Duty-free de minimis shipping, the old $800 duty-free entry for low-value parcels, is suspended for 2026. Mail shippers face a January 20, 2027 filing deadline, and a trade court has upheld the cutoff.
U.S. shoppers now pay duties on many small direct imports that once entered free. Sellers must collect those costs, file mail entries, and vet their importer status.
Table of Contents
- What ended for parcels under $800?
- What must mail shippers file and when?
- Will courts restore duty-free entry?
- Who must hold good standing?
- What should shoppers and sellers ask now?
What ended for parcels under $800?
According to the White House, President Trump ended duty-free de minimis treatment for all countries in Executive Order 14324. It applies to goods entered on or after 12:01 a.m. EDT August 29, 2025.
The $800 duty-free entry is gone. The International Compliance Professionals Association tracker says Congress repealed the commercial exception in Section 70531 of Public Law 119-21. The repeal takes effect July 1, 2027. Direct-to-consumer shippers and buyers now face duties on sub-$800 parcels.
What must mail shippers file and when?
Thompson Hine reports CBP issued June 2026 interim final rules for postal imports. The rules keep de minimis suspended for postal-network goods valued at $800 or less. They also create a postal informal-entry process for goods valued at $2,500 or less. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, mandatory use of Entry Type 13 has moved to January 20, 2027 in the agency extension notice.
The prior date was October 22, 2026. The delay gives brokers and carriers time to update systems. CBP states mail procedures do not change before January 20, 2027. Starting that date, listed postal shipments must use electronic Entry Type 13 in ACE. That covers parcels subject to Section 201, 232 or 301 duties or partner-agency review. ACE is CBP's electronic filing system.
Will courts restore duty-free entry?
Troutman Pepper Locke reports the Court of International Trade upheld presidential power to end de minimis in Detroit Axle in the firm case summary. Agency action to carry out the order was ministerial and not reviewable under the Administrative Procedure Act. The suspension stands despite Supreme Court rejection of IEEPA tariffs.
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IEEPA is the emergency-powers tariff law. Readers should plan as if small-parcel duties will continue. Do not count on a court refund for duties paid under the suspension.
Who must hold good standing?
According to the White House, a June 3, 2026 customs-enforcement order tightens importer-of-record eligibility in the enforcement order. An importer of record is the party legally responsible for the import. All such importers must hold good standing within 180 days, about December 1, 2026.
Standing turns on compliance history and payment of liabilities. Small sellers using a broker remain liable for their own record. Ask your broker whether your account shows past-due bills or penalties before December.
What should shoppers and sellers ask now?
Use these checks before you buy or ship a low-value import. They catch surprise fees and mail delays. WorkBoat reports President Trump extended the Jones Act waiver on August 10, 2026 for 90 days to mid-November 2026.
The Jones Act is the law reserving domestic sea transport for U.S. vessels. The extension narrowed relief to voyage-by-voyage approval for foreign-flag coastwise oil shipments.
- What duty rate applies to my sub-$800 parcel and who pays it?
- Will my mail parcel need Entry Type 13 in ACE after January 20, 2027?
- Is my importer-of-record account in good standing for December?
- For coastwise oil moves, do we have voyage-by-voyage approval?
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