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Barbara Weltman

Big Ideas for Small Business, Inc.

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How to Get a Tariff Refund: An Overview for Small Businesses and Importers

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How to Get a Tariff Refund: An Overview for Small Businesses and ImportersOn February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the President’s tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and opened the door for refunds to businesses affected by them. Now, there’s a process through which eligible small businesses can get refunds of the tariffs they paid. The process is complex, but the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Guide on Tariff Refunds can help.

On April 20, 2026, two months after the SCOTUS decision, the portal for making refund claims was opened.

Some key factors or actions about tariff refunds:

  • Eligibility. You must be eligible for a refund. This means you were importer of record or the consignee who directly paid IEEPA tariffs. Be sure your CBP importer record (Form 5106) is up to date and shows your current email and not that of your broker.
  • ACE Portal account. You must have an ACE Portal account. This portal can be used to get reports that show your tariff payments. You can begin the process at the ACE Portal. It can take 3 to 4 weeks to complete the setup.
  • ACH Refund. Tariff refunds are paid only electronically through ACH Refund; no checks are issued. Be sure you have enrolled in an ACH Refund.

Other things you should know

Could the government simplify the refund process for small business refunds in the near future? Who knows. But you should know that:

  • The government is required to pay 6% interest on these refunds. This may be meaningful given the fact that it could take months for refunds to be issued.
  • Because a lot of money is involved, expect to see scams abound. Likely, a scamster will offer to help you through the refund process for a fee but won’t provide real help. Only trust a licensed customer broker to help in the refund process.

Final thought

It’s been reported that about $166 million in refunds could be made to over 300,000 importers. Are you one of them? If you’re a small business that indirectly paid the tariffs through higher prices charged by your vendors, you’re out of luck…unless the businesses receiving tariff refunds pass this on in some way to you.