Tariff refund checks are becoming a new entry point for scammers, and in late 2025 almost any “tariff refund” check that shows up in the mail should be treated as suspicious until proven otherwise. Executive-branch and CBP payment changes mean legitimate duty refunds increasingly move electronically, not by paper check, which makes mailed refund checks even more of a red flag for importers.
Why Tariff Refund Checks Are a Growing Target
Tariff refunds are complex, slow, and documentation-heavy, which makes them confusing for even sophisticated importers and an ideal space of uncertainty for fraudsters to exploit. At the same time, high and overlapping tariffs, shifting Section 301/232 measures, and evolving refund opportunities have raised the stakes around duty recovery and increased the number of “too good to be true” offers in the market. In parallel, federal agencies have warned about a broader surge in refund-related scams, including fake IRS refund checks and phishing messages that use official-looking Treasury and agency branding to trick recipients into sharing data or moving money. Scammers know importers are watching for any sign of relief on duties, and they are packaging fraud in the language of exclusions, drawback, and “tariff review refunds.”
How Legitimate Tariff Refunds Actually Work
Real tariff refunds are never spontaneous; they are the result of specific processes such as drawback claims, post-summary corrections, reconciliations, protests, or corrections of overpayments and clerical errors. Each of these paths requires formal filings, timelines, and underlying entry documentation, and they are typically preceded by clear CBP activity in ACE, such as Notices of Action, liquidations, reliquidations, or approved drawback claims. CBP’s own rules and recent practice emphasize that refunds of excessive duties, taxes, and fees are tied to the liquidation process and must be supported by records, with payment made to the party entitled under statute or regulation. When CBP has announced new refund opportunities, such as the ability to recover “stacked” duties under recent guidance implementing a 2025 EO, those refunds still flow through established mechanisms like post-summary corrections and protests, rather than surprise paper checks.
The End of Paper Checks: What Changed in 2025
In 2025, the federal government accelerated a shift away from paper disbursements, including duty refunds, with executive-level direction to modernize payments and move toward electronic transfers. CBP and Treasury have followed suit by expanding electronic refund capabilities via ACH and emphasizing that electronic refunds reduce risks such as misdelivered payments and check fraud. Industry and logistics advisories now highlight that by late 2025 importers are expected to enroll in ACH refund programs, with duty refunds deposited directly into designated bank accounts rather than being sent as paper checks to brokers or third parties. Some guidance notes that paper checks for duty refunds were phased out government-wide by the end of September 2025, reinforcing that a mailed “tariff refund” check arriving after that date is inherently suspect.
Red Flags That Your Refund Check Is a Scam
Because legitimate tariff refunds are documentation-driven and increasingly electronic, a physical check tied to duties or tariffs should be treated as a potential scam unless it can be anchored to specific CBP activity. Common red flags for fake tariff or IRS refund checks include:
- Any references to “tariff refunds,” “Section 301 refunds,” or similar language, even though CBP does not normally issue paper checks that are labeled this way for standard duty adjustments.
- Checks styled as a U.S. Treasury payment but containing anomalies such as incorrect routing numbers, nonstandard fonts, misspellings, or outdated seals, or citing a vague or unfamiliar payment reason.
- If the amount is a suspiciously round number (for example, a flat $ 5,000 $5,000 or $ 10,000 $10,000), rather than a specific reconciliation- or entry-based amount that aligns with your books.
- If the communication instructs to “verify” by calling a phone number, visiting a non-government URL, or sharing bank account information, or it pressures you to deposit the check quickly or send part of the funds back.
- If you have not filed any drawback claims, post-summary corrections, reconciliations, or protests that would plausibly generate a refund, and there is no related CBP activity visible in ACE.
These tactics mirror broader refund scams seen in the tax and consumer space, where fraudulent checks or messages are combined with urgency and requests for personal or financial data. The goal is either to harvest sensitive information for identity theft or to trick businesses into forwarding money after depositing a bogus check that will later bounce.
Who Is Behind These Scams and Why Importers Are Targeted
Refund-check scams are not one-off accidents; they are often run by organized fraud networks that reuse techniques across tax, financial, and trade compliance domains. Some schemes are operated from overseas using U.S.-based “money mules,” while others involve domestic actors who gain access to importer details through compromised logistics providers, brokers, or exposed data. Importers are particularly attractive targets because they interact with multiple agencies and complex tariff programs, and they may legitimately expect refunds tied to duty exclusions, valuation corrections, or retroactive trade benefits. In an environment of rising enforcement and heightened scrutiny of tariff evasion, scammers also exploit fear, uncertainty and urgency, suggesting that fast action is required to avoid penalties or to secure time-limited relief.
Are Tariff Refunds Really Being Paid Right Now?
Tariff refunds have not stopped altogether, but in late 2025 they remain among the most delayed and tightly controlled functions in the trade compliance ecosystem. CBP’s focus has tilted toward enforcement against misclassification, undervaluation, and transshipment, while routine refund processing, particularly where paper checks would have been involved, still lags behind. Trade and customs updates throughout 2025 suggest that electronic refund capabilities are being expanded, but there is no indication of a broad, accelerated wave of tariff refund checks being issued to importers. Brokers and advisors continue to report months-long timelines from RFIs or post-summary corrections to reliquidations and eventual payments, which means that any “instant” refund check that appears without a documented trail is highly unlikely to be legitimate.
Practical Steps If You Receive a Suspicious Check
If a check referencing tariffs, duties, exclusions, or “refunds” lands in your mailbox, treat it as a security incident, not a stroke of luck. Do not deposit the check, set the check aside and do not attempt a mobile or in-branch deposit. Do not call any phone number, visit any website, or scan any QR code listed in the accompanying letter. Verify activity in ACE and with your broker Log in to ACE (or ask your broker) and look for related post-summary corrections, Notices of Action, liquidations, reliquidations, or approved drawback claims tied to the amount or time period. If nothing matches, be skeptical – CBP does not issue refunds in a vacuum. Check the remitter details, confirm whether the check is purportedly from the U.S. Treasury or another entity, and compare any visible metadata with known Treasury or IPP payment references if you use federal electronic payment platforms. Be wary of checks issued in the name of unfamiliar “refund services” or third-party entities claiming to act on behalf of CBP. Report suspected fraud If the check appears to be tied to tax refunds, report it through IRS and Treasury channels for tax-related scams, such as the phishing reporting mechanisms highlighted in IRS guidance. If the check references tariffs, duties, or CBP programs, consider submitting an e-Allegations report to CBP and notify your financial institution’s fraud department. Harden your compliance and finance processes. Train AP, AR, and other staff so they understand that tariff refunds should be expected through documented CBP processes and increasingly via ACH, not through surprise paper checks. Ensure your import and finance teams coordinate before booking any government-related refund as income or processing any unexpected government payment.
How Peacock Tariff Consulting Can Help
In an environment where high tariffs, evolving refund opportunities, and federal payment modernization collide, importers need a clear filter to distinguish legitimate refunds from dangerous scams. At Peacock Tariff Consulting, we monitor CBP, Treasury, and IRS developments daily and help clients interpret how these changes affect both duty liability and refund risk across their specific supply chains. For importers who receive a suspicious “tariff refund” check or an unsolicited communication about duty refunds, Peacock Tariff Consulting can quickly review ACE history, entry data, and official guidance to confirm whether any payment is legitimate and advise on next steps if fraud is suspected. In a year where misinformation and scams travel faster than official updates, having an experienced trade advisor as a first call is one of the most effective defenses your compliance program can deploy.