Importers seeking reimbursement for tariffs imposed under President Donald Trump may face waiting periods of up to 45 days once a new federal claims system becomes fully operational, according to a recent government filing.
In a Tuesday update submitted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), officials outlined the expected timeline for reviewing and issuing refunds tied to duties that were later struck down by the courts. The process is currently under the supervision of the U.S. Court of International Trade, which is managing how affected businesses will be reimbursed.
The dispute stems from tariffs introduced under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). While the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in February that the levies were unlawful, it stopped short of providing a clear roadmap for refund distribution, leaving federal agencies to design a workable system.
According to CBP official Brandon Lord, the agency’s new digital claims portal is nearing completion, with progress estimated between 60% and 85%. Once launched, the platform will allow importers to file refund claims electronically, removing the need for lengthy legal action. More than 330,000 businesses are expected to benefit from the streamlined process.
“CBP continues to issue messaging to the trade community to inform it of the new electronic refund requirement and provide information about how to complete the process to receive electronic refunds,” Lord wrote in the filing.
The rollout will prioritize recent cases first. Specifically, refund claims linked to customs entries finalized within the past 80 days, or those still under review, extended, or suspended, will be handled in the initial phase. This targeted approach is intended to reduce backlog pressure and accelerate early payouts.
Although most refunds are expected to be processed electronically, CBP noted that alternative payment methods may be used in exceptional situations.
The agency had initially aimed to launch the system by April, but the exact go-live date remains dependent on final development and testing stages.
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