Starting February 6, 2026, no more paper checks. If you're not set up for electronic refunds, your money gets stuck.
This is a simple one, but the consequences of ignoring it are real: starting February 6, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will stop issuing paper refund checks.
All customs duty, tax, and fee refunds will be issued electronically via ACH (Automated Clearing House). No exceptions, unless you qualify for a very narrow waiver.
If you don't have an ACE Portal account with banking information on file, your refunds don't get paid. And if CBP can't deliver your refund solely because you didn't set up your account? No interest accrues while your money sits in limbo.
This is an easy fix. But you need to act before February 6.
Why This Is Happening
Executive Order 14247, "Modernizing Payments To and From America's Bank Account," was signed on March 25, 2025. It mandates that the U.S. Treasury stop issuing paper checks for federal disbursements.
CBP's interim final rule implements this mandate for customs refunds. It's not optional, it's not a pilot program, and it's not going away.
Who's Affected
This applies broadly to everyone who might receive a customs refund:
- Importers
- Customs brokers
- Filers
- Sureties
- Service providers
- Facility operators
- Foreign Trade Zone operators
- Carriers
- Any third parties designated on CBP Form 4811
If you've ever received a customs refund check, you need to set up electronic payments.
The Deadline
February 6, 2026. After this date, paper checks are only issued if you have an approved waiver under specific federal guidelines (31 CFR part 208). These waivers are extremely limited and not available to typical importers.
What You Need to Do
Step 1: Get an ACE Portal Account (If You Don't Have One)
On October 30, 2025, CBP launched an automated process for applying for ACE Secure Data Portal accounts.
Requirements:
- You must have a CBP Form 5106 (Importer ID Input Record) on file
- The email address on your 5106 record must be current (CBP will send a verification code)
- The phone number on your 5106 must be accurate
Action item: Before applying, verify that your contact information on your 5106 is current. If it's outdated, update it first.
Step 2: Add Your Banking Information
Once you have ACE Portal access, you need to add your ACH refund authorization.
In the ACE Portal:
- Navigate to your Importer sub-account
- Click the "ACH Refund Authorization" tab
- Click "Get Info/Refresh" to load any existing bank information
- Add your U.S. bank account details
Important details:
- You must use a U.S. bank account
- Bank accounts must be added for each 5106 EIN + Suffix level separately
- Banking information is stored in CBP's financial system, not the ACE Portal itself
- Currently, only the TAO (Trade Account Owner) can add or change banking information
Step 3: If You're a Foreign Importer
Foreign importers without a U.S. bank account have two options:
- Establish a U.S. bank account for receiving refunds
- Designate a third party (such as your customs broker) with a U.S. bank account to receive refunds on your behalf
If you're designating a third party, this must be documented via CBP Form 4811.
Step 4: Verify Everything Works
After setting up your banking information:
- Confirm the account details are correct
- Verify you can access the ACH Refund Authorization section
- Document your setup for your records
What Happens If You Don't Set This Up
Scenario 1: CBP certifies a refund for you, but can't deliver it electronically because you haven't provided banking information.
Result: The refund gets rejected. Your money sits there. And here's the kicker: if CBP certifies a refund within 30 days of liquidation/reliquidation but can't deliver it solely due to your failure to provide banking information, no interest accrues.
You're not just delayed—you're losing money on the time value of your refund.
Scenario 2: You have outstanding drawback claims, protest refunds, or other pending refunds.
Result: These can't be paid until you're set up for electronic payment. If you have significant refunds pending, the cash flow impact could be material.
Timeline Considerations
Don't wait until February 5 to set this up. Here's why:
- 5106 updates may take time to process if your information is outdated
- ACE Portal applications require verification steps
- Banking information setup should be tested before you need it
- User permission changes were expanded in December 2025, but you may need to configure these
Give yourself at least 2-4 weeks before the deadline to handle any unexpected issues.
Checklist: Your February 2026 Readiness
- Verify your CBP Form 5106 has current contact information
- Confirm you have ACE Portal access (apply if not)
- Log into ACE Portal and navigate to ACH Refund Authorization
- Add U.S. bank account information for all relevant EIN/suffix combinations
- If you're a foreign importer, establish U.S. banking or designate a third party
- Verify any designated third parties are also set up for electronic refunds
- Document your setup for compliance records
- Brief relevant staff on the change
The One-Minute Summary
What: All CBP refunds go electronic starting February 6, 2026. No more paper checks.
Who: Every importer, broker, and party that receives customs refunds.
Action required: Get an ACE Portal account and add your U.S. bank information for ACH payments.
Deadline: February 6, 2026 (but do it now—don't wait).
Consequence of inaction: Refunds can't be paid. No interest accrues while you're delayed.
This is a 30-minute task that will save you significant headaches. Do it this week.
While you're modernizing your customs operations, consider modernizing your classification process too. TariffLens brings AI-powered HTS lookup to help you get classifications right the first time.