On March 25, 2025, the White House issued an Executive Order (EO) on modernizing payments to and from the government. According to the EO, the continued use of paper- based payments “imposes unnecessary costs; delays; and risks of fraud, lost payments, theft, and inefficiencies.”
The EO mandates the transition to electronic payments for all Federal disbursements and receipts by September 30, 2025, eliminating paper checks issued by the government.
These changes will affect refunds for customs duty drawback, post summary corrections and protests among other areas. The notice lists some instances where electronic payment may not be feasible, and exceptions may be granted.
Importers can find out more information on the Automated Clearing House (ACH) refund process here. An importer is not required to be set up on ACH payments to U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) to be eligible to receive refunds by ACH. Please contact C.H. Robinson to assist in setting you up with ACH refund before it is mandatory.
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