Published
April 9, 2026
Updated
May 30, 2026
Small businesses that paid IEEPA tariffs as the importer of record may be owed the full amount back plus 6% interest — here is who qualified and how the refund process works.
What Is the Small Business Tariff Refund?
The small business tariff refund is a federal refund program for US importers that paid tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) between February 2025 and February 24, 2026. After the US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump that IEEPA does not give the president authority to impose tariffs, approximately $166 billion in IEEPA tariffs collected from more than 333,000 US importers became refundable.If your small business was the importer of record on goods brought into the United States during the eligibility window and you paid IEEPA tariffs on those imports, you can recover the full amount you paid plus 6 percent interest. You can check your small business tariff refund eligibility for free at TariffRefundReview.com, which offers a legal review on contingency with zero upfront fees.
Status
Eligibility Review Closed
the free tariff refund eligibility check is no longer available
Total Refund Pool
~$166 Billion
up to ~$175B with interest · across 333,000+ eligible importers
Eligible Tariffs
IEEPA Only
fentanyl, reciprocal, and India tariffs · Feb 2025 – Feb 24, 2026
Interest Rate
6% per year
accruing ~$650 million per month until refunds are paid
Who Qualifies for a Tariff Refund?
You qualify for a tariff refund if you meet all of the following conditions:• You are a US-based registered business (any size, any industry)
• You were the importer of record on goods that entered the United States between February 2025 and February 24, 2026
• You paid tariffs on those imports under IEEPA authority
• You have documentation of your import and tariff payment history (or can obtain it from your customs broker)
The importer of record requirement is the most important filter. Only the business that paid the tariff directly to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is eligible for the refund. If you bought imported goods from another company and tariff costs were passed through to you in the purchase price, you are not directly eligible, though you may have a contractual claim against your supplier. Consumers who paid higher retail prices due to tariffs may have recourse through class action lawsuits -- for example, a class action has been filed against Costco alleging the retailer overcharged shoppers and may keep government tariff refunds.
There is no minimum revenue or minimum tariff amount to qualify for a small business tariff refund. Sole proprietorships, LLCs, corporations, and partnerships all qualify. Businesses in manufacturing, retail, distribution, ecommerce, wholesale, and any other import-reliant industry are eligible as long as they paid IEEPA tariffs as the importer of record.
Which Tariffs Are Eligible for a Refund?
Only IEEPA tariffs are eligible for a refund. If your business paid any of the following between February 2025 and February 24, 2026, the amount is refundable:• Fentanyl tariffs -- duties on imports from China, Mexico, and Canada tied to the administration's declared fentanyl emergency
• Reciprocal (baseline) tariffs -- 10 percent or higher tariffs imposed in April 2025 on nearly all countries including the EU, UK, Japan, South Korea, India, Brazil, and Russia
• India IEEPA tariffs -- 25 percent additional tariffs on Indian-origin goods from August 6, 2025 to February 7, 2026
• Any other tariff imposed under IEEPA authority during the eligibility window
The following tariffs are not refundable under the Supreme Court ruling:
• Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum
• Section 301 tariffs on existing China trade imports
• Section 201 safeguard tariffs
• Anti-dumping and countervailing duties
If your imports had both IEEPA and non-IEEPA tariffs applied (for example, Chinese steel subject to both IEEPA and Section 232), only the IEEPA portion is refundable. A legal team can separate the amounts and calculate exactly what your business can recover.
How Much Can I Get Back from a Tariff Refund?
The total tariff refund pool is approximately $166 billion across the 333,000+ eligible importers. Individual refund amounts vary widely. Your recovery depends on exactly how much your business paid in IEEPA tariffs during the eligibility period, plus accrued interest at 6 percent per year.Penn Wharton Budget Model analysts estimate that including interest, the total refund liability could reach $175 billion. Interest is accruing at approximately $650 million per month until refunds are paid -- meaning the longer the government delays, the more small businesses are owed.
Real-world examples from news reporting give a sense of scale. One Detroit small business owner paid over $10,000 in tariffs during 2025 and expects that amount refunded. Larger importers like FedEx, Costco, L'Oreal, Dyson, and Nissan North America have filed claims for much larger sums. In fact, Costco is now facing a class action lawsuit from shoppers who allege the retailer passed tariff costs to consumers and may keep the government refund instead of reimbursing customers. The average small business paid somewhere in between, often from a few thousand dollars to several hundred thousand depending on import volume.
To estimate what your business might get back, take your total IEEPA tariff payments between February 2025 and February 24, 2026 and add 6 percent interest per year from the payment date. That is roughly the amount you can expect to recover if your claim is processed successfully.
How to Apply for a Small Business Tariff Refund
Applying for a small business tariff refund involves three main steps:Step 1: Check your eligibility. The fastest path is a free eligibility review that identifies whether you paid IEEPA tariffs during the window and estimates your refund amount. TariffRefundReview.com offers this review in about two minutes with no upfront cost and no obligation.
