Feds have rejected 15% of businesses’ tariff refund claims

Since the launch of a government reimbursement portal on April 20, 2026, about 15% of tariff refund requests have been rejected, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The portal, known as the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE), was created to comply with a Supreme Court ruling that struck down emergency tariffs imposed by former President Trump. By April 26, over 75,000 refund requests had been submitted, with more than 47,000 properly filed. CAPE is currently accepting applications for finalized tariffs or estimated duties under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Some businesses may be making errors in their submissions, leading to rejections. Despite initial glitches, the portal is functioning smoothly, with only a brief pause for optimization. Nick Richards, a legal expert, praised the swift rollout of CAPE, noting its efficiency in processing claims. QUESTION: How might the rejection of tariff refund requests impact businesses and their future import strategies?