A surprise credit after an overseas purchase: The tariff refunds now flowing through shippers
NEW YORK (AP) — If you bought something from an overseas vendor last year, it might be time to check your bank account. Shippers including FedEx and UPS that acted as customs brokers for imported packages and received tariff refunds from the U.S. government…
Consumers who purchased items from overseas vendors last year may find unexpected refunds in their bank accounts, as shippers such as FedEx and UPS begin passing on tariff refunds to customers. These refunds are the final stage of a lengthy process that began in February when the Supreme Court overturned tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump in March 2025.
The court ordered the government to return the tariffs it collected, leading to the release of about $100 billion in refunds to businesses through a system set up by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The refunds are being distributed in phases based on the date they were paid. FedEx has already initiated the process of returning $800 million in tariffs it received from the government to customers who paid them using credit cards or bank accounts. Customers do not need to apply for their refund, but they can check their eligibility by entering their tracking numbers on FedEx's website.
UPS, which paid $5 billion in tariffs on behalf of its clients, announced it will embark on the refund process. The company expects customers to receive refunds within one to three months after receiving reimbursement from the Treasury. DHL has also filed claims for almost all eligible shipments where it acted as the importer of record and is returning the refunds it has received. However, the volume and pace of refunds depend on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's processing of claims.
Written by urgent.news from Associated Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
