Trump tariff refunds, largest in US history, start from Monday: Who benefits?

US businesses can begin applying for tariff refunds through a new online portal after the Supreme Court struck down the duties, with payouts expected within 60–90 days for approved claims.

In Short

• US businesses can apply for tariff refunds from Monday
• Refunds follow US Supreme Court ruling declaring tariffs illegal
• Phase 1 covers certain unliquidated entries and recent liquidations

US businesses that paid tariffs later ruled illegal by the US Supreme Court can begin applying for refunds starting Monday, as the Trump administration launches a dedicated online portal to process claims, as reported by the news website Axios.

The move marks the first phase of efforts to comply with court orders to reimburse billions of dollars in tariffs and interest to importers. While the Supreme Court did not specify how refunds should be carried out under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the US Court of International Trade last month directed the administration to begin the reimbursement process.

The US Customs and Border Protection will roll out the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) portal through its Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system. Importers must submit a “CAPE declaration,” which CBP says will streamline the submission and processing of valid refund requests for duties imposed under IEEPA.

To access refunds, “Importers of Record” and authorised customs brokers must create an account on the ACE portal and provide bank account details. According to CBP, approved claims should result in refunds within 60 to 90 days, though delays may occur if there are inaccuracies or compliance concerns.

However, not all affected importers will qualify immediately. CBP noted that Phase 1 applies only to certain unliquidated entries (imported goods entries for which US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has not yet finalised the assessment of duties, taxes, and fees) and entries within 80 days of liquidation.

Court filings show that around 330,000 importers paid an estimated $166 billion in duties as of March 4. As of April 9, only about 56,500 of these importers had completed enrollment for electronic payment, a required step to receive refunds. Not all of them will qualify in the initial phase.

The broader impact on consumers remains uncertain. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, firms and consumers shared about 90% of the tariff burden as of November. Some companies, including FedEx and Costco, have pledged to compensate customers, but it is unclear how widely consumers will benefit.

Legal challenges may continue. Costco filed a lawsuit in November seeking to block the tariffs and recover duties already paid. The trade court has indicated it will consolidate multiple lawsuits related to the tariffs, while the administration could still appeal the refund order.

CBP said it has issued guidance to help importers and brokers prepare to use the CAPE tool, directing them to its website for step-by-step instructions. The agency did not comment on preparations for handling a potentially large volume of applications or mitigating technical issues on launch day.

The refund rollout follows the Supreme Court’s February decision overturning the tariffs. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had earlier warned the process “could be a mess” lasting months or years, while

President Donald Trump suggested litigation could stretch between two and five years.

Despite those concerns, CBP is now set to begin what could become the largest tariff refund process in US history. The newly built system must handle claims from 330,000 importers, even as the first phase does not yet cover all eligible refunds.

US COURT QUESTIONS LEGALITY OF TRUMP'S 10% GLOBAL TARIFFS

A panel of judges at the US Court of International Trade on Friday raised doubts over the legality of 10% tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, questioning whether a persistent trade deficit alone justifies sweeping import taxes.

The court was hearing arguments in lawsuits filed by 24 states, most led by Democrats, along with small businesses, against a 10 per cent tariff on most imports that came into force on February 24.

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