You may have heard about some changes to customs requirements for goods being imported to the USA, including that goods valued at $800 or less will no longer be exempt from import duties and taxes from Friday 29 August 2025.
Whether you’re mailing a gift to friends or family, or you run a small business serving customers in the USA, you’ll still be able to send your items to the USA. From Thursday 28th August, customers can use our new PDDP (Postal Delivery Duties Paid) service, which meets the new US customs requirements and minimises work for sending customers.
Sending goods to the USA – what’s changing?
On 30th July 2025, the United States Government announced an Executive Order which outlined significant changes to the customs requirements and processes for goods being imported into the USA from 29th August 2025. These changes affect goods entering the USA from any country in the world, including the UK.
Removal of duty-free for low value items – previously, items valued at less than $800 could enter the USA without having to pay customs duties. That’s changing and from 29th August, goods, regardless of value, may now be subject to import tariffs (duties). These duties must be paid by UK senders before items enter our network.
Sending gifts? If you are sending gifts valued at $100 or less, then you won’t have to pay duties on these items. There will be fees to pay in addition to postage. Information about and calculation of these fees will be clearly available wherever you buy your postage.
Sending personal correspondence? If you’re sending cards or letters, which don’t require a customs declaration, you will not have to pay customs duties and you can continue to send these items to the USA online or by visiting the Post Office.
What duties will apply to goods? For goods (or gifts over $100), shipped via Royal Mail PDDP services, duties will be calculated according to the country tariff for the item’s country of origin (where an item was made).
What do you need to know?
We want to help you carry on sending goods and gifts to the USA and keep your costs to a minimum. Postage costs will remain the same for the new PDDP services as they are for the previous equivalent Royal Mail USA services.
There are some administrative fees associated with the new US requirements that will apply to goods and gifts. These fees will be clearly communicated, at the online checkout or at the Post Office, so you’ll know the total amount to pay before you complete your purchase.
