Tariff refunds for overseas purchases in US now reach buyers through shippers; who is eligible for credit?

If you made purchases from international vendors in the United States last year, you might now be eligible for a refund through the shipping companies that handled your international parcels. After the US Supreme Court invalidated tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump in March 2025, customs brokers like FedEx, UPS, and DHL began receiving refunds from the government and passing them onto affected customers.

So far, around $100 billion in tariffs have been refunded to companies under a system set up by US Customs and Border Protection. While these refunds won't fully offset the economic impact of the Trump tariffs, which raised the average household tax by $1,000 in 2025, consumers who paid import duties on overseas purchases may receive refunds from shipping companies.

The refunds are being distributed in phases based on when they were paid, and shipping companies will return the funds directly to customers' credit cards or bank accounts. FedEx has already disbursed $800 million in refunds, while UPS is expected to pay $5 billion in tariffs on behalf of clients and is processing refunds within one to three months.

Some major retailers indirectly absorbed the cost of tariffs and are unlikely to provide refunds to consumers, so the financial impact on shoppers will largely be absorbed by businesses.