Overview
- The refunds trace to the U.S. Supreme Court’s February 2026 ruling that invalidated tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and created an obligation to return duties.
- CBP launched the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) portal on April 20, 2026, and by May 22 had certified $20.6 billion in refunds that were sent to the Treasury for disbursement.
- Agency filings say roughly $85 billion in potential and certified refunds are in processing, but an earlier $10 billion overstatement was corrected after a data-query error was found.
- Thousands of refunds remain stalled because importers have not provided bank account information—CBP reported 4,185 consolidated refunds not transmitted to Treasury—and a trade court judge has ordered a June hearing to press CBP on timing and completeness of compliance.
- Only importers of record or customs brokers can claim through CAPE, so consumer relief depends on private firms choosing to pass money on; meanwhile the administration continues to collect a 10% global tariff under a different law while litigation and phased refunds continue.