Tariff Refunds Portal Now Live as Importers Seek Initial $130 Billion Tranche

U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has gone live with its IEEPA Refund page, providing a mechanism for importers to get back the money paid for tariffs that have been ruled unconstitutional.

While estimates vary as to the total amount paid, it could reach as high as $160 billion or more, according to Ashley Craig, an attorney and Partner and Co-Chair of the Trade Group at Venable LLP.

“The initial tranche is $130 billion,” said Craig in an interview with Retail TouchPoints, “but when you factor in all the phases of these, it could reach $140 to $160 billion or more.” He added that it would likely take 60 to 90 days for refund money to actually begin flowing. The U. S.

Supreme Court ruled that the tariffs imposed by President Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were unconstitutional in February 2026.

In December 2025 Costco had preemptively sued to ensure it would receive a full refund of tariff duties paid if the Supreme Court found them unconstitutional, joining brands including EssilorLuxottica, Revlon and Kawasaki Motors in filing suit.

Craig noted that the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) website for handling the IEEPA refund requests did indeed go live on schedule on April 20, and has been handling a “tremendous volume of refund requests. “[CBP] has exceeded everyone’s expectations,” in terms of setting up the website, he added.

“They’re not known for meeting deadlines for automation, but they seem to have nailed this one.” Traditionally, it’s been difficult for importers to get refunds after their cargoes have been liquidated (defined as the final tally of money owed to Customs after estimated duties are paid, according to Trade Risk Guaranty).

However, the IEEPA refunds may prove to be an exception: “The larger question is about the shipments that have already been fully liquidated,” said Craig. “It appears that even those shipments would be subject to these refunds, because the importer has paid duties found to be unconstitutional.”

Tariff Situation Remains ‘Highly Volatile and Highly Fluid’ While the IEEPA tariffs have been struck down, tariffs in general remain a favorite economic tool of the current U. S. administration. Immediately after the Supreme Court’s decision, President Trump promised a 10% across-the-board tariff, later increased to 15%.

The President can impose tariffs under a variety of laws, including Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. However, “these require the U. S. Commerce Department to investigate and review the tariffs and to conduct a notice and comment period,” said Craig, which would slow the process down. Other legislation includes Section 301 [overseen by the U.

S. Trade Representative] of the Trade Act, which Trump used “to go after China primarily during his first term, but now he’s also going after Japan and the EU,” said Craig.

He’s aware of at least two investigations designed to support the imposition of tariffs and “predicated on trade imbalances, and they’ve also launched one involving forced labor, with both investigations targeting multiple trading partners, including the EU. “The tariff situation remains highly volatile and highly fluid,” Craig added.

“There’s no indication [Trump] won’t follow through [on additional tariffs], but they would need to be fast-tracked; they won’t be happening overnight.”