On April 20, U.S. Customs will officially go live with the Duty Drawback Tool (DDT).

Over the past few months, countless Chinese sellers and importers have been tossed around by tariff policies that have repeatedly jumped across the board - first adding levies, then suspending them, then exempting them ...... Each adjustment is a fluctuation in the cost of real money.

And this time, the tax refund lane is finally open.

But there's one prerequisite that 90% sellers are ignoring - the

⚠️ You must complete the account opening and register your bank information in the ACE system in advance, otherwise the tax refund application is directly invalid.

There are only 7 days left on April 20, so if you haven't operated yet you need to move now.

📦 01 What exactly is being refunded with this tax refund?

This U.S. Tariff Refund Tool is for: import tariffs that have been paid but are eligible for refund due to tariff policy adjustments.

Specifically included:

• The portion of additional tariffs on China imposed since 2025 that are eligible for exemptions
• Taxes imported and paid, but refundable after policy adjustment
• Import duties corresponding to partially re-exported goods

⚠️ Important Tip:Tax refunds are not automatic, they need to be claimed on your own initiative and are subject to a statute of limitations (usually within 3 years from the date of importation).

🖥️ 02 Why do I have to open an account in the ACE system first?

ACE (Automated Commercial Environment) is the core clearance system of the U.S. Customs. All declarations, duty payments, and refunds related to U.S. imports and exports are done on this platform.

The tax refund tool, which went live on April 20, is integrated directly within the ACE system.

No ACE account = no way to claim a tax refund, it's as simple as that.

What do I need to open an ACE account?

🔥 The two spots where the most people get stuck here:

No U.S. corporate body

The ACE system requires that the subject of the application must be a legally registered business entity (LLC or Corporation) in the United States. Applying directly with a mainland Chinese company? No, you can't.

No U.S. bank account

Tax refund payments can only be credited to U.S. bank accounts and cannot be transferred to domestic accounts. Many sellers use third-party collections such as Payoneer, and these types of accounts cannot directly interface with the ACE tax refund system.

📊 03 Different Situations and Responses for Three Types of Sellers

💡 If you find yourself in the second or third category and need to incorporate a U.S. company or open a U.S. bank account as soon as possible, you can contact us at-Enterprise Caiying provides one-stop U.S. company registration + EIN application + bank account opening services (micro letter: qcygscszk, cell phone: 18676749275)

💰 04 How much can you get back in tax refunds? Do the math.

Take a cross-border seller with a monthly import volume of $1 million as an example:

This is not a small amount. Many sellers in the past have lost tax that could have been recovered for nothing because they didn't understand the refund mechanism.

🛡️ 05 Compliant subjects are a prerequisite for tax refunds

The core of the tax return operation is whether your US corporate entity is compliant, EIN is on file, and bank account matches.

If you don't do these three things right, the tax refund claim is invalid.

If you currently do not have a U.S. company, or have a company but lack an EIN/bank account, it is recommended to start the registration process immediately. Enterprise Caiying can assist you in completing the U.S. company registration + EIN application + bank account opening within 7-15 working days, clearing the way for ACE system account opening and tax refund application.

🏢 About Enterprise Cai Ying

Enterprise Caiying has been focusing on cross-border e-commerce tax compliance for more than 10 years, and has cumulatively served more than 500,000 sellers.

We can help you:

• 🏢 U.S. company registration:LLC/Corporation with EIN application
• 🏦 U.S. bank account opening:Docking with Mercury, Relay and other major U.S. online banks
• 📋 ACE system account opening guidance:Hands-on assistance in completing account registration and bank information enrollment
• 💰 Tax refund application materials are organized:Sort through historical import records and match eligible tax refund orders
• 📊 U.S. Sales Tax Compliance:Avoid triggering tax audits during the tax refund application process

📞 7 day countdown to April 20th. Get in touch with us now!

📱 WeChat:qcygscszk(Remarks “ACE Refund”)

📞 Cell phone:18676749275

Enterprise Caiying - With nearly a decade of cross-border service experience, we can help you from US company registration to tariff refund, one-stop and smooth landing.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is based on the U.S. Customs public policy and industry practice collation, the specific operation of the official latest rules shall prevail. Enterprise Caiying reserves the right of final interpretation.