A recent Supreme Court decision invalidated certain tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). As a result, many U.S. importers may be eligible for refunds on tariffs paid over the past several years.
The ruling creates a pathway for refunds, and federal agencies have begun reviewing refund requests. This process is expected to continue evolving as refunds are implemented in phases.
This resource hub is to help impacted companies understand what this means and how to prepare.
What This Means for Greater San Antonio
San Antonio’s economy includes a strong base of manufacturers, suppliers, and globally connected companies. Many of these firms rely on imported components and materials.
This ruling may create meaningful refund opportunities for companies across the region, particularly in:
Advanced manufacturing
Aerospace and defense supply chains
Electronics and equipment manufacturing
greater:SATX is monitoring developments closely and will continue to provide updates and connections to resources as more information becomes available.
Eligibility
Your company may be eligible for a tariff refund if your company:
Imported goods subject to IEEPA tariffs (2025–2026)
Paid those tariffs as the importer of record
Has entries that are:
Within the protest window, or
Not yet finalized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
This applies broadly across industries, including advanced manufacturing, automotive, electronics, and logistics.
Eligible companies may be able to recover:
Tariffs (duties) paid
Potential interest on those payments, depending on how claims are processed
It is important to note that this ruling does not apply to all tariffs. Tariffs imposed under other authorities (such as Section 301 or Section 232) remain in place.
The Refund Process
On April 20, CBP launched the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) system to process $166 billion in tariffs. Refunds will be issued approximately 60 to 90 days after approval. It's important to note that this is the initial round of refunds and applies to certain tariffs. It is unknown when the system will be open to all refund claims.