Published
March 31, 2026
Updated
June 8, 2026
If you shopped at Costco during the tariff period, this lawsuit asks whether the money you overpaid should come back to you — but nothing can be claimed yet.
Allegations only — no settlement. This article describes a pending class action complaint. The statements below are unproven allegations, Costco has denied wrongdoing and has asked the court to dismiss the case, no class has been certified, and there is nothing to claim at this time. This page is informational and is not legal advice.
Case Update — May 2026
The case has been identified as Matthew Stockov v. Costco Wholesale, No. 1:26-cv-02734, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. In May 2026, Costco urged the court to reject the proposed class action, arguing the consumers' tariff-refund theory does not state a valid claim — an early motion-to-dismiss stage that the case must clear before it can proceed toward class certification. No class has been certified and no claims process exists. We will update this page as the docket develops.
According to the lawsuit, millions of Costco shoppers may have paid higher prices in 2025 and early 2026, and may never be directly reimbursed.
The tariff implications extend beyond just shoppers. Small business owners who imported goods into the United States and paid IEEPA tariffs directly to US Customs and Border Protection between February 2025 and February 2026 may be eligible for direct federal refunds from a $166 billion tariff refund pool after the Supreme Court ruled those tariffs unlawful. Unlike the Costco class action, which could take years to resolve, small business importers can check their tariff refund eligibility now with zero upfront fees. More than 333,000 US businesses may qualify to recover the full amount they paid in IEEPA tariffs plus 6 percent interest.
Small Business Owner - Tariff Refund Review (Closed)
Why Costco Is Being Sued
The case centers on tariffs imposed in February 2025 under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act during the administration of Donald Trump.Retailers, including Costco, allegedly responded by increasing prices on imported goods to offset the added costs.
However, in February 2026, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that certain tariffs were unlawful. This decision allows companies to recover billions of dollars in import duties previously paid.
The lawsuit claims Costco could now benefit twice:
First, by charging customers higher prices at checkout.
Second, by receiving refunds from the government.
Plaintiffs argue this creates unjust enrichment, meaning the company keeps money that was effectively paid by customers.
Status
Complaint Filed · Motion to Dismiss (May 2026)
Case
Stockov v. Costco Wholesale
No. 1:26-cv-02734 · U.S. District Court, N.D. Illinois
Can I Claim?
No — nothing to claim yet
What Costco Has Said
Costco CEO Ron Vachris has indicated that any recovered tariff funds would likely be used to lower prices in the future.But the lawsuit argues that this does not compensate the specific shoppers who paid higher prices during the tariff period between February 2025 and February 2026.
Instead, future customers could benefit, while past customers receive nothing.
Who Could Be Affected
If the case moves forward, the potential class could include:U.S. Costco shoppers who purchased imported goods impacted by tariffs between February 2025 and February 2026.
Given Costco's massive customer base of tens of millions of U.S. members, this could involve millions of consumers nationwide.
What Evidence Is Being Used
The complaint reportedly relies on:Public statements: Costco's own acknowledgments of tariff-related price increases.
Pricing changes: Price adjustments observed after tariff pressure eased.
Communications: Internal and external communications linking tariffs to product pricing.
Plaintiffs argue this shows a direct connection between tariffs and what customers paid.
When Will a Claim Form Be Available?
There is no claim form available yet.Before claims open, the case must go through several stages:
Class certification -- the court must approve the case as a class action.
Court rulings on early motions -- Costco will likely file motions to dismiss.
A settlement or trial outcome -- the case must be resolved before money is distributed.
Even in a relatively fast case, claim forms typically do not become available for 12 to 24 months or longer.
How Many People Are Affected?
Potentially millions of shoppers.Costco has tens of millions of U.S. members, and anyone who purchased tariff-affected goods during the relevant period could be included. The final number will depend on which products are included, how the class is defined, and whether proof of purchase is required.
When Will This Class Action Be Certified?
Class certification usually occurs 1 to 3 years after filing.The court will evaluate whether the claims are similar across a large group and whether a class action is the appropriate legal path.
