Tariff‑refund portal live
- The U.S. launched a tariff‑refund portal so companies can request refunds after the Supreme Court struck down major tariffs. - Thousands of businesses are expected to use the portal and billions of dollars may be repaid. - Customs, treasury and audit functions face documentation, disclosure and pass‑through decisions as refunds are processed (npr.org).
U.S. Customs opened a new online system Monday for companies to seek refunds on tariffs the Supreme Court threw out in February. (cbp.gov) The portal is called CAPE, short for Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries, and it sits inside Customs’ Automated Commercial Environment, or ACE. In Phase 1, starting April 20, 2026, filers can upload a spreadsheet listing entry numbers tied to certain unliquidated entries and some entries still within 80 days of liquidation. (cbp.gov) Customs says each CAPE declaration can include up to 9,999 entries, and importers or brokers can file more than one declaration. Refunds are meant to be paid electronically through Automated Clearing House, and Customs says no refund will be processed without bank information set up in ACE. (cbp.gov) The claims stem from the Supreme Court’s February 20, 2026 decision in *Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump*, which held 6-3 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the president to impose tariffs. The ruling knocked out tariffs imposed in 2025 under emergency powers, including the broad “reciprocal” tariffs and fentanyl-related tariffs. (supremecourt.gov) That left the government facing a refund process on a scale customs lawyers describe as unusual even by trade-law standards. Skadden said the Court of International Trade ordered Customs and Border Protection to refund about $165 billion in unlawfully collected duties, covering more than 330,000 importers and over 53 million entries. (skadden.com) News outlets tracking the launch reported businesses bracing for heavy traffic and large repayments. USA Today said the system could handle claims tied to as much as $166 billion, while the Associated Press reported the portal was scheduled to go live Monday for businesses seeking court-ordered refunds. (usatoday.com) (apnews.com) The mechanics are not simple. Customs says CAPE is being rolled out in phases, with later versions planned for “more complicated scenarios,” and a Hogan Lovells summary of agency FAQs said Customs expects approved Phase 1 refunds to be issued within 60 to 90 days after acceptance if there are no compliance issues. (cbp.gov) (hoganlovells.com) Another unresolved fight is who ultimately keeps the money. NPR reported some importers absorbed the tariffs themselves, while others passed part or all of the cost to customers, raising questions about disclosures, audits and possible lawsuits over whether refunds should be shared. (npr.org) For now, the first deadline is practical, not legal: companies need eligible entries, an active ACE account and refund banking details on file before Customs will send anything back. Monday’s launch starts the paperwork phase of a court ruling that now has to be turned into actual payments. (cbp.gov)
