By September 30, 2025, the U.S. government will eliminate paper checks for all disbursements, including duty refunds from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Importers will need to enroll in CBP’s Automated Clearinghouse (ACH) Refund Program, which deposits refunds directly into their bank accounts.

Key details:

• Separate enrollment is required even if a company already uses ACH for duty payments.
• Refunds go directly to importers, not brokers or third parties.
• Businesses with multiple divisions or tax IDs must submit separate applications unless using a single account.
• Refunds are typically deposited two business days after liquidation.
• Tracking is available through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) or the ACE Portal.

Benefits:

• Faster refunds
• Secure direct deposits
• Flexibility without requiring ACH duty payment enrollment
• Visibility with alerts and reporting tools