The first wave oftariff refundsis now underway, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Who gets them may not be the customers that ultimately paid them, leaving Americans wondering if they’ll get some form oftariff refund in 2026or possibly a $2,000stimulus check.
Here’s what's real, who qualifies, and what individuals can expect.
President Donald Trump promised to refund $2,000 in tariff dividends to taxpayers from the government's tariff revenues, but that proposal was upended by a Supreme Court decision in February that claimed they were illegal. That ruling tasked the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York and the CBP to issue billions in refunds to the importers and brokers who paid the import taxes.
On April 20,CBP launched the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries, orCAPE, and began processing claims from the thousands of businesses that paid those tariffs imposed by Trump under the International Emergency Powers Act, or IEEPA. They have sinceannounced the first waveof refunds will be paid on May 12.
Where this leaves American consumers that ultimately, albeit indirectly, paid the tariffs through higher prices on goods is the big question many are still asking. Somecompanies are promising returnsand some politicians are proposing direct refunds up to $2,040 per household.
Some businesses such as FedEx and UPS are vowing to return the recouped tariffs to their customers. “Our intent is straightforward,” a FedEx spokesperson toldFortune. “If refunds are issued to FedEx, we will issue refunds to the shippers and consumers who originally bore those charges.”
Rep. Henry Cuellar (D‑Texas, 28th) filed the American Consumer Tariff Rebate Act of 2026, proposing direct refunds up to $2,040 per household in the form of a rebate. Hesaid on X,"Tariffs function as hidden taxes on families and create uncertainty for businesses. When companies pay more to import goods and materials, those added costs are often passed on to consumers, driving up prices on groceries, fuel and energy, vehicles and auto parts, building materials, and other everyday household items."
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Other Democratic lawmakers such as Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, CaliforniaGov. Gavin NewsomandIllinois Gov. JB Pritzkerhave taken actions to demand refunds to every household in their states, claiming their residents paid the brunt of tariffs through higher prices on goods.
Thesetariff refund demandsfor their constituents, mirror the concept of Trump's prior tariff dividend proposal and pandemic stimulus checks. However, none of them have come to fruition via Congressional approval or the IRS.
Are we getting a stimulus check in 2026?
While multiple stimulus check and tariff refund proposals for individuals exist, none of them have been approved by by Congress or the IRS to date.
There have been three prior stimulus checks tied to COVID-era stimulus programs, however the opportunities to claim or file for them have passed, including the last of which had an April 15, 2025 deadline to claim.
Are we getting a tariff refund? Who is eligible for tariff refunds
The process of issuing tariff refunds has begun,according to CBP, with the first wave of electronic refunds set to start next week, May 12, 2026. These refunds are going to businesses and importers with valid claims, noting only IEEPA tariffs are eligible for refunds through the CAPE website, or those that were approved by CBP.
At this time there is no plan to issued tariff refunds to individuals, albeit there are companies such as FedEx and UPS vowing to return their own "tariff refunds" to their customers.
As firstreported by Reuters, UPS CEO Carol Tome said in a post-earnings investor call that the company had collected about $5 billion in tariffs from its customers. Tome added that UPS would be issuing tariff refunds to its customers.
Maria Francis is a Pennsylvania-based journalist covering trending and breaking topics across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions for USA Today Network. Reach her at mfrancis@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post:Are we getting $2000 stimulus checks? Who qualifies for tariff refund?