Small businesses are owed tariff refunds. Will they get them? : NPR
NPR • • nation
Key Points:
- The U.S. Supreme Court recently declared about $130 billion in tariffs imposed under President Trump's administration unconstitutional, leading importers and retailers to seek refunds.
- While the government has a routine process for refunding tariffs due to clerical errors, there is no clear or streamlined method for reclaiming these large sums, causing frustration among small businesses.
- Some companies, including major retailers, have filed lawsuits to secure refunds, while Senate Democrats have proposed legislation requiring Customs to refund tariffs with interest within 180 days, prioritizing small businesses.
- The existing Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) portal, used for refund claims on errors, could potentially handle these tariff refunds, but it is unclear if the government plans to utilize this system for the current situation.
