Donald Trump's administration has paid back $100bn (£78bn) in 'Liberation Day' tariff refunds to businesses through US customs officials, according to a BBC Business report published August 5, 2026. The repayments account for roughly 60% of all tariff revenue collected by the government under the policy, according to a recent court filing from US Customs and Border Protection.
Refund totals and the payments pipeline
The $100bn returned to importers represents roughly 60% of all tariff revenue collected under the policy, the US Customs and Border Protection court filing shows. Nearly $29bn in potential refunds is undergoing review by trade authorities, while another $1.6bn remains stuck because importers have not yet supplied their banking details, according to BBC Business.
| Refund category | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Repaid to businesses | $100bn (£78bn) | Paid through US customs officials |
| Under trade-authority review | Nearly $29bn | Review by trade authorities ongoing |
| Awaiting importer banking details | $1.6bn | Held pending bank details |
The overall tariffs payout is expected to rise further as US Customs continue to review pending claims and importers update their banking details.
Legal backdrop: the February Supreme Court ruling
The repayments follow a major Supreme Court decision in February, in which judges ruled that broad import tariffs introduced under economic powers were unlawful, BBC Business reported. The White House had cited the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a 1977 law that gives the president power to 'regulate' trade in response to an emergency. The tariffs sparked outcry at home and abroad from firms facing an abrupt rise in taxes on shipments entering the US, and fuelled worries that the levies would lead to higher prices.
Amazon's $600m refund
Since the Supreme Court decision, several major American corporations have already claimed large sums back, according to BBC Business. Amazon received approximately $600m in refunds during the second quarter, according to finance chief Brian Olsavsky. Olsavsky said on the company's second quarter earnings call that Amazon would pass some money back to customers where specific charges were applied, and the remaining funds would be used to support lower store prices.
Payout outlook for importers
The overall tariffs payout is expected to rise further as US Customs continue to review pending claims and importers update their banking details, the report said. For importers and customs brokers, the split between paid, under-review and blocked claims defines the current refund environment: $100bn has moved back to businesses, $29bn is in the review pipeline, and $1.6bn is held on missing bank details. Amazon's decision to pass part of its $600m refund to customers and to fund lower store prices also signals how returned tariff revenue is flowing through corporate balance sheets, according to Olsavsky's remarks on the earnings call.
All three figures — $100bn paid, $29bn under review and $1.6bn awaiting banking details — come from the US Customs and Border Protection court filing cited by BBC Business, with the £78bn conversion supplied for the $100bn repayment. The February Supreme Court decision and the 1977 IEEPA are the legal landmarks around which the refund programme has been built, according to the report.
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