🚨 $166 billion in tariffs is being refunded today, but none of it goes back to consumers who paid for it.
Every single dollar goes to companies.
Consumers paid higher prices on groceries, electronics, clothing and everything else for over a year because of these tariffs. Companies passed the cost directly to them through higher prices.
The Supreme Court ruled the tariffs were illegal in February. Now the government is refunding the money.
But the refund only goes to the "importer of record." The company that paid the tariff at the border. Not the retailer who paid higher wholesale prices or the consumer who paid the final inflated price at checkout.
NPR asked legal experts directly whether consumers will see any of this money. The answer was no.
330,000 importers are eligible, 53 million shipments and $127 billion already processed. The portal went live this morning at 8 AM.
Some Democratic lawmakers called for direct refunds to households but That is not happening.
And here is the worst part. While this refund is being processed, new tariffs are already being imposed under different legal authority. A 10% global tariff is in place under the 1974 Trade Act. Treasury Secretary Bessent says it could go to 15% by July.
The government charged tariffs, You paid for them. Companies are getting the money back. You are not.