Customs and Border Protection is preparing to launch a new online portal to process what could amount to as much as $175 billion in tariff refunds to businesses after the tariffs were deemed illegal.
The portal will go live on April 20 and will be used by importers to file claims for duties collected under tariffs imposed in 2025 using emergency economic powers. A federal court later deemed those tariffs were not lawfully enacted, triggering a sweeping repayment effort now underway.
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Here’s what to know:
Why refunds are being issued
The tariffs were imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which the Trump administration used to target a wide range of imported goods. The policy generated tens of billions in federal revenue but quickly faced legal challenges from businesses and trade groups.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court allowed a lower court ruling to stand that found the administration had exceeded its authority, sending the case back to the U.S. Court of International Trade to oversee the refund process.
A federal judge then ordered CBP to return the duties, including both finalized and unfinalized entries, setting off a massive logistical challenge.
How much money is at stake
Estimates suggest between $166 billion and $175 billion in tariffs could be refunded, making it one of the largest repayment efforts in U.S. history.
The duties were collected across more than 53 million import transactions, highlighting the scale of the task facing the agency.
How the portal will work
CBP’s new web-based portal will allow importers or their brokers to file refund claims through the agency’s Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries portal, submitting declarations that detail tariff payments.
Businesses will be required to submit documentation showing tariff payments tied to specific import entries. The portal is expected to streamline the process by allowing bulk claims rather than requiring importers to file individually.
CBP said it is working toward a system designed to automatically verify claims and issue consolidated payments from the Treasury Department, rather than requiring importers to file lawsuits or submit paperwork for each shipment.
Officials said the portal is still under development but is expected to streamline what would otherwise be a labor-intensive process.
Who qualifies
Refunds are expected to go through primarily to importers — not consumers — who directly paid the tariffs when goods entered the United States.
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Businesses that passed tariff costs on to customers may still receive refunds, though it remains unclear whether those savings will be returned to customers.
CBP said it will issue tariff refunds for valid claims within 90 days of approval, but added that it could take longer if claims contain errors or inaccuracies that require fixing.