Step 2: Gather your documentation. You need your CBP entry numbers, customs broker records, and tariff payment history. Most customs brokers will provide this upon request, and if records are missing, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to CBP can recover them. A legal team handles this step on your behalf if you choose to move forward.
Step 3: File the refund claim. The claim is filed through CBP's new Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) refund system, which the agency is building specifically to handle IEEPA refunds. CBP has told the Court of International Trade it expects the system to be operational by April 2026, and it aims to process each refund claim within 45 days of submission.
Because the CAPE system is new and CBP's existing refund infrastructure cannot easily separate IEEPA duties from other tariffs, having organized documentation ready before the system launches is critical. Small businesses that file early will likely be paid before those that wait.
Is There a Deadline for the Tariff Refund?
Yes. Tariff refund claims are subject to statutory time limits that vary depending on the liquidation status of your individual CBP entries. Liquidated entries (ones CBP has finalized) generally have a 180-day protest window. Unliquidated entries may be handled differently through the CAPE system once it launches.Additionally, the Department of Justice has not yet appealed the Court of International Trade's March 4, 2026 order directing CBP to issue refunds. If the DOJ files an appeal, the refund process could be stayed and delayed significantly. Small businesses that check eligibility and file claims early preserve their position regardless of what happens on appeal.
The safest approach is to check your tariff refund eligibility now, even if you are not sure whether you paid IEEPA tariffs. A legal review is free and takes about two minutes.
Watch Out for Tariff Refund Scams
Because the tariff refund pool is so large and the process is still being finalized, scammers have already started targeting small businesses. The US Chamber of Commerce has warned about two main scam types: fraudsters who promise to help importers collect refunds for inflated fees, and buyers who offer to purchase refund rights for pennies on the dollar.To avoid small business tariff refund scams:
• Only work with established legal teams or reputable customs brokers
• Never pay large upfront fees for a refund service -- legitimate services work on contingency
• Do not sell your refund rights to a third party for a fraction of the value
• Verify any service's credentials and check for proper attorney advertising disclosures
TariffRefundReview.com is a legal advertising service that connects businesses with legal teams that work on contingency with zero upfront fees. The service is free to use for eligibility checks and provides clear attorney advertising disclosures.
Key Facts About the Small Business Tariff Refund
Legal Basis: Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, 24-1287 (U.S. Supreme Court, 6-3 ruling February 20, 2026)
Court Order: Atmus Filtration, Inc. v. United States (U.S. Court of International Trade, March 4, 2026)
Eligible Tariffs: IEEPA fentanyl, reciprocal, and India tariffs only
Eligibility Period: February 2025 through February 24, 2026
Total Refund Pool: Approximately $166 billion (up to $175 billion with interest)
Eligible Importers: More than 333,000 US businesses
Total CBP Entries: Approximately 53 million
Interest Rate: 6 percent, accruing approximately $650 million per month
Who Gets Paid: Importer of record only (not downstream buyers)
Refund System: CBP's CAPE (expected operational April 2026)
Processing Time: Up to 45 days per claim once CAPE launches
Cost to File: $0 upfront (contingency-based legal representation)
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Sources
• US Chamber of Commerce -- Tariff Refunds FAQ for Small Businesses• Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, 24-1287 (U.S. Supreme Court, February 20, 2026)
• Atmus Filtration, Inc. v. United States, Court No. 26-01259 (U.S. Court of International Trade)
• Penn Wharton Budget Model -- Supreme Court Tariff Ruling Analysis
Related Class Actions and Investigations
• Puma Tariff Refund Class Action Lawsuit• Costco Class Action Lawsuit 2026: Shoppers Overcharged Due to Tariffs May Not Get Refunds
• Ralph Lauren Tariff Refund Class Action Lawsuit
• Amazon COVID Price Gouging Class Action Lawsuit
• Walmart to Pay $5.6 Million in California Overcharging Settlement
• Home Depot Settlement for Overcharging and False Advertising
• $45 Million Walmart Weighted Groceries Class Action Settlement
About This Investigation
This article is based on publicly available court filings, US Chamber of Commerce guidance, and legal analysis of the US Supreme Court's February 20, 2026 ruling in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump. OpenClassActions.com is a consumer and small business news site and is not a law firm. TariffRefundReview.com is a legal advertising service, not a law firm or referral service.| Small Business Tariff Refund Summary | |
| Status | Closed — free eligibility review no longer available |
|---|---|
| Eligible Tariffs | IEEPA (Fentanyl, Reciprocal, India) |
| Total Refund Pool | ~$166 Billion (up to ~$175B with interest) |
| Eligible Importers | 333,000+ U.S. businesses |
| Eligibility Window | Feb 2025 – Feb 24, 2026 |
| Interest Rate | 6% (~$650M/month) |
| Who Gets Paid | Importer of record only (not downstream buyers) |
| Refund System | CBP CAPE (expected operational April 2026) |
| Legal Basis | Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump (U.S. Supreme Court, Feb 20, 2026) |
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