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how much money does the federal government have to pay back in disallowed tariffs

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    The U.S. federal government is on the hook to refund approximately \(\$166\) billion to \(\$175\) billion—plus interest—in disallowed and unlawfully collected tariffs following a Supreme Court ruling. [1, 2, 3, 4]
    The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) opened a portal for businesses to file claims for these refunds. Here are the key details regarding the payout: [1]

    • Total Payout: The total amount to be returned is estimated around \(\$166\) billion, though with interest accruing, the final cost could exceed \(\$175\) billion. [1, 2, 3, 4]

    • Who Gets the Money: The refunds are being paid to the importers of record who originally paid the taxes, rather than individual consumers who may have indirectly absorbed the costs through higher retail prices. [1, 2]

    • The Process: Thousands of companies have filed claims through the CBP's ⁠Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) system to recoup the duties they paid between April 2025 and the Supreme Court's decision. [1, 2]

    • Consumer Impact: While businesses are not legally obligated to pass these funds back to consumers, some major retailers and logistics firms (like Costco and FedEx) have announced plans to use the recouped funds for customer price cuts or direct reimbursements. [1, 2]