Trump Admin Outlines $166B Tariff Refund Process

The new system aims to process refunds for companies impacted by illegally collected tariffs.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 6:22pm

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The Trump administration has detailed a four-step process for issuing $166 billion in tariff refunds, following a Supreme Court ruling that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) was illegal. The new system, called the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) portal, will include a claim portal, a 'mass processing' step, a review of refund findings, and a final step where refunds will be sent electronically to designated bank accounts. The administration is working to have the CAPE portal ready for use by companies within the next 45 days, in response to a court order requiring the government to grant refunds.

Why it matters

This development comes after significant legal pressure and growing demands from businesses and consumers for reimbursement of the illegally collected tariffs. The push for refunds has gained momentum, with a proposed nationwide class-action lawsuit and polling showing strong public support for issuing the refunds.

The details

Brandon Lord, the executive director of the US Customs and Border Protection's trade policy department, outlined the four-step CAPE portal process in a court filing. The components of the portal are currently between 40% and 80% complete, with performance testing scheduled for the coming weeks. The administration initially sought a three-month delay but is now providing regular updates as it develops the refund process for thousands of companies.

  • The Supreme Court ruled the IEEPA illegal in February 2026.
  • Senior Judge Richard Eaton of the Manhattan-based trade court ordered the government to grant refunds for illegally collected tariffs.

The players

Brandon Lord

The executive director of the US Customs and Border Protection's trade policy department, who outlined the CAPE portal process in a court filing.

Senior Judge Richard Eaton

A judge from the Manhattan-based US Court of International Trade who ordered the government to grant refunds for illegally collected tariffs.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on the timeline for the administration to have the CAPE portal fully operational and ready to process refund claims.

The takeaway

This case highlights the significant legal and public pressure the Trump administration is facing to issue refunds for the $166 billion in tariffs collected under the now-illegal IEEPA. The development of the CAPE portal system is a step towards addressing these demands, but the complexity of processing potentially billions in refunds remains a major logistical challenge.