Under the wave of tax refunds, the Trump administration: application to delay the start of the refund process by about 4 months

After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Trump's tariff policy was illegal, an unprecedented tax refund game is unfolding. The Trump administration acknowledges that the refund process is likely to start, but at the same time, it is applying to delay the process by about four months, trying to buy time for policy responses. According to CCTV News on February 27, within days of the Supreme Court's ruling, over 100 companies have filed new lawsuits demanding the government refund the tariffs paid, bringing the total number of related lawsuits to over 2,000. As previously reported by Wall Street Watch, several listed companies and well-known brands have joined in, and industry insiders believe that the participation of large enterprises like FedEx and Costco has somewhat alleviated other companies' concerns about retaliation from the White House. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on February 27 requested the court to delay the start of the refund process by about four months. The DOJ emphasized that the Supreme Court did not provide detailed guidance on subsequent handling paths, and the complexity of the process requires "cautious advancement rather than hasty action." DOJ applies for a two-phase delay, totaling about four months According to the DOJ's application, the delay will be implemented in two steps: first, waiting for the Supreme Court's ruling to officially take effect, which typically takes 32 days; then an additional 90-day buffer period to "give political departments the opportunity to consider various options." In total, the start time of the refund process will be delayed by about four months. The DOJ also criticized some companies for trying to quickly restart refund lawsuits in the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT), stating that their lawyers are seeking to expedite the schedule merely out of a "clear desire to become the focus of the process." The DOJ wrote in its documents: "The complexity of future procedures requires an appropriately cautious process, rather than a reckless rush." The DOJ also cited the 1998 large-scale tax refund case related to port maintenance as a precedent—at that time, U.S. importers won a $730 million refund judgment in the CIT, but the government took years to complete the disbursement of all funds. The DOJ emphasized that the amount involved in the Trump tariff case far exceeds that of the aforementioned case, making it more difficult to handle. Democrats propose legislation requiring refunds to be completed within 180 days with interest Following the Supreme Court's ruling, Senate Democrats quickly introduced a legislative proposal to promote the implementation of refunds through institutional means. The bill, led by Senators Ron Wyden, Edward Markey, and Jeanne Shaheen, has garnered support from 22 Senate Democrats, requiring the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to complete refunds within 180 days and pay interest on the refund amounts. According to the data cited by the senators, tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act have brought approximately $175 billion in revenue to the U.S. Treasury. Wyden stated in a press release: "Trump's illegal tax scheme has caused lasting harm to American families, small businesses, and manufacturers, and helping those who need it most to get their money back as soon as possible is a crucial first step." Trump Opposes Ruling, Dissenting Justice Warns of Fiscal Impact Regarding the Supreme Court ruling, Trump posted on Truth Social earlier on February 27, using strong language. He wrote: "Countries and companies that have taken advantage of America for decades can now receive an unprecedented 'windfall' from this extremely disappointing ruling, which makes no sense. Is there a possibility for a rehearing or a new ruling in this case?" Although Trump stated he would explore options for requesting a rehearing, the Department of Justice did not explicitly indicate plans to petition the Supreme Court for a rehearing in its February 27 filing. Concerning the potential impact of refunds, dissenting Justice Brett Kavanaugh echoed this in his dissenting opinion. He wrote: "Refunding billions of dollars will have a significant impact on the U.S. Treasury," noting that the court made "no mention" of how the government should refund amounts collected from importers and acknowledged that this process "is likely to be a mess." Risk Warning and Disclaimer The market has risks, and investment should be cautious. This article does not constitute personal investment advice and does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation, or needs of individual users. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions in this article are suitable for their specific circumstances. Investment based on this is at their own risk