Trump Administration Opens Tariff Refund Portal: Who Qualifies and How to Apply

On February 20, 2026, traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange watched a press conference by President Donald Trump regarding tariffs. The image was captured by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images.

The Trump administration has opened a portal for businesses to apply for refunds on tariffs that were recently struck down by the Supreme Court. However, consumers who indirectly paid these costs through higher prices are not eligible for refunds.

How the Tariff Refund Process Works

The administration launched the tariff refund portal on Monday, introducing the process under the acronym CAPE, which stands for Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries.

Who Qualifies for a Tariff Refund?

Only entities that paid tariffs directly to the U.S. government are eligible to apply for refunds. This typically excludes individual consumers, even if they purchased imported products or items containing imported components. If you did not pay the government directly, you will not receive a refund.

Legal and Political Context

While the Supreme Court did not specify how the refund process should operate, a lower court ordered its implementation. The administration has proceeded with the refunds, though Trump has previously sought to avoid returning the funds. Future legal challenges or delays remain possible.

Trump has not abandoned tariffs entirely. The Supreme Court only invalidated some of them, while others remain in effect. The administration continues to explore additional tariff measures under alternative legal authorities. According to the Budget Lab at Yale, the current tariff rate is approximately five times higher than before Trump took office.

What’s Next?

The refund process has begun without major disruptions, marking the first step in returning over $166 billion in tariff revenue. However, the administration’s commitment to completing the refunds remains uncertain.

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