Business Tariffs Updates

Struggling to stay on top of shifting tariffs that impact your business? With global trade policies constantly evolving, it’s tough to keep up. Stay informed with the latest key tariff updates in one centralized hub, so you can respond quickly to changes and make confident decisions for your business. Keeping track of regulatory updates is equally essential to ensure your strategies align with the latest trade policies and compliance requirements.

Tariff Refund Process Is Live: What Importers Need to Know

On April 20, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) launched the first phase of its new tariff refund system through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) portal, giving importers that paid tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) a solid process to request refunds.

The Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) process streamlines refunds by identifying eligible entries, recalculating duties and issuing payments directly to importers. CBP expects eligible refunds to be released within 60 to 90 days of request.

While the system is now operational, it’s rolling out in phases. The initial launch applies to certain unliquidated entries and entries within an 80-day window of liquidation. Additional CAPE functionality is expected later this year to address more complex scenarios.

If you paid IEEPA tariffs, see our tariffs guide on how to get started with tariff refunds.

Reach out to your Armanino advisor for help evaluating eligibility, preparing documentation or navigating the new CAPE filing process.

Tariff Refunds Just Got Real: Here’s the Expected Process and Next Steps

A new U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) court filing outlines a clearer path for companies to receive refunds on tariffs paid. The system is expected to launch as soon as mid-April 2026, though the exact timeline for payments is still unclear.

While no concrete system is in place just yet, a proposed refund process is expected to follow the following process:

1. Importers will submit claims through a new online claim portal run by CBP through the current ACE system. This may include filing an IEEPA entry list via a CSV file.
2. The system will move those claims into a mass-processing stage, where large numbers of tariff payments will be analyzed and matched to eligible refunds.
3. Government officials will review the findings to verify the amount owed to each claimant.
4. Once approved, refunds will be issued to the importers who originally paid the tariffs.

If you paid IEEPA tariffs, you should be reviewing import declarations for accuracy, preparing documentation now and getting ready to file claims once the portal becomes available through ACE. You should identify which shipments were subject to the invalidated tariffs, confirm that your organization was the entity that paid the duties and ensure ACE accounts are up to date including ACH information for refund payments if you haven’t already.

Reach out to your Armanino advisor for help preparing, or call upon our tariff experts specializing in international tax, transfer pricing or strategy consulting.

Supreme Court Rejects Emergency Tariffs; New 15% Global Duty Effective Now

On Friday, February 20, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the president to impose tariffs.

• The Court didn’t indicate how refunds or credits would be handled in its ruling.
• President Trump imposed a 15% global duty beginning Tuesday, February 24, that could be in place up to 150 days (under Section 122 of the Trade Act, 1974).
• Refunds and changes will likely be a long and complicated process for importers.

Here’s what to do right now:

1. Record tariffs paid since 2025.
2. Track deadlines related to potential refunds.
3. Monitor inbound shipments for tariff changes.
4. Update banking details with U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) to avoid refund delays.

Need support? Reach out to your Armanino advisor or consult with one of our international tax, transfer pricing or strategy consulting experts.

Smart Strategies to Combat the Changing Landscape

With tariffs changing rapidly and impacting industries beyond just manufacturing, businesses must take a proactive approach to mitigate financial, operational, and tax exposure. Armanino’s panel of experts emphasized that the effects of tariffs, both direct and indirect, are influencing everything from pricing strategies and financial modeling to tax structure and supply chain decisions. Companies across sectors, including healthcare, technology, and consumer goods, are being forced to reevaluate their strategic plans, assess margin sensitivity, and model various future scenarios.

Panelists advised that waiting to act is not a viable strategy. Instead, organizations should build dynamic financial models that account for evolving tariff rates, leverage transfer pricing adjustments, explore sourcing alternatives, and consider potential tax exemptions such as the First Sale Rule or U.S. content thresholds. Additionally, revisiting intercompany agreements and proactively communicating with suppliers are essential steps to manage risk. Businesses considering transactions or valuation activities must also assess the potential impact of tariffs on asset impairment, working capital, and M&A strategies. The key takeaway: stay agile, informed, and prepared to pivot as the global trade landscape continues to shift. Check out the full recording and presentation here.

Navigating Tax Uncertainty Under the New Tariff Environment

Tariffs proposed by the Trump administration and the likely retaliation from trading partners have disrupted the global trading system that has underpinned the global economy for more than 60 years. Tariffs of uncertain magnitude and duration will increase international tax and transfer pricing challenges for many multinationals.

While continued uncertainty around tariffs makes it challenging for enterprises to determine the degree of supply chain changes, companies should still be prepared to respond to the reality of a high-tariff environment.

Continued uncertainty around tariffs may make it impractical to implement significant supply chain changes. Until there is more certainty regarding the long-term tariff and trade environment, you must still consider how to respond should a high-tariff environment become a reality.

Current tariffs are extremely broad, but generally, there is nuance in the rules, resulting in goods being either subject to tariffs or to exemptions.

• Source materials: Tariffs are applied to the value of the goods. Are there full or partial exemptions that apply to imported goods? How much of your underlying materials are U.S.-sourced?
• Transfer pricing: Do your existing transfer pricing policies and agreements cover how changing tariff costs are borne by the transacting parties? Will all additional costs simply be passed on to customers? Do internal and third-party policies need to be adjusted?
• Supply chains: Can supply chains be rerouted without negative knock-on tax effects or impact to operations? Consider moving production to a country with a more preferable tariff relationship with the U.S.
• Cost of goods sold (COGS): Are there any other non-product costs embedded in COGS that could be separate transactions, e.g., charges for IP not required to be part of COGS, service charges and management fees?
• Tech stack capabilities: Are existing ERP systems robust enough to handle multiple changes to inventory, COGS, pricing and standard costing that will result from changing tariffs?

Get the help you need with international tax, transfer pricing and strategy consulting services to get a holistic view of your supply chain as well as strategies for mitigating the impact of tariffs.