IEEPA Tariff Refund Update: CBP Reports $35.46B in Refunds
CBP’s latest IEEPA tariff refund update shows $35.46B in anticipated refunds and interest. Learn what importers should do now to claim eligible refunds.
www.freightright.comHere’s a concise update on the latest IEEPA tariff refunds as of May 2026.
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Context: IEEPA tariffs were paused for immediate refunds while CBP builds a centralized CAPE system to process refunds, with the refunds moving through a multi-stage administrative process. This remains the current framework in 2026.
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Latest developments: CBP reported substantial activity and a large pool of potential refunds, with tens of billions of dollars involved across millions of entries. Importers are actively filing and awaiting processing, and refunds are not automatic—you must complete steps in the ACE/CAPE framework to receive payments.
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Process status for importers: Refunds are real and underway but far from complete. Some importers have already received partial reimbursements; many others are still submitting CAPE declarations, awaiting liquidation/reliquidation decisions, and ensuring payment details are captured.
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Regional/practical notes: There are discussions and updates targeted at practitioners, including importers in Canada and other regions with cross-border activity, indicating the CAPE-based process is intended to cover a broad universe of affected shipments. Importers should monitor ACE/CAPE updates and ensure eligibility is maintained, including protests where applicable.
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What to do now (practical tips):
- Confirm you are registered as an importer of record and that CBP ACE/CAPE access is set up for refunds.
- Prepare documentation demonstrating eligibility and maintain accurate payment details for electronic refunds.
- Track CAPE filing counts and liquidation status for your entries; be prepared for a phased payout as the system processes different batches.
If you’d like, I can pull more precise, up-to-date items from the sources above and summarize the most actionable steps for your specific situation (e.g., if you’re in the UK or Canada, or if you have a particular shipment portfolio). I can also create a brief checklist or a timeline visualization of the CAPE process for your team.