Federal Refund System Opens for $166B in Overturned Trump Tariffs
Georgia businesses can now apply for refunds from $166 billion in Trump tariffs ruled illegal by Supreme Court, with payments expected within 90 days.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA — Small businesses across the state can now apply for refunds from $166 billion in import taxes paid under President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs that the U.S. Supreme Court struck down in February.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection tariff refund system launched Monday, allowing importers and brokers to submit detailed lists of duties paid under Trump’s now-illegal order to charge tariffs under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act.
Customs officials estimate 330,000 importers nationwide paid the duties. Refunds are expected within 60 to 90 days, according to CBP.
Supreme Court Ruling Triggers Refund Process
The Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision earlier this year found Trump’s steep global tariffs exceeded his presidential powers. Following the high court’s ruling, U.S. Court of International Trade Judge Richard Eaton ordered the government to stop charging the tariffs and establish a refund system.
The legal challenge to Trump’s 2025 “Liberation Day” tariffs was led by a handful of small businesses and Democratic state attorneys general.
Small Business Relief Mixed with Frustration
Many business owners are experiencing a “confusing mix of relief,” Richard Trent, executive director of Main Street Alliance, told States Newsroom in an interview Monday.
Trent, whose organization advocates on behalf of small businesses, said “our entrepreneurs, many of whom were angry that they had to pay tariffs in the first place,” are now navigating what advocates describe as a complex refund process.
States Newsroom previously documented experiences of several small businesses across the U.S. who faced increased costs following Trump’s change in international trade policy. Among them was Lost Boy cider in Alexandria, Virginia, where aluminum tariffs increased production costs for cans used in their operations.
Complex Application Process Ahead
The refund system requires importers to upload comprehensive documentation for each tariff payment made under the emergency powers act. Small business advocates warn the application process will be challenging for entrepreneurs who may lack the administrative resources of larger corporations.
The $166 billion in refunds represents one of the largest government reimbursement programs in recent history, affecting businesses across multiple industries that import goods ranging from raw materials to finished products.
