Small Business Tariff Reimbursement Process Updates
Update on April 20, 2026 via Main Street Alliance:
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection began accepting IEEPA tariff refunds through their portal on April 20, 2026 at 8AM EST.
If your business paid these tariffs, you may now be eligible to get that money back. Here’s what you need to know to get started:
Step 1: Make sure you’re set up to file
To submit a refund claim, you must:
- Be the importer of record (or a designated filer)
- Have an account on the ACE portal
- Have ACH (electronic payment) set up to receive refunds
- You can get started here:
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/automated/ace-portal-and-ach- refunds-faqs
Step 2: Check if you’re eligible in Phase 1
The first phase includes:
- Entries that are unliquidated, or
- Entries within 80 days of liquidation
- (For most businesses, this likely includes imports from roughly the past 314 days.)
- You can check your entry status directly in the ACE portal.
Step 3: Submit your refund request
CBP has launched a new system inside ACE (called CAPE) to process refunds. To file:
- Download the upload template spreadsheet
- Enter your 11-digit entry numbers (this is the only required field)
- Upload the file and certify your claim
- Step-by-step instructions are available here:
https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/2026-04/ace_ portal_-_cape_declarations_ 508c.pdf
Step 4: Track your claim
Once submitted, you’ll be able to track:
- Claim status
- CBP review outcome
- Timeline: Approved refunds are expected within 60–90 days and will be issued via ACH.
Please reach out to Jordan@lowcountrylocalfirst.org if you have any questions or run into any issues.
On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6–3 to strike down President Trump’s sweeping tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The Court upheld lower court decisions finding that the administration exceeded its authority by invoking a 1977 law intended for national emergencies to impose so called “reciprocal” tariffs on nearly every foreign trading partner. The tariffs, which have burdened our small businesses since last April, were deemed unlawful by a bipartisan majority of Supreme Court justices. Learn more about the ruling.