Shipping Carrier Tariff Refund Guide 2026: How to Get Your Money Back Through FedEx, UPS, and DHL

In February 2026, the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration's tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were unconstitutional. The ruling means that roughly $166 billion in tariff collections is now potentially subject to refunds.

But here's the problem for consumers: the refund process was designed for importers of record — the businesses that paid duties directly to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Individual consumers cannot file claims. Instead, if you paid tariffs on international shipments through FedEx, UPS, or DHL, those carriers are acting as intermediaries — and they are now filing for and distributing refunds.

On April 20, 2026, CBP launched the CAPE (Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries) portal to process refund claims. FedEx, UPS, and DHL have all announced plans to pass refunds through to the consumers and businesses who originally paid the tariff charges.

Here is exactly what's happening, what each carrier is doing, and what you should do now.

Background: What Happened and Why Refunds Are Coming

Timeline of events

| Date | Event | |---|---| | 2019–2025 | Trump administration imposes tariffs on imports under IEEPA authority | | February 2026 | Supreme Court rules IEEPA does not authorize the president to impose tariffs — tariffs are unconstitutional | | March 4, 2026 | Court of International Trade orders CBP to begin processing refunds immediately | | March 6, 2026 | CIT suspends the order after CBP says it cannot process refunds logistically | | April 7, 2026 | CIT issues order in Euro-Notions Florida, Inc. v. United States (the new lead case) requiring refunds for all entries | | April 8, 2026 | CBP publishes Trade Information Notice announcing CAPE portal will launch April 20 | | April 20, 2026 | CAPE portal goes live at 8:00 AM ET — first refund claims submitted | | April 20–30, 2026 | Over 75,000 CAPE declarations submitted covering more than 11 million import entries | | Expected May 11–14 | First round of refund payments expected | | Early June 2026 | Government's appeal deadline for the CIT's refund order |

What tariffs are affected

The Supreme Court ruling applies specifically to tariffs imposed under IEEPA. Other tariffs remain in place:

• IEEPA tariffs: Being refunded (unconstitutional). CBP stopped collecting IEEPA duties at 12:00 AM EST on February 24, 2026.
• Section 301 tariffs (China): Still in effect
• Section 232 tariffs (steel, aluminum): Still in effect
• Current 10% baseline tariff: Not affected by this ruling

In some cases, customers may receive only a partial refund because not all duties on a shipment were IEEPA duties — other tariffs that remain in effect are not refundable.

Who actually gets the refund

CBP issues refunds to the Importer of Record (IOR) — the entity listed on customs form 7501. For most consumer shipments from international retailers, the shipping carrier (FedEx, UPS, or DHL) is the Importer of Record. That means:

1. CBP sends the refund to the carrier
2. The carrier then passes the refund to the customer who paid the tariff charge

The CAPE Portal: How the Refund System Works

What is CAPE?

CAPE (Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries) is a new module within CBP's Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) portal, designed specifically to handle IEEPA refund claims at scale. Instead of processing refunds one entry at a time, CAPE allows importers to submit declarations covering up to 9,999 entries at once.

How CAPE works

1. The IOR (or their customs broker) prepares a CAPE Declaration — a CSV file listing every entry number subject to IEEPA duties
2. The IOR uploads the declaration through the ACE portal
3. CBP runs two rounds of validation: declaration-level checks (formatting, identity, bank status) and entry-level checks (eligibility, rate, liquidation status)
4. Once validated, CBP removes IEEPA duty provisions and recalculates
5. CBP issues a refund via electronic ACH transfer to the IOR's bank account

Processing timeline

| Step | Timeline | |---|---| | CAPE declaration upload | Day 0 | | CBP initial acceptance | Same day to several days (if data is clean) | | CBP review period | Approximately 45 days | | Refund payment | 60–90 days after acceptance | | Carrier pass-through to consumer | Additional time after carrier receives funds |

Phase structure

CBP is processing refunds in phases:

• Phase 1 (current): Covers entries that are unliquidated, or liquidated within the last 80 days. These represent a subset of the 53 million import entries subject to IEEPA duties — as of late April 2026, over 11 million entries had been submitted for Phase 1 refund processing.
• Phase 2 (upcoming): Will cover earlier entries. CBP has not yet announced when Phase 2 will begin.

Carrier-by-Carrier Refund Guide

UPS

UPS has taken the clearest and most consumer-friendly position among the three major carriers.

