Owed a tariff refund? The IEEPA reversal put real money on the table
After the Supreme Court struck down the IEEPA tariffs, CBP began processing refunds. Who's owed, and the entry-by-entry paperwork that turns a ruling into a check.
- What: CBP processing refunds of IEEPA tariffs invalidated by the Supreme Court
- When: Refunds underway following the Feb 20, 2026 ruling
- Who's hit: Importers of record who paid IEEPA (reciprocal / fentanyl) tariffs in 2025
- Impact: Potentially significant recoveries — but only on entries you reconcile and claim
When the Supreme Court struck down the IEEPA tariffs in February, it didn’t just change what you’ll pay going forward — it turned duties you already paid into potential refunds. CBP has begun processing recoveries of the invalidated IEEPA tariffs, including the 2025 “reciprocal” and fentanyl-related duties.
The catch is that a court ruling and a check are not the same thing. Refunds run entry by entry: someone has to pull your entry summaries, identify the duties coded to the invalidated authorities, and file for the recovery. For an importer with steady 2025 volume, that adds up to real money — money that quietly stays with the government if no one claims it.
If you imported during the IEEPA window, treat the refund as a project with a deadline, not a someday. Get your entry data in order now, while the reconciliation window is open.
From our warehouse floor“The refund isn't automatic for every line. We pull the entry summaries, flag the IEEPA-coded duties, and file — the brands that treat it as a project get paid; the ones who wait don't.”
— MashBond customs desk
Informational only — not legal or customs advice. Verify against the primary source before acting.
