U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a Final Rule requiring that all refunds of Customs duties, taxes, and fees be issued electronically via Automated Clearing House (ACH) beginning February 6, 2026. After this date, refund checks will no longer be mailed, subject to limited exceptions. This change is part of CBP’s Electronic Refunds Interim Final Rule and supports Executive Order 14247. These changes are intended to streamline refund processing and provide faster, more secure payments directly to an importer’s bank account.
Under the new requirements, importers who may receive CBP-issued refunds must ensure their ACH banking information is properly established and maintained within the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Portal. These changes are particularly important for importers who participate in reconciliation programs. Importers are strongly encouraged to establish or access their ACE Portal accounts as soon as possible and confirm that ACH enrollment is complete well ahead of the February 2026 deadline.
To support the transition, CBP will be hosting live informational sessions. Importers who need assistance navigating the ACE Portal are encouraged to attend one of the following sessions, all held via Microsoft Teams from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM:
- Wednesday, January 14, 2026
- Wednesday, January 28, 2026
- Wednesday, February 11, 2026
If you have questions about how this requirement may impact you, need the links to the info sessions, or require general guidance navigating the transition we encourage you to reach out to our team as soon as possible. You can reach out to your 721 Operations representative or our main line at Phone (610) 994-5060 or info@721logistics.com