The first wave of tariff refunds is expected to reach some businesses Tuesday after a Supreme Court ruling that struck down parts of the tariff authority.
A first wave of tariff refunds is expected to start landing in some U.S. businesses’ bank accounts Tuesday, signaling a new phase in the aftermath of a Supreme Court decision that struck down key parts of the government’s tariff authority.
U.S.. Customs and Border Protection said the money will reach eligible companies as part of the federal process it began building after the Supreme Court ruled the administration exceeded its power in a case tied to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. or IEEPA.. CBP said the government launched an online portal last month to allow companies to file for refunds of tariffs they paid that were later deemed unlawful.
CBP said more than 330,000 importers paid the IEEPA tariffs, with the total amount collected reaching $166 billion.. For many businesses. the refund process has been both a legal and financial exercise. relying on how the company documented shipments. payments. and eligibility under the court’s ruling.
As of April 26, at least 75,000 businesses had submitted refund applications, according to a court filing. The scale of participation suggests the federal portal is now moving from paperwork to payouts, though the timing for individual claim approvals can vary as CBP reviews applications.
The coming deposits arrive as political pressure remains high around the Supreme Court’s decision.. The report noted that President Trump has criticized the 6-3 ruling. including two justices he appointed during his first term. Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett.. In April, he said he would “remember” companies that did not seek a refund.
CBP said it has rejected about 15% of claims submitted so far, based on information shared through a CBP spokesperson. The rejections, the report stated, typically stem from incorrect information or from shipments included on a claim that were not eligible under the refund rules.
Large corporations have already been signaling what to expect financially once refunds are approved.. In recent weeks, General Motors said it expects hundreds of millions of dollars in refunds.. A separate analysis by Citi reported that Walmart is due $10 billion. Target $2 billion. Nike $1 billion. and Macy’s $320 million—figures that. while not guaranteed for any single claim. illustrate the potential size of the relief rolling through the system.
Even as money starts moving. CBP warned in effect through the way businesses have described their plans that consumers should not expect direct refunds.. Many companies have said they intend to use refund checks to reduce debt. rehire employees. restock inventory. or potentially lower prices.. The likelihood that shoppers who paid higher costs over the past year will receive reimbursement directly appears limited.
That division between business relief and consumer repayment is also shaped by where the tariff payments attached in the supply chain.. The report noted that it’s less likely companies will contact shoppers who faced higher prices. even if refunds are returned to the companies that paid the tariffs on imported goods.
Meanwhile, logistics companies are taking a different approach for at least some customers.. Shipping providers UPS. FedEx. and DHL have said they will refund customers directly for packages subject to IEEPA tariffs. reflecting how certain tariff costs may have been passed through at checkout for specific shipments.
As payments begin, the fiscal impact that preceded the court ruling remains a key reference point.. The report cited the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, which estimated that IEEPA tariffs alone cost the typical American household $700 last year.. Against that backdrop. the start of refund payouts could change how companies manage financial strain—though it may not fully translate into immediate consumer relief.
For businesses. the process now shifts toward verifying eligibility and using the refunds in ways that affect operations and pricing strategies.. For policymakers and the public. the next question is how quickly rejected claims can be corrected and resubmitted. and whether businesses’ plans to reduce debt or adjust inventory ultimately lead to lower prices—or whether benefits remain largely internal to corporate balance sheets.
tariff refunds CBP portal Supreme Court IEEPA business relief consumer impact UPS FedEx DHL