New Postal Informal Entry Rules Take Effect

Customs and Border Protection’s new process for informal entry of postal shipments took effect on July 24, the same day as the new Section 301 tariffs that the Trump administration imposed.

This is not a coincidence: CBP’s new customs rules on merchandise imported by mail and valued at $2500 or less were established to ensure duty parity on postal and commercial shipments. Under the previous temporary process, postal shipments paid only the Section 122 tariffs, which expired on July 24, and no other applicable tariffs. Now, with this new interim process, postal shipments pay all the same tariffs as commercial shipments.

CBP’s interim final rule establishes new criteria for mail imports valued at $2,500 or less, including new data requirements, such as the 10-digit HTSUS code and a tracking number, as well as restrictions on the parties that can make entry (owner/purchaser or a licensed customs broker). The new rules also establish bonding requirements for informal entry.

This new interim process remains a manual process with the broker relying on a spreadsheet for entry data. But CBP officers will no longer manually prepare entry forms for these shipments. However, CBP has also issued notice of a test of a new electronic informal entry process for mail called Entry Type 13. The test began in CERT process on July 24 (a test of the test, so to speak) and the test will begin in production mode on September 22. From October 22, 2026, any merchandise subject to Partner Government Agency (PGA) requirements or for which duty-free treatment is claimed under Chapters 98 and 99 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule or do to a free trade agreement will have to use Entry Type 13 or formal entry.

See more on CBP’s Frequently Asked Questions page and on its Cargo System Messaging Service site, which includes guidance on the new rules.