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Electronic Refunds Interim Final Rule Effective Feb. 6 (Reminder: ACH Enrollment Required)

Published Oct. 7, 2025 | Updated March 29, 2026

Key Points

  • CBP updated the ACE Secure Data Portal to support electronic refunds using Automated Clearing House (ACH), as directed by Executive Order 14247.
  • Trade Account Owners (TAOs) can now add U.S. bank details in the ACE Portal under a new ACH Refund Authorization tab.
  • This update replaces the old manual ACH Refund Enrollment form for importers receiving refunds directly from CBP.
  • Each bank account must be added for every 5106 EIN + Suffix level individually.
  • In December 2025, CBP will allow additional user permissions to manage ACH information.
  • Customs brokers can prepare for the change, but refunds will still be sent by check for now.
  • As of October 30, 2025, the automated ACE Secure Data Portal application process is now available, following CBP’s earlier announcement. A CBP training guide and a deployment support call is available to help users implement the new tool.
  • Effective February 6, 2026, CBP will issue all refunds electronically via ACH with limited exceptions. CBP will hold user readiness support calls to help trade participants prepare.
  • New CBP FAQs are now available to help trade users with electronic refunds. CBP also updated procedures for CBP Form 4811.
  • Latest Update: CBP issued a reminder that all refunds are issued electronically via ACH, and parties must provide valid U.S. bank account information in the ACE Portal to receive payments.
A person holding a credit card in one hand and typing on a laptop keyboard with the other hand, with an American flag and an official CBP emblem blurred in the background

On September 30, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) updated the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Secure Data Portal to allow trade users to submit their U.S. bank information online and receive refunds electronically via ACH. This change supports the goal of modernizing payments as outlined in Executive Order 14247.

Beginning February 6, 2026, CBP will issue all refunds electronically via ACH, following the Electronic Refunds Interim Final Rule (IRF) published in the Federal Register on January 2, 2026.

Importers and other trade parties who get refunds will no longer need to use the manual ACH Refund Enrollment form. Instead, Trade Account Owners (TAOs) with the importer sub-account can enter and update banking info directly in the portal. CBP also announced these changes in ​​a Federal Register Notice on September 24, 2025.

Latest Update

On March 27, 2026, CBP issued a reminder for importers and other parties to provide valid banking information in ACE to receive ACH refunds. According to the agency, since Feb. 6, 2026, over 12,300 certified refunds have been rejected because recipients did not provide valid U.S. bank account information in the ACE Secure Data Portal.

CBP has published guidance and resources to assist trade users with enrollment:

Updated Procedures for Notify Parties

According to a separate guidance also issed Feb. 6, 2026, the CBP Form 4811, Special Address Notification (12/25) was also updated. Previous versions are no longer accepted.

Adding or Modifying Notify Parties

Trade users can now:

  • Email the updated CBP Form 4811 to their assigned Center of Excellence and Expertise (Center), or
  • Use the "Add Notify Party" feature in the Notify Parties tab of the Importer sub-account view in the ACE Portal.

To revoke notify party information, trade users must contact their assigned Center. If no Center is assigned, contact the Center aligned with the highest-valued commodity's tariff number.

Import Notes

  • Importers may have multiple notify parties in their ACE profile.
  • Refunds go to a notify party only if:
    1. The notify party is listed in the importer's ACE profile, and
    2. The notify party's importer of record (IR) number appears in box 28 "Reference Number" on CBP Form 7501 or its electronic equivalent.

For more information:

  • Trade User Information Notice – ACE Portal Feature for Trade Users to Add Notify Parties (CBP-247)
  • CBP Modernizes Electronic Refund Enrollment Process
  • Centers of Excellence and Expertise Directory

Previous Updates/ Background Info

On October 30, 2025, CBP launched the automated process for applying for a new ACE Secure Data Portal top account with the Importer sub-account view. Trade parties with a CBP Form 5106 on file and without existing ACE Portal access should now apply through the new automated application. Additional information, including the link to the new system and available support resources, is available toward the end of this update.

Who Is Affected and How to Prepare

According to CBP, two groups of trade users are directly affected by this update:

  1. Importers who receive or may receive refunds from CBP
  2. Parties who receive or may receive refunds on behalf of importers (as designated via CBP Form 4811), also known as a "4811 Notify Party

Both groups should ensure they have an ACE Portal account with the appropriate Importer sub-account view. Parties acting as 4811 Notify Parties should verify they have the correct ACE Portal permissions to manage refund information.

How to Use the New ACH Refund Feature

  • Log into the ACE Portal as the Trade Account Owner.
  • Go to the Importer sub-account and click the ACH Refund Authorization tab.
  • Click "Get Info/Refresh" to load any saved bank information or add new ACH bank details.
  • Bank accounts must be added for each 5106 EIN + Suffix level separately because each is handled individually.
  • Only the TAO can add or change this banking info right now. More user permissions will be available in December 2025.

For step-by-step instructions, see CBP's detailed guide on ACH Bank Information for Electronic Refunds Quick Reference Card.

What It Means for Customs Brokers

  • Brokers should update their ACE Portal accounts to prepare, but refunds will continue to be paid by check for now.
  • Brokers must have Importer Sub Account access under their Broker Top Account because refunds are tied to IRS numbers (5106 EIN), not filer codes.
  • For brokers without Importer Sub Account access, instructions for requesting it are available on CPB's guide on Managing an ACE Portal Account.

Enhanced ACE Portal Account Application Available

The new tool is available on the ACE Portal Importer Account Application page.

The new process applies to trade parties that have a CBP Form 5106 (Importer ID Input Record) on file but do not yet have ACE Portal access. When using the modernized tool, CBP will verify the applicant by sending a code to the email address listed on the 5106 record.

CBP advises all importers and brokers to confirm that contact details, including email address and phone number, on their 5106 records are accurate. For importers whose 5106 records are managed by brokers, brokers should ensure that the current importer contact information is provided.

Previous Update (Jan. 6, 2026)

According to CBP's latest guidance, the following enhancements have been made in preparation for the transition:

  • Added an automated ACH Refund Authorization tool in the ACE Secure Data Portal (ACE Portal)
  • Automated the ACE Portal importer account application, required to access the tool

Importers and parties receiving CBP refunds after February 5, 2026, should review the Electronic Refund Enrollment Reference Sheet and complete necessary steps to ensure readiness.

Refer to the IRF for guidance on refunds issued to authorized "4811 notify parties".

Support Calls

CBP held a user readiness support call on January 28, 2025 to help trade users prepare for the transition. A full schedule of upcoming support calls via Microsoft Teams is available below.

  • Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 2:00–3:00 PM – Link to Join
  • Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 2:00–3:00 PM – Link to Join
  • Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 2:00–3:00 PM – Link to Join

Additional Support and Resources

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