CBP Offers ACH Duty Refund Option

29 September 2025 05 MINS. Read USA

On September 30, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is making it easier for importers to request electronic duty refunds via Automated Clearinghouse (ACH). CBP is deploying a new functionality, the ACH Refund Authorization tab, in the Automated Commercial Environment Secure Data Portal (ACE Portal).

CBP has confirmed that it will not transition to electronic-only refunds on September 30, 2025. This ACE Portal enhancement is a preparatory step to facilitate CBP’s future transition to electronic-only refund transactions, which CBP will announce at a later date. 

Who is Eligible for ACH Refunds?

ACH Refund is available to anyone who has a federally-assigned taxpayer identification number and a U.S. bank account.

Current Process

Currently, to receive certain electronic refunds from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), each importer or person, business firm, or other organization that is entitled to receive such refunds or other disbursements from CBP must submit an Automated Clearinghouse (ACH) Refunds Enrollment Form via an email message to CBP’s Revenue Division. Once CBP receives and manually processes the enrollment form, refunds are deposited electronically in the importer’s bank account. This process will continue to be available.

The ACH Refunds Enrollment Form is available by fax or email from the Revenue Division. Importers can call the ACH Refund Help Desk at (317) 298-1200, extension 1178, to obtain an enrollment form. An inquiry can also be made via email at GMB.ACHREFUNDSUPPORT@CBP.DHS.GOV.

New Process

The new primary method for applying for ACH Refunds is through the ACE Portal. Importers can enroll through their ACE Portal Account. Individuals or entities that are unable to obtain an ACE Portal account or otherwise cannot access the ACE Refund Authorization tab may submit an ACH Refunds Enrollment Form for manual processing.

Steps to Request ACH Refunds

Obtain an ACE Portal Account.
Individuals with the designated account owner role in the ACE Portal will be able to apply for ACH Refund.
Navigate to the ACH Refund Authorization tab within the ACE Portal and provide information for the U.S. bank account designated to receive electronic refunds.
Once this bank account information is approved in the ACE Portal, all future refunds owed to the importer or other party that is entitled to receive refunds or disbursements from CBP will be issued electronically to the designated bank account. ACH Refunds will normally originate on the Monday after the liquidation date. Your bank should receive the transaction the following day.

Benefits of Electronic Refunds

Electronic refunds can be processed and deposited in the designated bank account in one to two business days, whereas the mailing of a traditional paper check takes much longer, in addition to the time it takes to deposit the check in the refund recipient’s bank account.
Electronic refunds also provide security benefits over paper checks as they are less likely to have post-payment issues, such as claims of missing or misdelivered payments or check fraud.
The ACE Portal account holder will be able to view a Refund ACE Report, which includes a summary of the total number of outstanding refunds requested, the total dollar amount requested in all outstanding refunds, and a consolidated table of all outstanding refunds and relevant data for the ACE account user’s own refunds.