Businesses in the United States are beginning to recover tariff payments made under former President Donald Trump after the tariffs were struck down by the Supreme Court, with federal agencies now processing refund claims for affected importers.
An estimated 330,000 importers paid more than $166 billion in tariff fees imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Following the court ruling, businesses that paid those fees may now be eligible for refunds, although the process requires detailed documentation and coordination with customs brokers.
Melissa Alvarado Quisenberry, vice president of Supply Chain Solutions, said her company has been assisting clients in filing refund claims since the federal government confirmed that reimbursements would move forward. The company provides freight forwarding, transportation, customs brokerage, warehousing, inventory, and shipping services.
According to Quisenberry, the refund process began in late April and has been functioning more efficiently than many businesses expected. She said companies must work with the original customs broker that handled their imports and collected the tariff payments, as the government requires the original “importer of record” to submit refund requests.
Officials require brokers to file claims electronically through the U.S. Customs ACE Secure Data Portal. The current phase applies to shipments finalized within the past 80 days, though some shipments that remain under review may also qualify. Importers must also submit a Consolidated Administration and Processing for Entries Declaration file listing eligible entries.
While some technical issues have been reported, Quisenberry said the process has generally operated smoothly. She said businesses should expect refunds to take approximately 60 to 90 days to process. Service providers may also charge fees for handling refund applications.
Companies are also being advised to consider potential tax implications. Businesses that previously claimed tariff costs as tax deductions in 2025 may need to report refunds received in 2026 as taxable income.
Major shipping providers including FedEx, UPS, and DHL have said they plan to return tariff refunds to customers. Meanwhile, companies such as Amazon, Apple, and Costco have not publicly announced whether they will pass refunds on to customers.
The development offers financial relief for many importers as businesses continue to assess the broader impact of tariff policy changes and ongoing trade discussions.
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