You’ve heard the news. The Supreme Court killed the tariffs. The government owes $166 billion in refunds. And as of April 20, a shiny new online portal has opened so businesses can start getting their money back.
So where’s your check?
Don’t hold your breath. Despite what you may have read, ordinary consumers aren’t getting tariff refunds. Not directly. Probably not indirectly, either. And the fine print on this whole operation should make your blood boil.
Here’s what’s actually happening and the handful of moves you can make to claw something back.
1. The refund portal isn’t for you
U.S. Customs and Border Protection launched a system called CAPE — Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries. It’s designed to let importers submit claims for tariff refunds tied to the IEEPA duties the Supreme Court struck down on Feb. 20.
Here’s the catch: Only the “importer of record” can file. That means the company that actually paid the customs bill. If you’re a consumer who bought a product that cost more because of tariffs, you’ve got no seat at this table.
You can’t log in. You can’t submit a claim. You can’t even see the portal unless you’re a registered importer or customs broker.
2. Companies aren’t required to share
The government’s refund system sends money to the businesses that paid the tariffs. That’s it. There’s no legal obligation for those companies to pass a single dime to customers.
Think about that. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, U.S. firms and consumers shouldered nearly 90% of the tariff burden in 2025.
The Congressional Budget Office went further, estimating 70% of those costs were passed directly to consumers in the form of higher prices at checkout. (Remember when President Donald Trump said other countries would be paying these tariffs? Guess he was wrong.)
So, you paid most of the tariffs. But the refund goes to a corporation.
Costco’s CEO told investors the company would channel any refunds it receives into “lower prices and better values.” That sounds nice, but it’s also the vaguest commitment in the history of retail. No dollar amount. No timeline. No receipts.
3. Even businesses face a painful slog
If you’re hoping companies will get their money fast and then somehow help consumers, slow down. The process is built for frustration.
First, refunds aren’t automatic. Importers must opt in, register for electronic payment, and submit detailed paperwork through CAPE. According to CBS News, Customs is putting the entire burden on the importer — not figuring it out for them.
Second, only about 63% of IEEPA duties even qualify for refund right now. Phase 1 covers “unliquidated” tariff entries and those finalized within the past 80 days. The other 37%? That could take years, according to trade logistics firm Flexport.
Third, after a claim is approved, it still takes 60 to 90 days for the money to arrive. And if there’s a single error — a wrong tariff code, a missing document — the clock resets.
One trade expert told CBS News he wasn’t convinced the system would work at all. His assessment of the April 20 launch: Things are “going to start to hit the fan.”
4. Your real losses were steep — and they’re not over
Let’s talk about what these tariffs actually cost you. The Yale Budget Lab estimated the average household lost between $760 and $940 through higher prices. The Tax Foundation pegged it at roughly $1,000 per household for 2025, rising to $1,300 this year.
Those costs showed up everywhere. Dozens of retailers and brands hiked prices — from furniture to laptops to your grocery bill. Some major companies openly admitted they’d pass tariff costs straight to shoppers.
And even with the IEEPA tariffs gone, tariffs haven’t disappeared. The current average effective tariff rate still sits around 11%, the highest since 1943 if you exclude 2025. Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, autos, and other goods remain in place. So do Section 122 tariffs imposed after the Supreme Court ruling.
The early signs of tariff price hikes that first showed up in 2025 never fully went away. You’re still paying inflated prices. You just aren’t getting a refund for the old ones.
There are a few ways to fight back
You’re not completely powerless. Here’s what you can actually do.
Watch for FedEx and UPS refunds. If you personally paid tariff charges on an international shipment — say, a package from overseas — delivery companies like FedEx collected those duties directly from you.
FedEx has publicly pledged to return any refunds it receives to the customers who paid them. If you’ve got receipts for tariff charges on shipments, hang on to them.
Keep an eye on class-action lawsuits. Consumers have filed class-action suits against Costco, FedEx, UPS, Lululemon, EssilorLuxottica (the Ray-Ban maker), and others. The argument: These companies raised prices to cover tariffs, collected more money from you, and now stand to pocket government refunds without giving you anything back.
According to Fortune, the Costco lawsuit alone alleges the retailer could collect over a billion dollars in refunds, money that arguably belongs, at least in part, to shoppers.
These cases are still early. But if a settlement or judgment comes through, you may be eligible for a payout.
Pressure retailers directly. If you’re a loyal customer at a store that imported heavily — and you know they’re receiving refunds — ask about it. Joe Kimray, a hardware store owner in North Carolina, told NPR he plans to have direct conversations with his manufacturers about sharing refund money. You can do the same with your favorite retailers.
Adjust your own finances. You can’t control trade policy, but you can control your response. Review what you’re paying for everyday essentials, understand how companies are passing costs to you, and make sure your savings are earning a competitive return.
The bottom line
The government collected roughly $166 billion in tariffs that the Supreme Court ruled were illegal. That money is now being funneled back to businesses. Not to you.
It’s a bitter pill for consumers who’ve spent the last year absorbing higher prices on everything from groceries to electronics. And while class-action lawyers are working the problem, the honest truth is that most Americans won’t see a direct refund.
Your best move? Stay informed. Save your shipping receipts. Watch the lawsuits. And stop assuming that when Washington collects your money, it has any plan to give it back.
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