NEW YORK (AP) — A refund system for businesses that paid tariffs which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled President Donald Trump imposed without the constitutional authority to do so is scheduled to launch Monday.


Importers and their brokers will be able to begin claiming refunds through an online portal beginning at 8 a.m., according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency administering the system.


It’s the first step in a complicated process that also might eventually lead to refunds for consumers who were billed for some or all of the tariffs on products shipped to them from outside the United States.


Companies must submit declarations listing the goods on which they collectively put billions of dollars toward the import taxes the court subsequently struck down. If CBP approves a claim, it will take 60-90 days for a refund to be issued, the agency said.


The government expects to process refunds in phases, focusing first on more recent tariff payments. Technical factors and procedural issues could delay an importer’s application, potentially slowing any reimbursements businesses plan to pass on to customers.


Not all taxed imports immediately eligible


Customs and Border Protection said in court filings that over 330,000 importers paid a total of about $166 billion on over 53 million shipments.


However, not all of those orders qualify for the first phase of the refund system, which is limited to cases with estimated tariffs that weren't finalized or those finalized within 80 days.


To receive refunds, importers need to register for the CBP’s electronic payment system. As of April 14, over 56,497 importers had completed registration and were eligible for refunds totaling approximately $127 billion, including interest.


System requires accuracy


Experts warn that the refund process will demand meticulous record-keeping. Meghann Supino, a partner at Ice Miller, advised clients to carefully list all document numbers used with CBP to describe imported goods.


Moreover, Nghi Huynh from Armanino mentioned the significance of having a clear tracking system for submitted claims, as inaccuracies could lead to rejections.


Consumers still waiting


While the refunds will be processed directly to businesses, questions linger about whether these savings will reach consumers. Companies are not obligated to pass on any refunds.


FedEx has stated that they will return tariff refunds to customers when received from the CBP, signifying some hope for end consumers.