Costco is expected to challenge certification, which could delay the process.
What Are the Odds This Case Is Settled?
There is a moderate likelihood of settlement.Most large consumer class actions resolve before trial, especially when the potential class size is large and there is evidence linking pricing decisions to specific factors.
However, this case may be more complex because Costco could argue that pricing decisions were influenced by multiple factors, not just tariffs.
Estimated probability: 50 to 70 percent chance of settlement, depending on how early rulings go.
What Is the Anticipated Settlement Amount?
The total settlement amount is uncertain but could reach tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars.Key factors include:
Tariff refunds: The total amount Costco receives back from the government.
Consumer impact: How much of those costs were passed to shoppers.
Claim volume: The number of valid claims submitted.
Because of Costco's scale, even small per-transaction impacts could lead to a large overall settlement.
How Much Could Each Claimant Get?
Most payouts in cases like this are relatively modest.Typical estimates: Around $5 to $50 per person for average shoppers.
Higher amounts possible if: Proof of purchase is required and payments are based on spending levels.
If no proof is required, payments are usually smaller due to a larger number of claims.
Could This Case Set a Bigger Precedent?
This lawsuit could have broader implications beyond Costco.It raises a key legal question: When companies pass costs to consumers and later recover those costs, are they required to return that money?
If the court sides with the plaintiffs, it could influence how companies handle pricing adjustments tied to government policies in the future. This could affect retailers, importers, and any company that adjusts consumer prices based on government-imposed costs. Costco is not the only major retailer to face allegations of overcharging -- Walmart paid $5.6 million in a California overcharging settlement, and Amazon faces a class action over COVID-era price gouging. On the same tariff-refund theory, shoppers have also filed an IKEA tariff refund class action, a Nike tariff refund class action, and a Walmart tariff refund class action.
Bottom Line
This Costco class action is still in its early stages, and no compensation is guaranteed.However, the case highlights a situation where consumers may have paid higher prices due to tariffs that were later ruled unlawful, while the company could recover those costs without directly refunding customers.
If the lawsuit succeeds or settles, millions of shoppers could become eligible for compensation.
Meanwhile, small business owners who imported goods and paid IEEPA tariffs directly do not need to wait for a class action. A federal tariff refund program is already processing claims from over 333,000 eligible US importers, with refunds that include 6 percent interest.
Small Business Owner - Tariff Refund Review (Closed)
Related Class Actions and Investigations
• Puma Tariff Refund Class Action Lawsuit• Nike Tariff Refund Class Action Lawsuit
• IKEA Tariff Refund Class Action Lawsuit
• Ralph Lauren Tariff Refund Class Action Lawsuit
• Walmart Tariff Consumer Refunds Class Action
• CBP CAPE Portal: IEEPA Tariff Refund Launch
• Small Business Tariff Refund -- How to Apply for an IEEPA Tariff Refund
• Walmart to Pay $5.6 Million in California Overcharging Settlement
• Amazon COVID Price Gouging Class Action Lawsuit
• Home Depot Settlement for Overcharging and False Advertising
• $45 Million Walmart Weighted Groceries Class Action Settlement
Sources
• Reuters, "Costco urges US judge to reject consumer class action over tariff refunds" (May 19, 2026)• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Matthew Stockov v. Costco Wholesale, Case No. 1:26-cv-02734
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About This Article
This article covers the class action lawsuit filed against Costco Wholesale Corporation alleging that shoppers were overcharged due to tariffs later ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court. The case is still in its early stages and no settlement or claim form is currently available. OpenClassActions.com covers class action lawsuits, settlements, and consumer legal developments. OpenClassActions.com is a consumer advocacy and class action news site, and is not a class action administrator or a law firm.
For more class actions keep scrolling below.
Status
Complaint Filed · Motion to Dismiss (May 2026)
Case Title
Matthew Stockov v. Costco Wholesale
Case Number
1:26-cv-02734
Court
U.S. District Court, N.D. Illinois
Class Certified
No — no claim form
