubmit the rejected entries once in a new Declaration. Do not re-include entries that were already accepted.

3. Subscribe to CSMS if you haven't

CBP publishes ACE changes via CSMS messages. Subscribe at cbp.gov/trade/automated/cargo-systems-messaging-service.

4. A rejection does not end the refund, but the clock keeps running

A CAPE rejection does not cancel your claim, but it does not stop the 80-day window either: a liquidated entry must get into an accepted CAPE Declaration before day 80, or it needs the court path. When CAPE processes the entry, CBP adds interest under 19 CFR 24.36 (CSMS #68340863).

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I need to resubmit a new CAPE Declaration? Yes, for the rejected entries only. Submit a new Declaration containing only those entry numbers, after any PSC fix. Do not re-include entries that were already accepted: each entry can only appear on one accepted Declaration.

Is this affecting all FTZ Type 06 entries? Not all. In April, some Type 06 entries were accepted in the same CAPE submission as rejected ones, with no visible difference. Since the June 25 split, the error names a specific cause you can fix.

My entries first showed UNABLE TO CALCULATE DUTY, now this. Are they the same problem? Likely. Multiple filers reported the same sequence in April: UNABLE TO CALCULATE DUTY early in the week, then HTS RELATIONSHIP/SEQUENCE MISMATCH on the same entries days later after a CBP system update.

Is there a deadline I need to worry about? CBP has not published a closing date for CAPE. The real risk is the 80-day window: if the entries have liquidated, every day brings them closer to day 80, after which CAPE will not take them without a court order. Flagging your entries to CBP in writing keeps a record, but it does not stop the clock.

Update on the error itself: GHY reports that CBP split this error into two messages on June 25, 2026, "Invalid HTS" and "HTS Relationship Mismatch", each with a PSC fix (GHY). See step 2 above.

What's the right email to contact CBP on this? For technical refund questions: IEEPARefunds@cbp.dhs.gov. For ACE system issues: ace.support@cbp.dhs.gov. General trade inquiries: traderelations@cbp.dhs.gov.

Question not covered here? Email hello@es-003.com. Most questions get an answer with sources the same day, often within minutes. Free information site, not legal advice. Get refund updates by email.