U.S. Has Refunded Over $100 Billion in Liberation Day Tariffs
Alina Collins
U.S. Customs has refunded roughly $100 billion in 'Liberation Day' tariffs — about 60% of the $165 billion collected — but nearly all of it went to large importers, leaving consumers and small businesses empty-handed.
How much has been refunded — and how much is left?
CBP told the Court of International Trade on Tuesday that it has returned roughly $100 billion, about 60% of the $165 billion collected.
Another $128 billion-plus has been "accepted for processing." This means → the final refund total will climb further and may eventually cover most of what was collected.
Trade lawyers and analysts say the pace is "faster than expected." In plain terms = the government is not dragging its feet — it is clearing the backlog at full speed.
Why is the money being returned at all?
In February, the Supreme Court ruled that the president cannot invoke emergency economic powers (IEEPA) to impose sweeping tariffs.
This means → the "Liberation Day" tariffs were legally struck down as an overreach of executive authority, and every dollar collected must be sent back.
The Court of International Trade then ordered CBP to process refunds; CBP built an online claims system accordingly.
Who actually gets the money — can consumers claim it?
CBP's refund system only accepts claims from the "importer of record" — the company that filed the customs entry, typically a large direct importer.
In plain terms = most small businesses and consumers who actually bore the cost are not on the refund list at all.
Democratic Rep. Greg Casar criticized the setup: "Trump sent 'refunds' to corporations, not working people. Every penny should go back to American consumers."
Some small businesses report they do not know how to file, or lack the resources to complete the process.
The government refunded billions — then what?
Despite being forced to return over a hundred billion dollars, the Trump administration last week invoked a different statute to impose 10%–12.5% tariffs on more than 60 economies.
This means → the strategy is "find a new legal basis and try again" — the Supreme Court blocked one path, so the White House immediately opened another.
At least three separate legal challenges have already been filed against the new tariffs, including by the same legal team that won at the Supreme Court.
What comes next?
Trump himself posted on Truth Social that the Supreme Court's decision cost America "trillions and trillions of dollars."
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had warned in February that refunds could "take years of litigation" and labeled them "the ultimate corporate welfare."
This reflects the White House's real posture: the refunds are a forced retreat, not a voluntary concession. The legal fate of the new tariffs is the next critical test.
Content is for reference only, not financial advice.