NC AG Seeks Refunds for Unlawful Tariffs

NC AG Press Releases

Published March 25th, 2026

Detected March 27th, 2026

Summary

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson is urging Congress to pass legislation requiring the refund of approximately $3.5 billion in costs incurred by North Carolina businesses and consumers due to unlawful tariffs. The call follows a Supreme Court ruling that found the tariffs illegal under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

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What changed

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson is calling on Congress to enact legislation that would mandate the refund of approximately $3.5 billion in costs borne by North Carolina businesses and consumers due to tariffs that were recently ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court. The letter, co-signed by 17 other state attorneys general, highlights that these tariffs, imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), resulted in significant financial burdens on businesses and consumers nationwide, totaling an estimated $166 billion. The attorneys general are pushing for a fair, uniform, and expedited process for importers to receive refunds with interest, as the current proposed refund mechanism by U.S. Customs and Border Protection is seen as overly burdensome.

Regulated entities, particularly importers, should monitor legislative developments regarding this refund process. While the Supreme Court has ruled the tariffs unlawful, the mechanism for reimbursement is still under discussion, and the attorneys general are advocating for Congressional action. Businesses that passed tariff costs to consumers are also being urged to reimburse their customers. Compliance officers should be prepared for potential new directives or requirements related to refund requests and consumer reimbursements once legislation is enacted.

What to do next

Monitor legislative developments regarding tariff refund legislation.
Prepare for potential new directives on refund requests and consumer reimbursements.

Source document (simplified)

Attorney General Jeff Jackson Calls for Tariff Refunds

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Contact: comms@ncdoj.gov
919-538-2809

RALEIGH – After the Supreme Court ruled the federal government’s tariffs unlawful last month, Attorney General Jeff Jackson is calling on Congress to refund businesses and consumers for increased costs. Those tariffs imposed $3.5 billion in costs on North Carolina businesses and consumers.

“North Carolina’s businesses and families paid $3.5 billion for tariffs that a court has now ruled were illegal,” said Attorney General Jeff Jackson. “That money came straight out of people’s grocery bills and small business budgets. The administration told the court it would pay people back, and now they need to do it.”

Businesses and consumers nationwide have paid approximately $166 billion in unlawful International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs. Attorney General Jackson is asking Congress to pass legislation requiring the presidential administration to reimburse importers for these illegal tariff charges, with interest. The administration repeatedly committed in court filings to refunding this money if the IEEPA tariffs were ruled unlawful. The attorneys general are also asking Congress to direct businesses that passed along tariff costs to consumers to reimburse their customers who ultimately bore the financial burden.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) keeps a record of every IEEPA tariff paid by American direct importers, but CBP is trying to place the burden on those 330,000 importers to request refunds. CBP has stated that refunds will only be available via a new direct deposit platform that only six percent of importers are currently registered for. The administration has also suggested that importers may need to navigate multiple refund processes depending on their shipment’s status. Attorney General Jackson and the coalition are pushing for new legislation to create a fair, uniform, and fast process for all affected importers to get refunds.

Joining Attorney General Jackson in sending this letter are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.

A copy of the letter is available here.

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