Billions in Tariffs May Need to Be Returned After Supreme Court Ruling—Here’s How to Get a Refund |
Billions in Tariffs May Need to Be Returned After Supreme Court Ruling—Here’s How to Get a Refund
SCOTUS struck down Trump’s sweeping global tariffs. Now, what about the refunds?
BY MARIAPAULA GONZALEZ, EDITORIAL INTERN
Illustration: Inc; Photo: Getty Images
The Supreme Court ruled against most of President Donald Trumps’ sweeping global tariffs Friday morning, cementing Congress in the driver’s seat on taxation, not the White House.
With the statutory fight settled, a new question looms for American businesses: when, if ever, will those tariff refunds actually land?
The Court did not explicitly state how or whether the federal government would refund U.S. importers. That process falls outside of the Court’s delegation and will most likely be continued within the jurisdiction of the Court of International Trade, according to the decision.
In his dissenting opinion, Justice Brett Kavanaugh warned that even amid uncertainty over what comes next, the court’s decision will have significant near-term consequences.
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“The United States may be required to refund billions of dollars to importers who paid the IEEPA tariffs, even though some importers may have already passed on costs to consumers or others,” he wrote in his opinion. “As was acknowledged at oral argument, the refund process is likely to be a ‘mess’.”
The U.S. government has brought in a record amount of money from tariffs. So far in 2026, tariff collections have amassed $124 billion. That’s a 304 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025.
How to Get a Tariffs Refund
Even if refunds are likely, the legal process is far from over. Small business owners can start by contacting their custom broker to pull past entry summaries, which list imported goods and duties paid. Companies must calculate what they paid, and brokers then amend the filings.