New CBP Mail Shipment Requirements Take Effect July 24
New CBP mail shipment requirements are coming — and if your business imports goods through international mail, the July 24 effective date is closer than it may seem.
CBP has published an interim final rule requiring additional data for mail shipments valued at $2,500 or less that enter through the agency’s informal entry process. Starting July 24, importers or their brokers must provide a description of the merchandise, all 10-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes, and quantity and weight where those figures affect applicable duties. This information must be submitted by the seventh day of the month following the shipment’s arrival.
Why This Is Happening
The new rule is part of a broader push by the U.S. Administration to bring mail imports under the same scrutiny as other goods entering the United States. The de minimis exemption — which previously allowed low-value shipments to enter with minimal documentation — was eliminated last year. Postal shipments now face duties equal to the current 10% global tariff, and these new data requirements are designed to ensure those duties are actually collected.
CBP estimates the change will generate more than $100 million in additional annual duty revenue.
Who Needs to File — and Who Can
The party submitting the required data must be an owner, purchaser, or a licensed customs broker. Currently, about half of qualified filers are brokers. If you or your foreign postal operator does not already have a broker relationship, you will need to establish one before the rule takes effect. CBP has acknowledged this will take time and has noted it as a compliance burden for affected parties.
An Electronic Entry Test Is Also Coming
Separately, CBP will launch a voluntary test program called Entry Type 13, available from September 22. Open to shipments valued at $2,500 or less, the test allows importers and brokers to submit additional data — including postal tracking numbers and recipient information — electronically. CBP has described it as part of a phased approach to bring mail imports into full parity with all other imported goods.
What This Means for Your Business
If you import through international mail channels and do not currently work with a licensed customs broker, now is the time to act. The new CBP mail shipment requirements leave limited time to identify a broker, establish a relationship, and ensure your data submission process is in place.
Future Forwarding is here to help you navigate these changes. If you have questions about how the new requirements apply to your shipments, reach out to your Future Forwarding representative today.