CBP Reminded Trade of Mandatory Electronic Refunds Starting Feb 6, 2026
CBP title: REMINDER: Support Call Today for Electronic Refund and Add Notify Party Features in the ACE Portal
This message is from January 14, 2026. Later CSMS messages may have changed it. See the latest trade news
What did CBP announce?
CBP announced that beginning February 6, 2026, it would issue all refunds electronically via ACH, with limited exceptions, under an interim final rule published January 2, 2026. CBP said it improved the ACH refund sign-up process in the ACE Portal and added a feature for importers to add notify parties. CBP held a support call on January 14, 2026 to help importers and other parties prepare for the transition.
What is Allied's position?
This message described a support call and enrollment steps for a transition that took effect on February 6, 2026 and is now in the past. Electronic ACH refunds are now the standard method CBP uses, subject to the exceptions CBP listed, so clients who receive CBP refunds should confirm they are enrolled in ACH refund payment through ACE. If a client has not set up ACH refunds or has questions about a specific refund, they should ask us to review their account status.
General information, not legal advice.
What does the CBP message say?
Beginning February 6, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will issue all refunds electronically via Automated Clearing House (ACH) (subject to limited exceptions), as announced in the Electronic Refunds Interim Final Rule published January 2, 2026 in the Federal Register (FR Document 2025-24171 (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/02/2025-24171/electronic-refunds)).
In preparation for this change, CBP improved the ACH refund sign-up process in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). CBP also recently added a feature for importers to add notify parties, also known as “Special Address Notification (CBP Form 4811) notify parties,” within the ACE Portal.
CBP will hold a user readiness support call today at 2:00 p.m. ET to help the trade community prepare for this transition.
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• ACE User Readiness Support Call
- Wednesday, January 14, 2026
- 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
- Call Link: Join via Microsoft Teams (https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/23342985256470?p=UAeCc4ksoTSp3CC4Bj)
For importers and other parties who may receive CBP-issued refunds after February 5, 2026, review CBP’s Electronic Refund Enrollment Reference Sheet (https://www.cbp.gov/document/guidance/cbp-modernizes-electronic-refund-enrollment-process) and take any necessary steps to ensure readiness for this mandatory transition.
Related CSMS: 67305746 (https://lnks.gd/3/3RHZw6z), 67333418 (https://lnks.gd/3/3RJWH-7)