A new portal has now launched where businesses can request refunds for tariffs that were ruled illegal by the Supreme Court in February.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is launched a system Monday, April 20 called Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries or CAPE., which will begin refunding companies that paid tariffs on imports. The CAPE system is meant to consolidate the refund process so importers will receive one electronic payment rather than CBP processing refunds on an entry-by-entry basis, the agency said on its website.
Only the Importers of Record or the licensed customs broker who filed the entries can file a CAPE Declaration.
Refunds should be completed in 60 to 90 days, according to CBP.
Here’s what to know about requesting a refund.
What is the tariff refund system?
Trump used a law known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs on nearly all goods imported into the U.S., beginning in early 2025, as part of his economic policy, according to USA TODAY.
Importers who paid tariffs under IEEPA are eligible to request refunds using the CAPE system. To do so, importers can submit a filing known as the CAPE Declaration in the agency’s Automated Commercial Environment Secure Data Portal.
The portal is available beginning 6 a.m. MT/7 a.m. CT on Monday, April 20.
This comes after the Supreme Court in February struck down sweeping tariffs, ruling that Trump did not have the authority to impose duties on companies importing goods from other countries. The justices, in a 6-3 ruling authored by conservative Chief Justice John Roberts, upheld a lower court’s decision that the Republican president’s use of this 1977 law exceeded his authority.
Tariff refund process
After requesting a refund through the CAPE system, importers and authorized brokers should anticipate that refunds will generally be issued within 60 to 90 days following acceptance of the CAPE Declaration, “unless a compliance concern requires further CBP review,” the website states.
Tariff refund for individuals
While these refunds are for companies who paid tariffs on imports, it’s still unknown whether Americans will receive the $2,000 stimulus checks first floated by Trump back in November in 2025.
Trump has said there could be tariff dividend checks going out to eligible Americans in 2026, but no official date has been announced — also Trump would need Congress to vote on the checks.
Tariff refund portal
Visit CAPE system here.
USA TODAY contributed to this story.
Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma on x; natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma Thompson on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Trump tariff refund: Here’s how to request refund through new portal
Reporting by Natassia Paloma, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
