What a mail entry costs

The parts of the cost

Duty at the HTSUS rate

Each item has a 10-digit HTSUS number and a duty rate. For a rate in percent, the duty is the value times the rate. A specific rate uses the quantity or the weight.

Executive Order 14324 suspended duty-free de minimis treatment for all countries from August 29, 2025. A low-value parcel can owe duty. The suspension does not affect the bona fide gift exemption (19 CFR 10.152).

Chapter 99 duties

Section 232, 201 and 301 duties are in HTSUS chapter 99. When a chapter 99 provision applies, the entry reports its number with the regular HTSUS number of the item, and its duty adds to the regular duty. In the example below, the entry reports a chapter 99 line with no additional duty.

From October 22, 2026, mail with chapter 98 or 99 duties needs formal entry or entry type 13. See what changes for mail on October 22, 2026.

Merchandise processing fee (MPF)

The rule in 19 CFR 24.23(c)(1)(v) exempts mail from the MPF, except EMS items that are formally entered. In practice, ACE rejected a formal parcel-post entry that we filed in September 2026 without the MPF (error 633, "FORMAL MPF REQUIRED-ARTICLE NOT EXEMPT"), and accepted it with the fee. Plan for the MPF on a formal mail entry: 0.3464% of the value, with a minimum and a maximum that CBP adjusts every fiscal year. We give the current figures on your quote.

The postal informal entry does not pay MPF. The interim final rule of June 24, 2026 states that postal informal entries are exempt (19 CFR 24.23(c)(1)(v)).

Other fees

Other fees apply to some goods. In the example below, the entry paid a cotton fee of $0.07.

The customs bond

Every route needs a bond. The postal informal entry and entry type 13 need a basic importation and entry bond, single transaction or continuous (19 CFR 113.62, 145.15). A formal entry also needs a single transaction or continuous bond. We tell you on the quote which bond covers your parcel.

The broker fee

Allied's fees for a typical mail entry are $150 to $250. A parcel that needs other-agency data or many product lines can cost more. The written quote gives the exact figure. It also tells you what we need for your parcel, for example an EIN or SSN, and a CBP Form 5106 for a first-time importer.

How and when you pay

• Allied invoices are due before filing.
• Pay by card up to $2,000 at alliedchb.com/pay.
• Above $2,000, pay by bank transfer: ACH, wire or Zelle.

For a postal informal entry, the filer pays CBP through Pay.gov no later than the 7th day of the month after arrival.

Worked example: sport apparel from Germany

A parcel of sport apparel from Germany arrived at the CBP mail facility at JFK. The entered value was $4,477, over the $2,500 limit for informal mail entry, so the parcel needed a formal entry. The notice was dated September 18, 2026. Allied received the documents on the evening of September 21. On September 22, the client signed the power of attorney and paid the duty, and Allied filed the entry. CBP released the parcel the same day.

Postage was not dutiable. When the invoice shows postage separately, it is not part of the dutiable value. 19 U.S.C. 1401a(b)(4)(A) excludes the costs of transportation, insurance and related services incident to the international shipment from the price actually paid or payable.

The table shows the amounts paid to CBP. The broker fee and the bond are separate, and the quote lists them.