Here’s when businesses will start getting refunds for Trump’s IEEPA tariffs

The Trump administration is set to issue the first refunds for businesses that applied for refunds of President Trump’s “liberation day” tariffs, which were struck down by the Supreme Court in February. According to court documents filed this week, the refunds are expected to be issued as early as May 11. The White House owes importers an estimated $166 billion in duties that were collected under the tariffs.

In response to the ruling, the federal government launched a portal on April 20 where businesses could file refund requests for the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs. The portal, known as CAPE (Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries), initially experienced technical difficulties due to the high volume of businesses accessing it. However, it has since been functioning smoothly for most businesses, with legal experts praising the government’s quick implementation of the refund mechanism.

U.S. Court of International Trade Judge Richard Eaton, who is overseeing the tariff refund process, stated in a filing that the first wave of refunds could be processed by May 11. Customs and Border Protection has already accepted approximately 21% of IEEPA duty refund requests, with 3% of those requests already in the refund stage. The initial refunds will be disbursed by the U.S. Treasury Department.

Despite progress in the refund process, some businesses have encountered challenges. Beth Benike, co-founder of Busy Baby, and Dahlia Rizk, owner of Buckle Me Baby, reported difficulties accessing the portal and applying for refunds totaling tens of thousands of dollars. Rizk expressed frustration with the process, stating that she had to spend hours on the phone explaining her situation to Border Patrol. However, she was eventually able to submit a request that Customs approved, and she anticipates receiving the refund in the coming months.

Overall, the refund process for the “liberation day” tariffs is underway, with businesses expected to receive their money soon. While some businesses have faced obstacles, the government is working to streamline the process and ensure that importers receive the funds they are owed.