Shipping by post to the US after de minimis
Updated · Rotomal
Since 24 July 2026, goods mailed to the US no longer qualify for the $800 de minimis exemption. Parcels worth $2,500 or less can use CBP's postal informal entry: the owner or purchaser, or a licensed customs broker they designate, holds a customs bond, emails CBP a monthly spreadsheet listing every parcel with its 10-digit HTSUS codes, origin, value and duty, and pays through Pay.gov by the 7th of the following month. From 20 January 2027, parcels with Section 201, 232 or 301 duties or agency requirements must be filed as Entry Type 13 or formal entry.
Timeline
| Date | What changed |
|---|---|
| 30 Jul 2025 | Executive Order 14324 suspends de minimis for most imports; mail moves to an interim process run by carriers and qualified parties |
| 24 Jun 2026 | CBP rule indefinitely suspends de minimis for mail and creates the postal informal entry |
| 24 Jul 2026 | New postal informal entry process takes effect and replaces the interim guidance |
| 22 Sep 2026 | Voluntary test of electronic Entry Type 13 for mail begins |
| 20 Jan 2027 | Entry Type 13 or formal entry becomes mandatory for mail with Section 201, 232 or 301 duties or agency rules (moved from 22 Oct 2026) |
| 1 Jul 2027 | De minimis ends by statute under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act |
What the monthly worksheet contains
- Filer code and bond number
- Description of the goods and country of origin
- All applicable 10-digit HTSUS codes
- Quantity or weight, only where a specific duty rate applies
- Duty rate, value and total duty owed
- Carrier, flight or conveyance number and the tracking number generated by the foreign post
- Arrival port and arrival date
CBP asks for the file as Excel or CSV, named [Filer Code] [Month] [Year]_Payment, sent by email by the 7th of the month after the parcels arrived. Payment goes through the Pay.gov International Mail Duties form by the same date.
Steps before your first month
- Decide who files: you as owner or purchaser, or a licensed customs broker.
- Get a basic importation and entry bond from a surety and make sure it is on file in ACE eBond before parcels arrive.
- Request access to the International Mail Duty worksheet in Pay.gov through CBP's mail duty help address.
- Classify every product to 10-digit HTSUS codes and record its country of origin.
- Collect tracking numbers and arrival dates for every US parcel during the month.
If you want help
Mailroll suggests codes for your catalog and organizes your order and shipping exports into a parcel-by-parcel register each month, for you or your broker to check and use. Every plan starts with an eligibility check on 20 products, from $29 a month. It is record organization, not customs brokerage or legal advice: you or your licensed broker prepare and file the worksheet.
Questions
What happens if I pay late?
CBP charges interest on duty not received by the 7th of the month after arrival, may set unpaid debts off against refunds, and may suspend immediate release privileges.
Do parcels over $2,500 use this process?
No. Shipments over $2,500, or subject to quota or antidumping and countervailing duties, must be formally entered.
Sources
- Federal Register: Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Mail Shipments and New Postal Informal Entry Process (24 June 2026) Source: govinfo.gov
- CBP: Updated Global Guidance for International Mail (6 July 2026) Source: content.govdelivery.com
- CBP: International Mail Entry Type 13 mandatory date extended to 20 January 2027 (14 October 2026) Source: content.govdelivery.com