CBP said all refunds would move to electronic ACH payments starting February 6, 2026
CBP title: REMINDER: Electronic Refunds Interim Final Rule Effective February 6 – New FAQs Now Available
This message is from January 26, 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 through ACH, with limited exceptions, under an interim final rule published January 2, 2026. CBP urged importers and the trade community to review its ACE Portal and ACH refund enrollment resources and complete any needed setup before that date. The message pointed to FAQs, training guides and support call schedules for enrollment.
What is Allied's position?
This message is more than 30 days old. It told importers to enroll for ACH refunds in the ACE Portal ahead of February 6, 2026, but later CSMS messages may have changed enrollment details or exceptions since then. If you receive CBP refunds, including any IEEPA duty refunds, ask us to confirm your current ACH enrollment status and whether any action is still outstanding.
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://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.federalregister.gov%2Fdocuments%2F2026%2F01%2F02%2F2025-24171%2Felectronic-refunds&data=05%7C02%7CKATHRYN.R.GRANDSTAFF%40associates.cbp.dhs.gov%7Ccb65573b8b9b455eb3a708de5cee4278%7Ce4b16b844c564f279af730345a161ad4%7C0%7C0%7C639050375535591945%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=BT7IxIn46VkkD03gY2sPZDT%2FKvgVtepLWuN6DQ3N6Jg%3D&reserved=0)).
To prepare for February 6, CBP strongly encourages the trade community to review CBP’s extensive resources (see below) related to the transition to all electronic refunds (subject to limited exceptions) and take any necessary action.
CBP Resources: ACE Portal Access and ACH Refund Enrollment
- NEW! ACE Portal and ACH Refunds FAQs (https://www.cbp.gov/trade/automated/ace-portal-and-ach-refunds-faqs)
- Reference Sheet: ACH Refund Enrollment Overview (https://www.cbp.gov/document/guidance/cbp-modernizes-electronic-refund-enrollment-process)
- Information Notice: ACE Portal Updates to Enable Electronic Refund Enrollment (https://www.cbp.gov/document/guidance/trade-information-notice-ace-portal-updates-enable-electronic-refund-enrollment)
- Information Notice: Automated ACE Portal Application for Importer Accounts (https://www.cbp.gov/document/guidance/trade-information-notice-automation-ace-portal-account-application-process)
- Information Notice: ACE Portal Feature for Trade Users to Add Notify Parties (https://www.cbp.gov/document/guidance/trade-information-notice-ace-portal-feature-trade-users-add-notify-parties)
- Training Guide: ACH Refund Enrollment in the ACE Portal (https://www.cbp.gov/document/guidance/ace-portal-ach-bank-information-electronic-refunds)
- Training Guide: ACE Portal Feature to Add Notify Parties (https://www.cbp.gov/document/guidance/ace-portal-notify-party-information-qrc)
Related CSMS: #67305746, # 67270895