Exporting to the US? Be aware of the duty-free threshold changes

If you ship to the United States, there’s an important change coming that could affect your day-to-day mailing and shipping operations.

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On 30 July, the United States Government announced an Executive Order which outlines changes to customs obligations and processes for goods being imported into the USA. These changes affect all customers and carriers who export goods to the USA and are expected to become effective on 29 August 2025.

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As your trusted mail and parcel management partner, UK Postbox wants to ensure you’re fully informed and prepared.

What’s changing to US exports from the UK?

Before 29 August:

Items valued at $800 or less (the ‘de minimis’ duties threshold) are able to be sent to the USA without import duties.
This was an affordable way for UK businesses to sell low-value items into the USA market

From 29 August 2025:

No more ‘de minimis’ exemption.
Courier shipments (UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.) will be charged based on US. tariff rates for the item’s value and origin.

Who does this affect?

Thousands of users trust UK Postbox to provide them with domestic, international and online post and parcel services. The following in particular could be affected by these changes:

How can you prepare?

From 29 August customs duties need to be paid for export items travelling to the USA. To continue to export goods to the USA, you will need to:

Review US order costs - Consider how to calculate the duty/duties payable on each item. You may want to consider doing this by integrating a 'landed cost calculator' at your online checkout to calculate 'landed cost' (taxes and duties). Landed cost calculators can also collect those taxes and duties.
Organise product details - Capture essential electronic product data at item level, including:
- Country of Origin
- Value of goods/product costs
- Harmonized System (HS) codes‍
‍Communicate with customers - Decide how you will account for these duties with your customers. Then, add clear notices to your website and order methods so that US customers understand the change. ‍
Combine shipping options - Using a mix of postal and courier options may reduce costs depending on your product category. ‍
Offer larger orders - Could you encourage customers to place larger orders? It would make the duties more acceptable. When doing so, find ways to offer greater value to your customers.

Do you use Royal Mail?

Royal Mail is launching the Postal Delivered Duties Paid (PDDP) service. It’s working closely with US authorities and international partners to manage the impact of these changes which will affect everyone who sends goods to the USA.

Royal Mail will introduce a PDDP (Postal Delivered Duties Paid) service for account customers to use when exporting to the USA.
This is an extension of Royal Mail PDDP services, which are currently in use to some EU destinations which will allow continued 'postal clearance' into the USA with the same labelling, tracking and customer notifications. This will replace existing services and support compliance with the new requirements.
Its shipping platforms will be updated to capture necessary data to comply with the new requirements (much of which you already provide).
Royal Mail will make the codes for the replacement USA PDDP service available to US export customer account/s before the customs changes come into effect.

Further information‍

Additional guidance on US customs

Please note that the Basic Importing and Exporting page on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website provides additional guidance on importing, exporting, processing and duties, taxes & fees.

Why Use UK Postbox to Minimise US Trade Tariffs?

UK Postbox is uniquely prepared to help you and your business minimise the impact of the US trade tariffs. Whether you are shopping for yourself and could benefit from our Shop & Ship service, or your business trades across the world, UK Postbox will have a service suitable for your needs. See our US Trade Tariffs blog for more information.