Treasury Tariff Refunds Begin May 11 as Portal Glitches Slow Claims

Key Details The U.S. Treasury will begin issuing the first refund payments around May 11 for the $166 billion in tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court. A new Customs and Border Protection portal launched April 20 to process claims, but importers are already encountering technical issues with the system. Processing Status As of April 28, only 21% of import entries have been accepted for duty removal through the new process. About 3% have moved into the actual refund stage, while 15% of entries were denied for failing system validations. Importers can correct errors and resubmit their claims without strict deadlines. Why It Matters The Supreme Court ruled in February that President Trump unlawfully imposed these tariffs using emergency powers. Roughly 53 million import entries were hit by the contested duties, affecting countless trucking companies and logistics operations. The refund process affects your supply chain costs and cash flow significantly. Next Steps About 1.74 million approved entries are currently in the refund pipeline. Judge Richard Eaton is overseeing the process with another hearing scheduled for May 12. Industry experts say technical glitches are expected given how quickly the system was developed, but the refunds should ultimately go through.