A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) interim final rule became effective this month. The rule states nearly all CBP refunds will be issued electronically.
The CBP said refunds will be distributed via automated clearinghouse payments.
RVIA said companies should prepare for potential refunds while awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision on the tariffs’ legality.
If a company is enrolled in the ACH Refund program, CBP recommends the company should:
- Confirm that existing U.S. banking information on file with CBP is correct.
- Ensure that your company’s ACE Portal account is linked to the company’s current CBP Form 5106 (Create/Update Importer Identity Form).
- Confirm that information submitted by the company to CBP on Form 4811 (Special Address Notification) is current, accurate and that the agent designated in that form to receive refunds on behalf of the importer of record (e.g., a licensed customs broker) remains a valid agent for that purpose.
- Confirm that any third-party agent designated on the company’s current Form 4811 to receive refunds on behalf of the company has completed the ACH Refund application.
If a company is not enrolled in the ACH Refund program, the following steps must be taken:
- Submit an application for an ACE Portal account.
- File an ACH Refund application to submit the company’s banking information to CBP.
- Confirm that any agent designated in the company’s Form 4811 to receive refunds on behalf of the importer of record remains a valid agent, that the information for that agent is complete and accurate and that the agent has also filed an ACH Refund application with CBP.
RVIA said importers under a single importer of record number with multiple two-digit suffixes must ensure that each importer of record number with a unique suffix has a sub-account in ACE.
If a corporate entity involves multiple distinct importers of record numbers (i.e., where each importer of record number is a different employer tax identification number or CBP-assigned importer of record number), each must have a sub-account in ACE.
