The federal government has launched an online portal for businesses to request $166 billion in tariff refunds after the Supreme Court ruled President Donald Trump's tariffs unconstitutional. According to multiple sources, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) began accepting claims on Monday through its new automated commercial environment portal.
Key Takeaways
The federal government has launched an online portal for businesses to request $166 billion in tariff refunds after the Supreme Court ruled Trump's tariffs unconstitutional. The process will take months and is limited to certain entries, with consumers ineligible for direct refunds.
- U.S. Customs launches tariff refund portal for businesses
- Refunds expected within 60-90 days of approval
- Over 330,000 importers paid $166 billion in tariffs on 53 million shipments
- Consumers who paid higher prices ineligible for direct refunds
- Process limited to certain unliquidated entries and those within 80 days of liquidation
The refund process follows a February Supreme Court ruling that found Trump lacked constitutional authority to impose the tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The court determined that Congress, not the president, holds authority over such taxes. This decision set the stage for lower courts to order the government to return the funds.
The refund process is complex and will take months to complete. CBP estimates it could take 60 to 90 days for approved refunds to reach bank accounts, with more complicated cases taking even longer. The agency noted that its system was not designed to handle the sheer number of claims, potentially requiring manual processing for some submissions.
The refund portal is specifically aimed at businesses that paid tariffs directly. According to court filings, over 330,000 importers paid tariff taxes on more than 53 million shipments. However, the initial phase of the refund system is limited to certain unliquidated entries and those within 80 days of liquidation. As of April 14, about 56,497 importers had completed registration for refunds totaling $127 billion, including interest.
The tariffs were imposed by Trump last spring with the promise to 'make America wealthy again.' However, businesses that absorbed the cost or raised prices for consumers will not be able to pass the refunds directly to customers. While class-action lawsuits aim to force companies like Costco and Essilor Luxottica to reimburse shoppers, individual consumers are more likely to receive refunds from delivery companies like FedEx and UPS.
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