• IOR status: UPS was the Importer of Record for most express shipments
• Refund process: UPS is filing CAPE declarations for all eligible entries where it was the IOR — customers do not need to contact UPS
• Refund amount: Full IEEPA tariff charges; however, administrative and brokerage fees are NOT refundable (UPS considers these "legal and valid" charges for the service of rating and assessing tariffs)
• Timeline: After UPS receives funds from CBP, it will distribute refunds to the original payors. Total timeline: 60–90 days from CAPE acceptance plus additional processing time
• Scale: UPS CEO Carol Tomé stated the company processed 16 million IEEPA-related entries and remitted more than $5 billion in tariffs to the U.S. Treasury
• Customer action needed: None for shipments where UPS was the IOR. Customers should monitor their UPS account and email for refund notifications

FedEx

FedEx has committed to refunding customers but uses slightly more conditional language than UPS.

• IOR status: FedEx served as customs broker and/or Importer of Record for many international shipments
• Refund process: FedEx is submitting CAPE declarations for all eligible entries where it served as customs broker. It will generate the reports needed to secure refunds.
• Refund policy: "If refunds are issued to FedEx, we will issue refunds for IEEPA tariffs paid to the shippers and consumers who originally bore those charges."
• Timeline: FedEx will issue refunds to customers as soon as it receives them from CBP — expected 60–90 days after CAPE acceptance
• Customer action needed: FedEx says it is handling the process for entries where it was the broker. Individual consumers cannot file claims through CAPE.
• Legal action: FedEx was one of hundreds of companies that filed a lawsuit in the Court of International Trade to protect its right to a refund

DHL

DHL has also committed to passing refunds through to customers, though with slightly different procedures depending on who was the Importer of Record.

• IOR status: DHL was the Importer of Record for many express international shipments
• Refund process: DHL will file CAPE declarations for entries where DHL was the IOR and has stated it will issue refunds through established processes
• Key difference: For shipments where the customer was the Importer of Record (not DHL), DHL may not file claims automatically — customers who were their own IOR have two options:
  1. File their own claim through the CAPE portal (requires an ACE portal account)
  2. Authorize DHL to file on their behalf
• Customer action needed: Most DHL customers will not need to take action. However, customers who acted as their own Importer of Record should contact DHL to confirm their situation.

Carrier comparison

What Consumers Should Do Now: Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Identify who was the Importer of Record

Check your shipping documentation. Look for Customs Form 7501 (entry summary) or your shipping invoice:

• If the carrier's name (FedEx, UPS, DHL) appears as the Importer of Record → the carrier is filing for you
• If your name and address appear → you are the IOR and may need to file yourself or authorize your carrier

Step 2: Gather your records

Compile the following for every international shipment where you paid tariff surcharges:

• Shipping invoices showing tariff or duty charges
• Customs entry numbers (if available)
• Receipts or credit card statements showing the tariff charges
• Order confirmations from international retailers

You may need these to verify your refund or support a claim later.

Step 3: Contact your carrier

Send a written inquiry to your carrier asking:

• Whether you have any eligible IEEPA tariff entries
• Whether the carrier was the Importer of Record for your shipments
• What the refund timeline is for your entries
• Whether any action is required on your part

Step 4: Monitor developments

The IEEPA refund process is still evolving. Key events to watch:

• Government appeal (early June 2026): The government may appeal the CIT's refund order. If an appeal is filed and a stay is granted, the CAPE process could be suspended.
• Phase 2 launch: CBP has not announced when Phase 2 will begin for earlier entries.
• Tariff Refund Act of 2026 (S. 3905): This pending legislation would require CBP to refund all IEEPA duties within 180 days of enactment, with interest, and prioritize small businesses. It has not passed as of May 2026.

Step 5: Do not file duplicate claims

If your carrier was the Importer of Record, do not attempt to file your own claim through the CAPE portal. Duplicate claims can delay processing for everyone involved. The carrier is already filing on your behalf.

Consumer Class Action Lawsuits

In addition to the carrier refund process, several class action lawsuits are pending that could result in additional consumer refunds:

Lawsuits against carriers

• FedEx class action: Filed by a Miami resident who was charged additional fees on an international shoe order. The lawsuit challenges both the tariff charges and the administrative/brokerage fees.
• UPS class action: Consumer lawsuits allege that UPS and other carriers retained tariff-related revenue while pursuing reimbursement from the government.

