Consumers Seek Reimbursement for $180 Billion in Tariffs Paid, Suing Companies Like Costco

Americans who paid for President Donald Trump’s tariffs are now seeking reimbursements.

Following a Supreme Court decision that invalidated tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), U.S. companies are now in a position to claim refunds for the approximately $180 billion collected in import taxes. Consequently, consumers who faced increased prices due to these tariffs are demanding their portion of these refunds.

Extensive data, including a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, has shown that U.S. importers bore the brunt of these tariffs, paying up to 90%, with many subsequently passing these higher costs onto American consumers. Goldman Sachs estimated that the tariffs contributed a 0.7% increase to inflation over a ten-month period, with an additional 0.1% price increase anticipated in 2026 due to these levies.

Some U.S. consumers have taken legal action to recover the additional expenses incurred on tariffed goods over the past year, initiating lawsuits against U.S. companies to secure tariff refunds. On Wednesday, Matthew Stockov, a resident of Illinois, filed a lawsuit against Costco, alleging that the retail giant increased prices in response to the tariffs and would unfairly benefit from collecting import tax refunds without returning them to consumers.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Illinois, states that Stockov purchased items such as electronics, food, appliances, household goods, and hygiene products at inflated prices due to the tariffs.

The complaint asserts, “Costco was able to expand margins during the peak of the IEEPA tariff regime by selectively raising prices on tariffed goods. The higher prices consumers paid were a consequence of Costco’s increased cost of importation. Absent the imposition of the unlawful IEEPA tariffs, Costco would not have needed to raise prices on consumers in this way.”

According to the lawsuit, the proposed class action could involve over 100 Costco customers who are allegedly owed more than $5 million in tariff refunds.

Consumers’ fight for tariff refunds

In May 2025, Costco CFO Gary Millerchip informed investors that the company had raised prices on certain non-essential items like flowers due to the tariffs, but maintained stable prices on staple tariffed produce such as bananas.

The complaint references earlier reports citing a Goldman Sachs projection from August 2025, which indicated that consumers had absorbed 22% of the total tariff costs, with this figure projected to rise to 67% by October 2025 as more costs were passed down.

Costco has not yet responded to requests for comment but has indicated plans to pass tariff refunds on to customers. The retailer was among the initial companies to sue the Trump administration before the Supreme Court’s February ruling, aiming to ensure the distribution of tariffs and prevent future uncertainty regarding refund eligibility. In an earnings presentation earlier this month, CEO Ron Vachris stated that the company would return recovered tariff payments to shoppers through price reductions, acknowledging that the “future impact of tariffs remains extremely fluid.”

Consumers are also seeking refunds from companies other than Costco. Last month, a consumer filed a similar lawsuit against EssilorLuxottica, the manufacturer of Ray-Ban sunglasses, claiming entitlement to a tariff refund after the price of one sunglasses model increased from $287 in March 2025 to $304 in May. The plaintiff purchased his sunglasses in August.

In Miami, FedEx customer Matthew Resier initiated a proposed class action lawsuit against the shipping company, alleging that FedEx acted as a “customs broker” by collecting $36 in import taxes and fees on a pair of German shoes shipped to him. FedEx was one of the first of thousands of companies to sue the Trump administration following the Supreme Court’s ruling. FedEx sought a court order compelling Customs and Border Protection to refund the full amount it paid in tariffs, which executives had previously estimated to be close to $1 billion.

The company has stated its intention to refund tariff charges to customers if the government issues refunds.

A spokesperson told the publication in a statement, “Our intent is straightforward: if refunds are issued to FedEx, we will issue refunds to the shippers and consumers who originally bore those charges. When that will happen and the exact process for requesting and issuing refunds will depend in part on future guidance from the government and the court.”

EssilorLuxottica has not responded to requests for comment.

Will American consumers see tariff refunds at all?

Other companies have been transparent about their plans to provide refunds to customers. Cards Against Humanity, a game manufacturer that primarily produces its products in China, announced that following the ruling, it would transfer recovered tariff charges back to its customers, requesting they complete an online form with proof of purchase during the tariff period.

The company stated in an online post, “When the Trump Administration gives us our tariff refund, we won’t keep it. We’ll give 100% of the money back to you, our loyal customers, who actually make our business possible.”

Dame Products, a sexual health and wellness company that collected $70,000 in tariff surcharges from customers last year, plans to return the funds to consumers, according to CEO Alexandra Fine.

However, details regarding how and when the government will distribute these refunds remain unclear. The Supreme Court’s decision did not provide specifics on the refund process, leaving it to lower trade courts to determine the procedure for recovering charges. Judge Richard Eaton of the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled last week that importers were indeed entitled to tariff refunds.

Trump has previously indicated his opposition to the refunds, and court proceedings could take years. Supply chain experts estimate the process might take 12 to 18 months.

Meanwhile, the tariff revenue held in the U.S. Treasury is accumulating interest due to federal regulations. A Cato Institute report this month indicates that the refunds are generating $700 million in interest monthly, which will also be distributed to 130 million American taxpaying households.

Cards Against Humanity acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the refund timeline, humorously stating, “Unfortunately, not even God Himself knows how long that will take.”