Imminent US Deadlines for Low-Value Parcels: CBP's Entry Type 13 Test from 22 September and a Per-Parcel Postal Fee by 1 November 2026

If you ship low-value parcels to the United States — direct-to-consumer e-commerce, samples, small B2B orders — two dates are about to bite. The US has already ended its $800 de minimis duty-free exemption for most imports, so individual low-value parcels no longer enter duty-free. Now two operational deadlines follow: US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) opens a voluntary Entry Type 13 test for international mail shipments up to $2,500 from 22 September 2026, and a per-parcel handling fee on low-value postal items is scheduled to take effect no later than 1 November 2026. For India-to-USA exporters and their forwarders, this is a now-problem, not a later-problem.

What Happened

The long-standing US de minimis exemption, which let parcels under $800 enter duty-free, has been withdrawn for essentially all countries. To handle the resulting flood of formal and informal entries, CBP is running a voluntary Entry Type 13 test from 22 September 2026 for international mail shipments valued up to $2,500, giving the trade a pathway to lodge entry data for mail parcels. Separately, a per-parcel handling fee for low-value postal shipments is due to come into force by 1 November 2026. These sit on top of any applicable duties and tariffs that now attach to low-value shipments since the de minimis suspension.

Why It Matters

The economics of low-value e-commerce into the US have changed. A parcel that used to clear duty-free now attracts duty, and soon a per-parcel postal fee as well. That erodes margins on cheap, high-volume items and raises the landed cost your US customer sees. Just as important, the data and entry burden rises: parcels that once moved on minimal information now need proper classification, valuation and entry handling. Exporters who do not adapt risk parcels being delayed, returned, or hit with unexpected charges at the door — and unhappy US buyers.

Who's Affected

India-to-USA sellers shipping direct to consumers via postal and courier channels are most exposed, along with the freight forwarders, express carriers and postal operators who move their parcels. Marketplaces and their Indian sellers who built US pricing around duty-free entry will feel the margin squeeze. Larger exporters shipping in bulk are less directly hit, but anyone using postal or low-value channels for the US should reassess.

What Exporters and Forwarders Should Do Now

• Reprice for landed cost. Rebuild US pricing to include applicable duty and the coming per-parcel postal fee, so margins and customer-facing prices reflect reality.
• Get classification and valuation right on every parcel. Accurate HS codes and honest declared values are now essential to avoid delays, penalties and re-delivery of returned goods.
• Talk to your carrier and postal operator about the 1 November fee. Confirm who collects it, how it is passed on, and how it appears to your customer.
• Evaluate consolidation and formal-entry options. For higher volumes, bulk shipment with a formal customs entry may beat per-parcel postal economics once the fee applies.
• Decide your Incoterm and duty model deliberately. Whether you sell DDP (you bear duty and fees) or DDU/DAP (the customer pays on delivery) now materially shapes the buyer's experience — choose and communicate it clearly.
• Watch CBP guidance on the Entry Type 13 test if you or your carrier will use the mail-entry pathway.

The Bigger Picture

The end of de minimis in the US — mirrored by the EU scrapping its €150 duty exemption from 1 July 2026 — marks a structural shift for cross-border e-commerce out of India. The era of frictionless, duty-free micro-parcels into major Western markets is closing. The winners will be exporters who treat every parcel as a proper customs entry: correct codes, correct values, clear duty responsibility, and pricing that reflects the true landed cost. The losers will be those who keep shipping on old assumptions and discover the new costs at the customer's doorstep.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the $800 de minimis completely gone? The duty-free de minimis treatment has been suspended for essentially all countries, so low-value parcels no longer enter the US duty-free as a matter of course. Verify the current position for your specific goods and channel.

What is Entry Type 13? It is a CBP entry pathway being tested, on a voluntary basis from 22 September 2026, for international mail shipments valued up to $2,500 — a way to lodge entry data for mail parcels.

How much is the per-parcel postal fee? A per-parcel handling fee on low-value postal items is scheduled to take effect by 1 November 2026. Confirm the exact amount and collection mechanism with your carrier or postal operator, as these are operational details that can change.

Should I switch from postal to formal bulk entries? For higher volumes it may be more economical to consolidate and file a formal customs entry rather than pay per-parcel postal fees. Run the numbers for your product and volume.

Conclusion

These deadlines are close. Reprice for the new landed cost, tighten your parcel data, and settle with your carrier who pays the 1 November fee and how — before your next US-bound batch ships. The exporters who move first will protect both their margins and their US customer experience.

This is a general summary for information only and is not legal or customs advice. Verify current requirements, dates and fee amounts on the official U.S. Customs and Border Protection portal at cbp.gov before acting.