The United States will begin issuing tariff refunds from April 20 after a Supreme Court ruling declared billions of dollars in levies unlawful, triggering one of the largest reimbursement efforts for importers.
The administration of President Donald Trump will start accepting claims for $127 billion out of the $166 billion collected under the now-invalid tariffs, according to reports.
The ruling in February found that the tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 exceeded statutory limits, as the law is intended for use in national emergencies.
Data reviewed as of April 9 shows that 56,497 importers have registered for electronic refunds, accounting for claims worth $127 billion. The scale of applications reflects a broad push by companies to recover funds tied up under the tariff regime.
US Customs and Border Protection said it has developed a new system, the Consolidated Automated Payment Engine, to streamline the process. The platform will allow multiple claims to be combined into a single electronic payment, including interest where applicable, replacing the slower entry-by-entry method.
While large corporations are expected to receive significant payouts, small and medium-sized importers have raised concerns about the cost of filing claims. Some fear administrative expenses could outweigh the refunds and are instead using expected payouts as collateral to sustain operations.
Following the ruling, Trump criticised the Supreme Court and introduced a new temporary global tariff under a different legal authority. That measure is already facing fresh legal challenges.