Step 1. ACE account
Create your ACE Secure Data Portal account. One IR number uses the online application; multiple IR numbers use a downloadable form submitted by email.
Guide
Set up your ACE and AES access.
Recovering drawback starts with access to your own trade data. This guide walks the full setup in order: create your ACE Secure Data Portal account, register for AESDirect as an exporter, and turn on AES export reporting, the export records a drawback or IEEPA refund claim is built from.
3 stepsACE account, AESDirect, AES reporting
3 to 5 daysTypical CBP processing for the ACE account
Both sidesImport entry data and export records
Overview
Three steps to your trade data.
Do them in order. Step 1 has two paths depending on whether your company has one importer of record number or several under the same EIN.
Step 2. AESDirect registration
Once you can log in to ACE, register an Exporter account so you can access export filing and reporting.
Step 3. AES export reporting
Request EIN reports authorization, complete the Census Certification of Authority, and turn on the export reporting a claim is matched against.
Step 1 · ACE account
First, identify your IR number setup.
Your path depends on one question: does your company have a single importer of record number, or multiple IR numbers under the same EIN? Your IR number is generally your EIN followed by a two-digit suffix, and you can also find it in Box 23 of your Entry Summary, CBP Form 7501.
One IR number
For example, 01-2345678900. You complete the online application directly in the ACE portal. Follow Path A below.
Path A. Online application.
Multiple IR numbers
For example, 01-2345678900 and 01-23456789XX under the same EIN. You complete a downloadable form and submit it to CBP by email. Follow Path B below.
Path B. Downloadable form.
Step 1 · Path A
One IR number: the online application.
1
Open the application
Open the Application for an ACE Portal Top Account with the Importer Sub-Account View on CBP's site.
2
Enter your company details
Enter your company name in the Company Name field, your IR number in the Importer of Record Number (IR#) field, and your email in the Business Email Address field. Click Next.
3
Verify your email
Enter the verification code CBP sends to that email address. The code is valid for 10 minutes. If more than 10 minutes pass, return to step 1 and resubmit the form.
4
Complete company and account owner information
Your company name, IR number, and email are prepopulated and cannot be edited. Select your Company Organizational Structure, enter the Account Owner first and last name, and select your Country.
5
Add your address and authorize
Enter your business street address, city, state, and ZIP, and your telephone number with dashes between each section. In the Authorization section, the Account Owner Name and today's date are prefilled. Check the box to authorize creation of the account, which acts as your electronic signature.
6
Submit
Click Submit to complete the application. CBP typically processes it in three to five business days. Once your account is active, move on to Step 2.
Step 1 · Path B
Multiple IR numbers: the downloadable form.
1
Download the form
Open the ACE Secure Data Portal Account Application Form and download it to your computer.
2
Skip the Privacy Act, start Section A
Nothing needs to be completed on the Privacy Act page. On page 2, complete Section A, Account Information.
3
Complete the importer line
Under 1, Importer/Broker/Filer/Surety, complete a, Importer. Your IR number is your EIN followed by a two-digit suffix, also found in Box 23 of your Entry Summary, CBP Form 7501.
4
Complete the legal entity section
In Section B, Account Owner Designation, complete Part 2, Legal Entity.
5
Add your point of contact
Complete Section C, Point of Contact for the Account.
6
Authorize
Complete Section D, Authorization and Acknowledgement. The account owner and a company officer must each check their electronic-signature box.
7
Submit by email
Click Submit by E-Mail at the bottom of the form. Your email application opens with the completed form attached and addressed to ace.applications@cbp.dhs.gov. Send the email. CBP typically processes it in three to five business days, then move on to Step 2.
Step 2
Register for AESDirect.
Once your ACE application is processed and you can sign in, register an Exporter account so you can access export filing and reporting.
1
Sign in to ACE
Visit the ACE website and use Trade / PGA User Login. This is how you log in to ACE from here on.
2
Start a new account
Once signed in, open the Accounts drop-down menu and select New Account.
3
Find your top account
Under Top Account Search, search for your company name and select it.
4
Choose Exporter
Under Create a New Account, select Exporter as the Account Type and click Confirm.
5
Complete and submit the Exporter Application
Fill out the Exporter Application and submit it. When it is done, your exporter account is set up, confirmed by your ACE ID, EIN, and IR number showing on the account. Then move on to Step 3.
Step 3
Turn on AES export reporting.
With your exporter account created, request AES export reporting so you can pull the export data a drawback claim is matched against.
1
Log in and open your Exporter account
Log in to your ACE account, open the Accounts drop-down, and select Exporter.
2
Request EIN reports authorization
On the far right, click the Request EIN Reports Authorization button. A pop-up window appears. Do not close it.
3
Download the Certification of Authority
In the pop-up, click Certification of Authority to download the PDF, then complete the highlighted sections.
4
Email Census
Place the completed Certification of Authority on company letterhead and email it to exportreports@census.gov.
5
Collect your ITN numbers
Census responds with three ITN numbers, each a unique reference for an export shipment. Submit the three ITN numbers to your freight forwarder and request the underlying export details. If the forwarder is unknown, Census can provide the name.
6
Return the details and confirm access
Email the requested information back to Census, and AES export reporting access is granted. You can confirm it worked when the Request EIN Reports Authorization button no longer appears on your Exporter account.
After setup
Now you can pull the data, or we can.
Your import and export data, in reach
With ACE set up and AES reporting on, both sides of a claim are available: the entry summary detail on the import side, including the ES-003 report the IEEPA refund calculator uses, and your export records on the AES side. From there it is a matter of matching, preparing, and filing the claim.
If you would rather not run any of this yourself, clients can grant Alliance read-only access to their ACE account so we pull the reports and run the assessment. We can handle as much of the setup and the claim as you want.
Have Alliance handle itCommon questions
ACE and AES setup, answered.
Do I need ACE and AES for duty drawback?
Both help. Your ACE account holds the import entry data behind a claim and is how drawback is filed. AES export reporting gives you the export records a claim is matched against. Setting up ACE, registering for AESDirect, and turning on AES export reporting puts both sides of the data in reach.
What is AESDirect?
AESDirect is the system inside the ACE portal used to file Electronic Export Information for export shipments. Registering an Exporter account in ACE is what lets you request AES export reporting and access your export data.
What are ITN numbers?
An ITN, or Internal Transaction Number, is a unique reference for an export shipment. During AES reporting setup, Census provides ITN numbers, and your freight forwarder holds the underlying export details tied to them. If the forwarder is unknown, Census can provide the name.
How long does ACE account approval take?
CBP states that processing typically takes up to three to five business days, though high application volume can make it take longer. Once the account is active, you can register for AESDirect.
Can Alliance set this up for me?
Yes. We guide clients through ACE and AES setup, and clients can grant us read-only access to their ACE account so we pull the reports and run the assessment. We can handle as much of the process as you want.
Complimentary · No obligation
Request a free assessment
Not sure where to start?
We help clients set up ACE and AES, pull the data, and run the entire drawback program from there. Start with a free assessment and we will take it from wherever you are.