Sending items to the USA?

Since 29 August 2025, parcels destined for the USA, whose contents are valued at $800 or less, have no longer been exempt from import duties and taxes. This has meant that the sender needs to pay customs charges up front in order for items (“Goods”) to be accepted into the USA.

While the above continues to be the case, recent changes in U.S. trade policy mean that import duty arrangements for items entering the United States are being updated. We want to ensure our customers understand what is changing and how it may affect sending items to the USA.

What’s changing?

• IEEPA Tariffs Ending: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has confirmed that tariffs previously charged under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) will stop being collected from 12:00 a.m. EST on 24 February 2026.
• New Section 122 Surcharge: From 12:01 a.m. EST on the same day, these former IEEPA tariffs will be replaced by a new 10% global surcharge, introduced under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. This change takes effect immediately and applies to all imported goods.
  The U.S. administration has indicated it may raise this rate to 15%, although this has not yet been formalised and CBP guidance is still to follow.
• De Minimis Rules: Duty free de minimis treatment remains suspended. This means all goods entering the USA—regardless of value—continue to be subject to duties and customs controls under a standalone executive authority.

 
What This Means for Your Shipments:

• The shift from IEEPA tariffs to the new Section 122 surcharge took place overnight, with no transition period for parcels already in transit.
• Duty and tax calculations used by Royal Mail and our partners have been updated to reflect the changes.

 
How to ensure your items continue to move smoothly through U.S. customs:

• Provide complete and accurate electronic customs data with every item.
• Check HS codes to ensure correct classification.
• Collect appropriate duties at check out (where applicable) for goods bound for the USA.
• Allow additional time for processing while U.S. authorities finalise system updates.

We will continue to monitor developments closely and will update this page as soon as further guidance is received from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Information about our PDDP services to the USA

Royal Mail has USA PDDP services and customers are able to choose from Tracked, and Standard service options.

• Familiar experience - labelling, tracking, and notifications.
• Available on send.royalmail.com/send and in all UK Post Offices. A small service fee will apply.
• Data requirements - electronic data submission remains largely unchanged, so you can continue using current data entry processes with confidence.
• Simple customs clearance – the service will provide Royal Mail shipping, calculation and payment of actual duties to US CBP which will enable your items to pass through US customs.
• Transparent Pricing - we’ll display all postage, duties and handling fees, so you know exactly what charges are due are for each item.
   

Using our PDDP services to the USA

Sending customers are responsible for understanding the latest shipping and customs requirements and accounting for any duties required for the items they are sending. Royal Mail will continue to provide shipping, calculation and payment of actual duties to the US authorities, enabling items to pass through US customs.