A major change is underway at Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and it could have a significant effect on your business. By the time of publication, CBP will have stopped issuing paper cheques, and importers will now receive CBP refunds electronically using the CBP Automated Clearing House (ACH). For most, this will likely be a simplification of the process, and one with less opportunity for human error. After all, it’s far less likely that a cheque gets lost in the mail or forgotten about when it is deposited directly into your account. 

With that said, for some importers who have been resisting registering or becoming familiar with ACH, this is a great opportunity to get started and reap the benefits of registration. In today’s blog, we are going to cover everything you need to prepare for the changeover and offer assistance if you are unfamiliar with or have not yet registered for ACH.  

What to Expect

Put simply, in the vast majority of cases, all importers must enroll in the ACH program to receive refunds from CBP. Fortunately, the benefits of this new system are many, not the least of which is that your refund will arrive sooner without having to contend with the whims of mail delivery. 

In the large number of standard cases, refunds are expected to arrive in your account two or three days after the liquidation date, as opposed to the weeks often afforded for mail refunds. 

Additionally, the bulk of the refund administration process is run through the Automated Commercial Environment Secure Data (ACE) portal - a program that is already a mainstay for importers of all shapes and sizes. 

From start to finish, this process is faster, simpler, and more integrated with currently existing systems. It is a net gain for importers of all shapes and sizes. 

The CBP Automated Clearing House

If you are already registered and receiving funds through ACH, then there is nothing to do but confirm your current ACH refund authorization information in the ACE portal. For assistance with that process, should you need it, the CBP has prepared a document to guide you through the process.  

For others, this may require doing something you've been putting off for a while, namely, registering for ACH. Admittedly, getting set up in the ACH is not always the most straightforward, but the benefits are many - even beyond receiving refunds directly from CBP. It offers greater financial control over your imports, helps manage your payments, and can even reduce costs by eliminating or reducing disbursement fees. 

If you are interested in a deeper dive into ACH, PCB has talked a fair bit about the benefits of registering for ACH previously, and it remains one of the best ways to streamline and simplify one of the more complicated elements of importing. 

Government Resources

In preparation for this transition to fully electronic refunds, CBP has prepared several resources to help you get where you need to be to put this system to work. 

Most prominently, they have created a comprehensive FAQ covering the common questions importers, brokers, and trade users in general have about the process. This is a vital starting point, and is worth reading through to make sure you are ready. 

CBP has provided guides that cover the refund enrollment process in the ACE portal, along with one on how to use the new Notify Parties tab, which lets “members of the trade community with proper permissions to input notify parties to receive electronic refunds”. 

Finally, CBP has also provided an overview of the registration process, along with a series of support calls to help importers through the process. 

The next call is on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, from 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (Call Link). 

How We Can Help

PCB can also offer support during this transition in a few key ways. In addition to the standard assistance and support offered by our team of tenured brokers, including support with the ACE portal, we also offer our full suite of Trade Advisory Services, including ACH Support, which is designed to ensure you interface well with the program and meet all the technical CBP ACH refund requirements. 

Our ACH Support Service also provides many benefits for those importers just getting started with the clearinghouse, including digital walk-throughs of the registration process, assistance with payment processes, monthly transaction reports, and access to our experts for any questions or concerns you may have. 

With this new refund now in full effect, this is the moment to get yourself set up with ACH, and you are encouraged to investigate our Trade Advisory and ACH offerings for any help we can provide. Also, be sure to download our ACH Payments and Setup Guide for more information about the system and how PCB can help you make the most of it.