$166 Billion in Tariff Refunds Are Coming — Here's What Wyoming Importers Need to Know
- Cassie Kelley
- Apr 14
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 15
The biggest tariff refund in U.S. history launches April 20, 2026. Your Chamber helped fight for it — here's what you need to do right now.
When the Supreme Court struck down IEEPA tariffs in February 2026, the question wasn't just whether the tariffs were legal — it was whether the 330,000 businesses that paid them would actually get their money back. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce stepped in immediately, filing a legal brief arguing that given the magnitude of entries at issue, traditional refund pathways were impractical and that the court should create a streamlined process to deliver refunds to American businesses quickly. That advocacy worked. CBP's streamlined CAPE refund system launches Monday April 20th.
WY It Matters
Wyoming may not be a coastal port state but our key industries — oil and gas, mining, construction, and manufacturing — depend heavily on imported equipment, components, and raw materials that simply cannot be sourced domestically. Since tariffs were imposed, businesses in these sectors have absorbed higher operating costs, delayed equipment purchases, and in some cases passed those costs on to customers. The Supreme Court's ruling and the resulting refund process is a direct financial opportunity for Wyoming businesses — and your Chamber has been at the table fighting to make that process as accessible as possible for businesses like yours.
Who Does This Affect in Wyoming?
Wyoming's economy is built on industries that regularly import equipment, parts, and materials from outside the United States. Businesses most likely affected include:
Oil and gas companies importing equipment and components
Mining operations bringing in heavy machinery and parts
Construction companies importing materials and equipment
Manufacturing businesses importing raw materials or components
Energy sector companies importing specialized equipment
Retailers who import products directly
If your operation brings in anything from heavy industrial machinery to specialty supplies from outside the U.S. this refund process could mean significant money back in your pocket.
What Is CAPE?
CBP's new refund system is called CAPE — Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries — and it operates through CBP's existing ACE Portal. For most importers the process will be largely automated, with CBP identifying eligible entries and calculating refunds without requiring individual claims. However there are critical steps businesses need to take now to ensure they can actually receive their refund.
Phase 1 of CAPE launches April 20, 2026 and covers approximately 63% of entries — specifically unliquidated entries and entries within 80 days of liquidation. Additional phases will follow to cover more complex entry scenarios.
What To Do Right Now
Enroll in ACH Refund — Most Urgent This is the single most important step and the one most importers have not yet completed. CBP will only issue refunds electronically and requires ACH enrollment in the ACE Portal. Without this your refund cannot be deposited into your account regardless of how much you are owed.
Verify Your ACE Portal Account Make sure your account is active and your importer record information is current including a company email address — not your broker's email. This is required for authentication.
Compile Your Entry Data Gather entry numbers, entry dates, port of entry, duty amounts paid, and liquidation status for any entries where IEEPA duties were assessed. Having this organized in advance will streamline your submission.
Consult Your Customs Broker Your customs broker can help you determine whether your entries qualify for Phase 1 or a later phase, help you navigate the CAPE Declaration filing process, and ensure you don't miss anything.
Important Things To Know
These refunds apply only to IEEPA-based tariffs. Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, and other materials are not affected by the Supreme Court ruling and are not eligible for refunds under this process.
Refunds are generally expected within 60-90 days of CAPE Declaration acceptance and will include statutory interest from the date duties were originally collected.
Your Chamber Is Working For You
Tariffs continue to be an evolving issue affecting Wyoming businesses. Your Chamber is monitoring these developments and advocating on your behalf at every level. Have questions about how tariffs are affecting your business? Want your voice included in future advocacy efforts? Reach out — your experience on the ground is exactly what shapes the positions we take on your behalf.
Comments