Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump Tariffs, Refunds Unlikely for Consumers

While companies may seek tariff refunds, experts say it's highly improbable that the costs will be passed on to American households.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The U.S. Supreme Court recently struck down many of former President Donald Trump's import tariffs, leading to discussions of potential refunds. However, tariff experts say consumers are unlikely to see any of that money, as the tariffs were paid by importers, not individual households. While some retailers may voluntarily offer tariff rebates to customers, the process of returning funds to millions of Americans is seen as logistically impossible.

Why it matters

The Supreme Court's ruling on Trump's tariffs has significant financial implications, as those import taxes were estimated to have cost American households around $1,000 per year. While companies that paid the tariffs may be able to recoup some of that money, passing those refunds on to consumers in a meaningful way faces major practical hurdles.

The details

Since the Supreme Court struck down many of Trump's tariffs in a February 2026 ruling, companies that paid the import taxes are lining up to file lawsuits seeking refunds. The federal government has indicated it will proceed with refunds if the tariffs are overturned. However, getting that money back to individual consumers who indirectly paid higher prices is viewed as an almost impossible task logistically, according to tariff experts. Retailers may voluntarily offer some tariff rebates to customers, but the process of returning funds to millions of households is seen as highly impractical.

  • On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down many of former President Donald Trump's import tariffs.
  • On February 23, 2026, delivery giant FedEx filed a lawsuit seeking a refund of the tariffs it paid under the policies that were struck down.

The players

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who implemented the import tariffs that were later struck down by the Supreme Court.

FedEx

A delivery company that filed a lawsuit seeking a refund of the tariffs it paid under the policies that were struck down by the Supreme Court.

Scott Bessent

The Treasury Secretary who predicted that American people are unlikely to see any tariff refunds.

Gavin Newsom

The Governor of California who called for the Trump administration to issue tariff refunds to American households.

JB Pritzker

The Governor of Illinois who demanded $1,700 in tariff refunds for every family in his state.

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What they’re saying

“I got a feeling the American people won't see it.”

— Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary (Economic Club of Dallas)

“Refunds for overpayments will go to the persons or the entities that legally made the payment, just like any other tax refund. The government has these records.”

— Erica York, Vice President of Federal Tax Policy, Tax Foundation (USA TODAY)

“There is an infinitesimal chance that that could happen.”

— Stephen Kates, Financial Analyst, Bankrate (USA TODAY)

What’s next

The judge overseeing the FedEx lawsuit will decide on the company's request for a tariff refund in the coming months.

The takeaway

While companies that paid the Trump administration's tariffs may be able to recoup some of that money through lawsuits, the likelihood of those refunds being passed on to American consumers in a meaningful way is extremely low. The logistical challenges of returning funds to millions of households make it an impractical endeavor, despite calls from some politicians for widespread tariff rebates.