Lawsuits against retailers

Consumer class actions have been filed against major retailers alleging "double recovery" — that companies passed tariff costs to consumers through higher prices while simultaneously seeking government refunds:

• Lululemon: Proposed class action alleges the company passed $240 million in tariff costs to consumers through higher prices while seeking to recover those funds from the government
• Costco: CEO Ron Vachris publicly pledged to pass any tariff refunds on to customers through lower prices, stating "we will continue to be a pricing authority" — a notable exception to the industry trend of keeping refunds
• Essilor Luxottica (Ray-Ban): Named in class action suits

Common Questions

"I ordered something from overseas and paid a tariff surcharge. How do I get my money back?"

If you paid the surcharge through FedEx, UPS, or DHL, the carrier is likely filing for a refund on your behalf. You don't need to do anything for UPS shipments. For FedEx and DHL, you should monitor your account and consider contacting the carrier to confirm your eligibility.

"When will I actually see my refund?"

The first round of CAPE refund payments is expected around May 11–14, 2026. However, this is when CBP sends money to the Importers of Record (the carriers). The carriers then need additional time to distribute funds to individual customers. Realistically, expect to see your refund July–August 2026 for Phase 1 entries.

"What if I was my own Importer of Record?"

If you handled your own customs paperwork and paid fees directly to CBP, you can file your own claim through the CAPE portal at ace.cbp.dhs.gov. You'll need an ACE portal account and ACH enrollment for electronic refunds. For help, contact a licensed customs broker.

"Are the brokerage fees I paid also refundable?"

No, according to UPS. The company has stated that administrative and brokerage fees "were legal and valid at the time of the charge" and are not eligible for refund. FedEx and DHL have not made specific statements about fee refunds.

"What about tariffs on things I bought from Amazon, Temu, Shein, or other online stores?"

If the retailer or marketplace handled customs clearance and the tariff was included in the product price, you likely will not receive a direct refund. The refund goes to whoever was the Importer of Record. However, if you were separately charged a "tariff surcharge" or "import duty" on your shipping invoice, you may be eligible for a carrier pass-through refund.

"Will prices go down now that tariffs are being refunded?"

Most economists expect limited and delayed consumer benefits. A CNBC CFO Council survey found that a majority of chief financial officers said their companies do not plan to share tariff refunds with customers. Any consumer-level price reductions would appear gradually as slower price growth, not as direct checks or refunds.

"I heard about the Tariff Refund Act. Will that help consumers?"

The Tariff Refund Act of 2026 (S. 3905) would require CBP to refund all IEEPA duties within 180 days of enactment with interest, and prioritize small businesses. Other bills like the Trump Tariff Rebate Act (HR 6781) and American Consumer Tariff Rebate Act (HR 7865) would provide direct consumer rebates through the tax code. None of these bills has passed as of May 2026.

Risks and Scam Warnings

Be cautious of third-party "filing services"

Some companies are offering to file tariff refund claims on your behalf for a fee. Be very cautious:

• If your carrier was the Importer of Record, you generally cannot file directly with CBP — so third-party filing services may not be useful
• Some services charge 20–30% of your refund as a fee
• The Liberty Justice Center has flagged potential predatory practices in this space

Report scams

If someone promises a guaranteed refund, asks for upfront payment, or requests personal financial information to "process" your tariff refund, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Key Takeaways

1. You cannot file a CAPE claim directly. Only Importers of Record and customs brokers can use the CAPE portal. If FedEx, UPS, or DHL was your IOR, they are filing for you.

2. UPS is the most consumer-friendly carrier. UPS has committed to fully automatic filing and pass-through refunds. No customer action is needed for UPS shipments where UPS was the IOR.

3. DHL customers should check who was the Importer of Record. If DHL was the IOR, refunds should be automatic. If you were your own IOR on a DHL shipment, you may need to file your own CAPE claim or authorize DHL to act on your behalf.

4. Refunds will take 60–90 days minimum from when CBP accepts a carrier's CAPE declaration, plus additional time for the carrier to distribute funds to you. Expect July–August 2026 for Phase 1.

5. Brokerage and administrative fees are NOT refundable. UPS has confirmed this. The refund covers only the IEEPA tariff charges themselves.

6. The government may appeal in early June. If the appeal is successful, the CAPE process could be suspended. Monitor news for updates on this deadline.

7. Class action lawsuits are separate from carrier refunds. You may be eligible for both. Don't ignore any class action notices you receive about tariff overcharges.

8. Gather your records now. Even if no action is required, having your shipping invoices, customs forms, and payment records organized will help you verify your refund when it arrives.