Shaheen calls on the Trump Administration to put in place an automatic, streamlined tariff refund process that provides real relief to small businesses and families in New Hampshire and nationwide.
Will advocate for an automatic and swift tariff tax refund process to provide relief for small businesses and families.
Occurrences
They called for an automatic tariff refund process that does not create additional burdens for American small businesses and families. The lawmakers criticized the Trump administration's proposed refund process, the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) system, for placing unnecessary burdens on small businesses and individual importers. They urged the administration to utilize existing CBP records to automatically refund small businesses instead of requiring them to opt-in.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, along with Senators Wyden and Markey, introduced the Tariff Refund Act of 2026. This legislation requires full refunds of tariffs deemed illegal by the Supreme Court, with interest, to be issued within 180 days. The bill directs U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to prioritize small businesses in the refund process and to coordinate with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide information and technical support. It also mandates that importers are not required to take costly administrative steps to receive refunds.
led several Senate Democrats in calling on the Trump Administration to put in place an automatic, streamlined tariff refund process that provides real relief to small businesses and families in New Hampshire and nationwide.
Evidence
On March 27, 2026, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, along with Senators Markey and Wyden, led a group of Senate Democrats in writing to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney S. Scott. They called for an automatic tariff refund process that does not create additional burdens for American small businesses and families. The lawmakers criticized the Trump administration's proposed refund process, the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) system, for placing unnecessary burdens on small businesses and individual importers. They urged the administration to utilize existing CBP records to automatically refund small businesses instead of requiring them to opt-in.
On February 24, 2026, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, along with Senators Wyden and Markey, introduced the Tariff Refund Act of 2026. This legislation requires full refunds of tariffs deemed illegal by the Supreme Court, with interest, to be issued within 180 days. The bill directs U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to prioritize small businesses in the refund process and to coordinate with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide information and technical support. It also mandates that importers are not required to take costly administrative steps to receive refunds.
Shaheen said the Speedy Tariff Refund Act "would require that Customs pay refunds automatically within thirty days," uses information CBP already has, and prioritizes refunds to small businesses. The same post says Senate Republicans blocked her attempt to pass the bill by unanimous consent and that CBP's CAPE system "disadvantages small businesses" and "took two months to roll out a partial refund system."
The bill text states that CBP "must pay refunds" of unlawfully collected IEEPA duties, that refunds should be processed "as swiftly as possible" without extra requirements that disproportionately hinder individuals and small businesses, and that the commissioner shall refund duties within 180 days after enactment.
Assessments
The promise was framed as advocacy for an automatic and swift tariff refund process, not a guarantee that the refund system would be enacted. During the same federal Senate term, Shaheen co-introduced the Tariff Refund Act of 2026, co-led a CBP letter urging automatic refunds using existing records, and attempted to advance related legislation by unanimous consent. Although the policy outcome was blocked and not fully implemented, her promised advocacy was materially carried out.
Senator Shaheen actively advocated for an automatic and swift tariff refund process for small businesses and families. She co-led a Senate letter to CBP pushing for automatic refunds without additional burden, and co-introduced legislation (Tariff Refund Act of 2026) to require such refunds and prioritize small businesses. However, there is no evidence provided that these efforts resulted in the implementation of the policy or led to an actual change in administrative or legislative outcomes. Thus, the promise was not delivered, but serious legislative and advocacy efforts were made.