Tariff refunds · checked 21 October 2026

Tariff refund not received? Set up ACH refunds in ACE

US Customs (CBP) stopped posting paper refund cheques on 6 February 2026. Every refund, including IEEPA tariff refunds, is now paid by ACH bank transfer, and only if the importer has US bank details approved in the ACE portal. By March, CBP had already rejected more than 12,300 refund transactions because of missing or invalid bank details.

Is this why your refund is stuck?

• You were the importer of record (your name or company is in box 30 of the entry summary), and
• CAPE or a protest has been accepted, or entries were reliquidated, but no money has arrived, and
• You've never completed the ACH Refund Authorization in ACE, or your bank details have changed since.

If a carrier such as UPS, FedEx or DHL was the importer, they receive the refund and you claim from them instead. How to claim from a carrier.

How to enrol

1. Get ACE portal access. If your company doesn't have an ACE account, apply for one first. Your customs broker can help but the account is yours.
2. Open the "ACH Refund Authorization" tab in the ACE portal and complete the ACH Refund application with your US bank account details.
3. Wait for approval, then check that pending refunds are released. Once enrolled, refunds typically land within 1 to 2 business days of being issued.
4. Have your email to hand. Since 10 October 2026, adding or changing ACH refund bank details in ACE asks for a security code sent by email (text message optional), so use an ACE login whose email you can read.
5. Keep it current. If you change banks, update ACE before closing the old account.

Refunds held for missing bank details need a manual recovery process, and CBP doesn't pay extra interest for the delay, so enrol as soon as you can.

No US bank account?

Many non-US sellers who imported in their own name don't have one. Options:

• Open a US business account (some US banks and fintech accounts accept foreign-owned US companies) and enrol it.
• Paper cheques are issued only in rare cases where a waiver under 31 CFR 208.4 applies. The request goes to CBP's Revenue Division in writing; ask your broker whether you qualify.

Still need to claim?

ACH details are only the last step. Check which route each entry is on (CAPE, protest or court) and its deadline with the free tariff refund checker. Protest deadlines: 180 days after liquidation.

Check my refund deadlines

Sources: C.H. Robinson client advisory on CBP's Electronic Refunds Interim Final Rule (CSMS 67270895): ACH-only from 6 February 2026, ACH Refund Authorization tab, waiver under 31 CFR 208.4, 1 to 2 business days, no interest on delays; The Toy Association, 30 March 2026 (12,300+ rejected refund transactions). Security-code step: Southern Star Navigation IEEPA refund update, 14 October 2026. Read 23 October 2026. General information, not customs advice.