U.S. tariff‑refund portal opens

U.S. importers can now file online for refunds on tariffs the Supreme Court struck down, opening the first step in a repayment process worth about $166 billion. (cbp.gov) U.S. Customs and Border Protection turned on the new CAPE tool inside its Automated Commercial Environment portal on Monday, April 20. Phase 1 lets importers and customs brokers upload a spreadsheet listing the entry numbers tied to refund claims. (cbp.gov) Customs said the system is for duties collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the emergency-powers law the Trump administration used to impose the tariffs. The agency says CAPE is designed to process valid refund requests in batches rather than one entry at a time. (cbp.gov) The money at stake is unusually large for a customs refund program. Customs and Border Protection and news reports put the total at roughly $166 billion paid by about 330,000 importers across roughly 53 million shipments. (apnews.com) The refunds trace back to a Supreme Court ruling on February 20, 2026. In *Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump*, the Court said the International Emergency Economic Powers Act did not authorize the president to impose those tariffs. (supremecourt.gov) That ruling left the government owing back duties that many companies had already paid at the border. Customs says approved refunds will include interest and will be paid electronically through Automated Clearing House, the bank-transfer system used for federal refunds. (cbp.gov) The portal opened with technical friction. Early users told CBS News the system was glitchy, and Customs’ own guidance says refunds will not be processed unless companies have an active portal account and separate refund banking information on file. (cbsnews.com) Trade lawyers said the mechanics could get messy even after the portal is live. Customs requires filers to identify the specific entries covered by a claim, and outside advisers have warned that importers, brokers, and clients may still have to sort out who paid the duties and who is entitled to receive the money back. (cbp.gov) Customs is also rolling the system out in stages rather than all at once. Its April guidance describes April 20 as the launch of “Phase 1,” which means businesses can start filing now even though the broader refund process is still being built out. (cbp.gov) For importers, the immediate deadline is practical, not legal: get into the portal, line up bank details, and assemble shipment records. The website is open, but the work of turning court victories into cash has just started. (cbp.gov)