Revised U.S. Customs Requirements for Postal Merchandise Destined for the United States w.e.f 23/07/2026

Revised U.S. Customs Requirements for Postal Merchandise Destined for the United States

Office Memorandum dated 22 July 2026

(Summary of Pages 1–4 only; Annexure-A excluded)

Background

• The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has revised customs regulations for international mail shipments. The revised framework:
• Suspends the USD 800 de minimis exemption indefinitely.
• Makes all postal merchandise entering the U.S. subject to customs duties and mandatory customs entry requirements.
• Introduces a new Postal Informal Entry Process for eligible shipments.
• Replaces the earlier flat-duty system with a tariff-based assessment system.
• These instructions apply to all postal merchandise booked for the United States from 23 July 2026 onwards.

Key Changes

1. Mandatory HTSUS Classification

• Every shipment must be classified using the 10-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) code.
• As an interim arrangement up to 26 July 2026, customers may declare the 8-digit ITC (HS) Code.
• From 27 July 2026, booking systems will mandatorily capture the 10-digit HTSUS code.

2. Additional Customs Information Required

Customers must provide:

• Detailed description of goods.
• Country of Origin.
• Special Program Indicator (SPI), wherever applicable.
• Country of Melt and Pour.
• Primary and Secondary Country of Smelt.
• Country of Cast.
• Partner Government Agency (PGA) information, registration numbers, and other regulatory identifiers.
• Any additional information required by CBP.

3. Customs Entry Filing

• Customs entries will be filed through a CBP-licensed U.S. Customs Broker.
• Filing will be based entirely on information provided by the sender.
• Responsibility for incorrect or incomplete declarations rests with the sender.

4. Maximum Value Limit

• Only shipments with FOB value up to USD 2,500 are eligible under the Postal Informal Entry Process.
• Type-13 Informal Entry (Effective 22 October 2026)
• The following categories will require Type-13 Informal Entry or another prescribed customs procedure:
• Items subject to PGA requirements.
• Goods claiming exemptions under HTSUS Chapter 98.
• Goods subject to duties under Chapters 98 or 99.
• Goods claiming Free Trade Agreement (FTA) benefits.

Exporters must provide all required licences, approvals, registrations, and regulatory information.

Sender's Responsibilities

The sender/customer is responsible for:

• Correct product description.
• Tariff classification.
• Declared value.
• Country of Origin.
• Customs declarations and supporting documents.

Any additional customs duties, penalties, fines, or liabilities arising from incorrect declarations will be recoverable from the sender. For e-commerce aggregators, responsibility lies with the aggregator/platform for seller-provided data.

Instructions for Booking Offices

• Before accepting U.S.-bound articles, booking offices must ensure:
• Accurate capture of customs information.
• Complete consignee details (address, postal code, mobile number, email).
• Proper CN22/CN23 customs declarations.
• Collection of applicable customs duties under the DDP arrangement.
• Collection of the prescribed undertaking from senders until HTSUS functionality is implemented.
• Verification of Postal Bill of Export (PBE) and other export documents for commercial consignments.
• Action Required by Circles

Heads of Circles must widely publicize these revised requirements among:

• Exporters
• MSMEs
• ODOP producers
• E-commerce sellers
• Contractual customers
• Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras (DNKs)
• Business Development Units
• Booking offices
• Effective Date

The revised customs requirements are effective immediately and apply to all postal merchandise (including gifts and personal shipments) booked for the United States on or after 23 July 2026.