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Businesses Can Start Claiming Refunds on Trump Tariffs Ruled Unconstitutional

A new refund process opens Monday for companies that paid tariffs subsequently struck down by the courts.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Chris Magnus hosts Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya of the World Customs Organization (WCO) in Washington for a discussion on customs cooperation, September 23, 2022  CBP Photos by Jaime Rodriguez
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissi…      U S Customs    CBP Photography / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
By Free News Press Editorial Team
Published April 19, 2026 at 8:24 PM PDT

Businesses that paid tariffs under Trump administration trade policies later ruled unconstitutional will be able to begin claiming refunds starting Monday, The Seattle Times reported. The development marks a significant milestone for companies that have argued the levies placed an undue financial burden on their operations.

The refund process follows court rulings that found certain tariff actions exceeded executive authority. While details of the precise mechanism and timeline for processing claims remain to be fully outlined, the opening of the refund window offers a concrete path to financial relief for affected importers and manufacturers.

For many businesses, particularly small and mid-sized firms that lacked the resources to absorb the added costs, the tariffs represented a serious hit to margins. Some passed the expenses on to consumers through higher prices, while others absorbed the costs or restructured their supply chains.

The ability to recoup those payments could provide a meaningful boost at a time when many companies are still navigating an uncertain trade environment. Businesses eligible for refunds are expected to file claims through established customs channels beginning Monday.

Seal of the United States Customs Service, when it was part of the Department of the Treasury.  The service has since been reorganized and split up into two agencies under the Department of Homeland Security, mainly the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.  The design is the same as the Treasury seal
Seal of the United States Customs Service, when i…      U S Customs    U.S. Government / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)