US launches tariff refund system as thousands of importers line up

The US government has launched a system for importers to claim refunds on approximately $166 billion in tariffs, which were deemed illegal by the Supreme Court in February. The tariffs, imposed under the Trump administration, affected over 53 million shipments. Thousands of companies began filing claims on Monday when the system went live. While the system didn't crash, some users reported glitches and upload issues. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) created the refund system in response to the court order. Companies are working to upload numerous files to recover the tariffs they paid.

The US government has initiated a massive refund program for tariffs imposed during the Trump administration under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), following a Supreme Court ruling in February. Companies that paid these tariffs, totaling over $160 billion, can now apply online to reclaim the funds, plus interest, through a dedicated portal that launched this week. As of early April, over 56,000 importers had already begun the application process, seeking $127 billion in refunds. While importers of record are eligible for direct reimbursement, individual consumers who indirectly paid the tariffs through increased prices are unlikely to receive compensation. The Court of International Trade ordered customs officials to refund the money in March.

The Trump administration has launched a digital claims system, Cape, to accept applications for refunds of over $166 billion in tariffs imposed by the previous administration. The system is designed to handle about 63% of affected import filings and will process refunds for entries that are either unliquidated or liquidated within the past 80 days. More than 3,000 companies have sued the administration to secure their refunds, including high-profile plaintiffs such as Skechers, Revlon, and Toyota. Businesses can expect to wait 60-90 days from submitting paperwork to receive refunds. The system only applies to importers and large corporations that officially paid the tariffs. FedEx plans to pass refunds back to customers who shipped goods for them, while Costco may lower prices if it receives money back.