U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced a change to its refund issuance process that will impact all importers and filers.

Beginning February 6, 2026, CBP will issue all refunds electronically through Automated Clearing House (ACH), subject to limited exceptions under 31 CFR Part 208. After this date, CBP will no longer issue refund checks unless a waiver has been formally approved.

This requirement applies to refunds issued to importers, brokers, filers, sureties, service providers, facility operators, foreign trade zone operators, carriers, and any designated third parties listed on CBP Form 4811.

To continue receiving refunds without interruption, importers must enroll for ACH refunds through their ACE Portal account. Enrollment is completed directly within ACE and requires the importer to provide banking information for electronic deposits.

Important Note:  The Supreme Court is scheduled to rule on the lawfulness of the IEEPA tariffs; this could happen soon!  In the event the Supreme Court ultimately deems those tariffs unlawful and CBP issues refunds through entry-related mechanisms, being enrolled for ACH refunds will help ensure a more efficient and timely refund process.

Additional information, including enrollment instructions, can be found here: ACH Refund | U.S. Customs and Border Protection

If you have questions about enrolling in ACH refunds through ACE or would like assistance confirming your current setup, please contact our team.