March 9, 2026
Mr. Cuellar introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
To provide direct refunds to taxpayers for increased consumer costs attributable to tariffs imposed without congressional authorization.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the American Consumer Tariff Rebate Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution vests exclusively in Congress the authority to lay and collect duties and tariffs.
(2)
Duties imposed pursuant to Presidential action under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) without express congressional authorization resulted in increased consumer prices nationwide.
(3)
The Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Economic Committee have estimated that total consumer costs attributable to such tariffs are approximately $231,350,000,000.
(4)
Congress has a responsibility to provide direct restitution to taxpayers for these unlawful cost increases, and to prioritize working families by excluding very high-income taxpayers and using the resulting savings to increase refunds for taxpayers raising children.
Sec. 3. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Covered tariffs
The term covered tariffs means duties imposed pursuant to Presidential action under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) that were subsequently determined to lack congressional authorization.
(2) Eligible return
The term eligible return means a Federal individual income tax return filed for the most recent taxable year for which sufficient information is available, including returns filed as—
(A)
single;
(B)
married filing jointly;
(C)
married filing separately;
(D)
head of household; or
(E)
qualifying surviving spouse.
(3) Qualified child
The term qualified child has the meaning given in section 24(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
(4) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Treasury or the Secretary’s delegate.
Sec. 4. Establishment of taxpayer rebate
(a) In general
The Secretary shall provide a one-time direct payment to each Eligible Return in accordance with this section.
(b) Income limitation
No payment shall be made under this Act with respect to any return reporting adjusted gross income exceeding $400,000 for the most recent taxable year for which sufficient information is available.
(c) Aggregate limitation
The total amount of payments made under this Act shall not exceed $231,350,000,000.
(d) Determination of base amount
(1)
The Secretary shall determine a Base Amount such that, if payments were made under subsection (e) with respect to all Eligible Returns (without regard to subsection (b)), the total amount of such payments would equal $231,350,000,000.
(2)
In calculating the Base Amount, the Secretary shall calculate such amount by dividing $231,350,000,000 by the sum of—
(A)
the number of Eligible Returns filed as single;
(B)
the number of Eligible Returns filed as married filing separately;
(C)
1.5 multiplied by the number of Eligible Returns filed as head of household; and
(D)
2 multiplied by the sum of—
(i)
the number of Eligible Returns filed as married filing jointly; and
(ii)
the number of Eligible Returns filed as qualifying surviving spouse.
(e) Payment amounts by filing status
Subject to subsection (b), the payment for an Eligible Return shall be—
(1)
in the case of a return filed as single, an amount equal to 100 percent of the Base Amount;
(2)
in the case of a return filed as married filing separately, an amount equal to 100 percent of the Base Amount;
(3)
in the case of a return filed as head of household, an amount equal to 150 percent of the Base Amount;
(4)
in the case of a return filed as married filing jointly, an amount equal to 200 percent of the Base Amount; or
(5)
in the case of a return filed as qualifying surviving spouse, an amount equal to 200 percent of the Base Amount.
Sec. 5. Child bonus funded by high-income exclusion
(a) In general
In addition to any amount paid under section 4, the Secretary shall pay a Child Bonus with respect to any Eligible Return that—
(1)
is not excluded under section 4(b); and
(2)
claims one or more Qualified Children.
(b) Fixed amount
The Child Bonus shall be equal to $125 for each Qualified Child claimed on such return.
(c) Funding and cap
(1) Use of savings
Amounts paid under this section shall be paid solely from amounts not paid due to the income limitation under section 4(b).
(2) Limitation
Total payments under this section, together with total payments under section 4, shall not exceed $231,350,000,000.
(d) Proration authority
If the Secretary determines that the amount available under subsection (c)(1) is insufficient to pay the full Child Bonus amounts specified in subsection (b), the Secretary shall reduce each Child Bonus payment on a pro rata basis so that the aggregate limitation under section 4(c) is not exceeded.
(e) Coordination
The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, disburse the Child Bonus as part of the same payment as the section 4 rebate.
Sec. 6. Method of distribution
(a) Automatic distribution
Payments shall be issued automatically using information available to the Internal Revenue Service.
(b) Means of payment
Payments may be made by—
(1)
direct deposit;
(2)
paper check; or
(3)
prepaid debit card.
(c) Non-filers
The Secretary shall establish a simplified filing procedure for individuals who did not file a return for the most recent taxable year but would otherwise have been eligible to file.
Sec. 7. Administration
(a)
The Secretary may prescribe such guidance, regulations, and procedures as are necessary to carry out this Act.
(b)
The Secretary may round payment amounts to the nearest whole dollar or other administratively practical increment and shall implement such rounding in a manner that does not cause total payments to exceed $231,350,000,000.
Sec. 8. Report to Congress
Not later than 90 days after enactment, and every 60 days thereafter until all payments are distributed, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report detailing—
(1)
the number of payments issued by filing status under section 4;
(2)
the number of returns receiving a Child Bonus and the aggregate number of Qualified Children claimed for purposes of section 5;
(3)
the total amount disbursed under section 4 and under section 5; and
(4)
the remaining unobligated balance, if any, under the $231,350,000,000 aggregate limitation.