US Import Duty Rule Changes
29 August 2025 | Editor's Pick | Most Popular | Parcel Deliveries
Author: Parcel2Go.com
Why UK Shippers Should Use DDP
From August 29th, 2025, most parcels sent to the United States will be subject to duties and taxes. This is due to a new Executive Order that suspended the long-standing de minimis exemption, which previously allowed shipments under $800 to enter the US duty-free.
However, there are a few exceptions:
Gifts: Parcels sent from one individual to another, declared as “gift”, with a value of up to $100, remain duty-free, though they are now subject to stricter customs checks.
Documents: The rules do not affect the shipping of documents in letters.
All other shipments - Parcels valued over $100, as well as commercial imports, will be charged duties and taxes at the applicable U.S. customs rates.
While this may sound like a setback, there’s a simple solution: Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) services.
Why Choose DDP Services?
To make your shipments to the US as smooth as possible under the new rules, we recommend choosing services with Delivered Duty Paid (DDP). DDP services are the quickest and easiest way to send to the US, speeding up customs clearance as the shipper pays for all duties and taxes before the parcel is sent.
Here are some of our most popular DDP options, starting from just £9.11 - with exclusive lower prices available through Smart Send.
Benefits of DDP Services:
No hidden costs - duties and taxes are paid up front
Faster customs clearance - parcels move through smoothly
Fewer delays - less chance of items being held at the border
If you send without DDP, your recipient may be contacted by US Customs to pay fees before the parcel is released - leading to delays and returns.
To avoid delays and unhappy recipients, always look out for the ‘DDP’ tag when booking your US shipments with Parcel2Go.
Service | Price |
|---|---|
UPS Access Point™ | From £20.69* |
UPS Express Saver® | From £22.69** |
FedEx International Connect Plus | From £19.30 |
FedEx International Connect Plus Drop Off | From £17.59 |
UPS Express® | From £36.26 |
FedEx International Economy® DropOff | From £28.45 |
FedEx International Priority® DropOff | From £29.55 |
FedEx International Economy® | From £31.55 |
FedEx International Priority® | From £33.79 |
Evri Standard Collection | From £9.61 |
Evri Standard Parcelshop | From £9.11 |
*UPS Access Point™ - £17.99 Exclusive to Smart Send
**UPS Express Saver® - £19.99 Exclusive to Smart Send
DDP Services for Small Business
With Delivered Duty Paid, you can keep deliveries seamless while keeping your customers happy.
And with Smart Send, you’ll unlock exclusive rates from some of the world’s most trusted couriers - so your parcels are handled with care and delivered fast.
Best of all, Smart Send is 100% free to use, giving you access to:
Effortless integration with top marketplaces like TikTok, eBay, and Amazon
Automated rules to apply the right services to your sold items - speeding up bookings
End-to-end tracking with accurate updates at every stage
Special discounted rates on selected DDP services such as UPS Access Point™ & UPS Express Saver®
Ship smarter. Save more. And keep your customers coming back.
