Small business guide to tariff refunds

In this Article:

• What are tariff refunds?
• Who is issuing the refunds?
• Who is getting the refunds?
• When will refunds be issued?
• How do I request a Refund?

According to US Customs and Border Patrol, businesses that paid tariffs under the IEEPA are eligible for a refund. You must apply through the ACE portal on the CAPE system on the US Customs and Border Protection website. Refunds will be processed electronically 60-90 days after approval.

In light of the Supreme Court decision declaring that the tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were not within the president’s authority, the process of refunding those tariffs to the businesses that paid them has begun.

Here’s what you need to know.

What are tariff refunds?

The government announced it is refunding the estimated $166 billion in tariffs that were collected under the IEEPA orders that the Supreme Court ruled were not authorized. Businesses that paid the tariffs when importing goods are able to apply for a refund of that money.

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Who is issuing the refunds?

Refunds will be processed by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) via the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) system. To access the system, you must file a request through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) portal.

Refunds will be processed electronically, so you will need to provide your bank information to receive one.

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Who is getting the refunds?

According to US Customs and Border Patrol, refunds will be issued to the companies who paid the tariffs when they imported goods from countries on which a tariff was assessed. There is no requirement or mechanism to pass the refund on to the customers who may have ultimately paid a higher price for products they purchased, but some companies, such as FedEx, have indicated they will pass on the refunds, either directly or by lowering prices.

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When will refunds be issued?

The CAPE tool was available for refund requests beginning April 20, 2026. According to US Customs and Border Patrol, eligible companies can expect to receive their refunds 60-90 days after approval. CBP began sending refunds electronically on May 12, 2026.

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How do I request a Refund?

Make sure you have an ACE Portal account that is up to date and includes your banking information.

Importers of Record (IORs) and customs brokers can file a CAPE declaration through the ACE portal. Use a .csv file to file your declaration – don’t use the Automated Broker Interface (ABI). The CAPE declaration template is available by the ‘upload’ button in the CAPE tab.

You’ll need to show the list of entries for which you’re requesting refunds of IEEPA duties paid. You can claim up to 9,999 entries per declaration, and you can file multiple declarations.

For more information on requesting a refund, visit International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) Duty Refunds | U.S. Customs and Border Protection and IEEPA Tariff Refunds: Guide & FAQ for Small Businesses | U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

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Information in this article is accurate as of May 12, 2026.  

This publication is intended for informational purposes only. Please refer to a trusted financial expert for advice related to such refunds. Hiscox is not involved in or responsible for the refund process noted above.