U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published an interim final rule on December 31, 2025, announcing that, starting February 6, 2026, all duty drawbacks and other refunds will be issued electronically through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) system.
Importers not yet enrolled in ACH refunds must register via the ACE Portal and provide banking details; otherwise, they risk delays receiving legitimate refunds. The change is part of CBP’s digitization drive, which aims to reduce paper checks, speed reconciliation and tighten anti-fraud controls at the border.
![CBP Moves All Duty Refunds to Electronic Payments, Comment Period Opens]()
Although primarily a trade-compliance measure, the rule affects global mobility programs that import household goods for relocating employees under employer of record (EOR) arrangements. Mobility managers should coordinate with customs brokers to ensure ACH enrollment and update relocation budgets to reflect any timing changes in refund receipt.
CBP will accept public comments for 60 days following Federal Register publication slated for January 2, 2026. Companies with high refund volumes—such as technology firms importing demo equipment or automotive manufacturers managing temporary admissions—should consider filing comments to shape final implementation details.
Importers not yet enrolled in ACH refunds must register via the ACE Portal and provide banking details; otherwise, they risk delays receiving legitimate refunds. The change is part of CBP’s digitization drive, which aims to reduce paper checks, speed reconciliation and tighten anti-fraud controls at the border.
Although primarily a trade-compliance measure, the rule affects global mobility programs that import household goods for relocating employees under employer of record (EOR) arrangements. Mobility managers should coordinate with customs brokers to ensure ACH enrollment and update relocation budgets to reflect any timing changes in refund receipt.
CBP will accept public comments for 60 days following Federal Register publication slated for January 2, 2026. Companies with high refund volumes—such as technology firms importing demo equipment or automotive manufacturers managing temporary admissions—should consider filing comments to shape final implementation details.
Source: KPMG Trade & Customs NewsFlash
