If an online order is entering the United States, you may receive a customs bill even when the merchandise is worth $800 or less. Current CBP guidance says duty-free de minimis treatment is suspended for qualifying low-value merchandise arriving by any mode, including international mail, unless a separate exception applies.

The final bill may combine a government duty or tax with a carrier or customs broker service charge. Whether you pay depends mainly on the order's import terms. Look for wording such as “duties and taxes included,” “import charges prepaid,” or “recipient pays on delivery” before placing the order.

This guidance is for U.S. shipments. The amount for a particular product depends on its classification, value, origin, entry method, and carrier.

What a customs bill can include

“Customs fees” is a broad label. An invoice from a carrier may include several different charges:

A shipping charge is not the same as an import charge. “Free shipping” usually describes transportation, not customs clearance. A tax collected at checkout may also be a sales tax or marketplace tax rather than a promise that all import charges have been paid.

The U.S. low-value rule no longer guarantees a fee-free delivery

The White House order continuing the suspension of duty-free de minimis treatment applies the policy to shipments from all countries. CBP says the suspension covers merchandise valued at $800 or less arriving through all modes, including the international postal network, unless the shipment qualifies for a separate exception.

That means:

A commercial purchase also should not be labeled as a personal gift just to avoid charges. CBP describes a bona fide gift as an article formerly owned by the donor and given outright without compensation or a promise of compensation. A new item you bought from a retailer generally should not be treated as that type of gift.

Best practices before placing an international order

1. Check who pays import charges

Read the shipping and payment terms rather than relying on the headline price. Confirm whether the seller is offering:

If the wording is unclear, ask the seller in writing whether your total includes duty, tax, brokerage, and other carrier fees. Save the answer.

2. Check where the goods ship from

A seller's business location and the shipment's dispatch location may not be the same. Ask where the package will enter the United States and, when relevant, what country of origin will appear on the customs paperwork.

The country of origin can affect the tariff treatment. A seller's statement that an item is “from” a particular country may refer only to the seller or warehouse, not where the product was made.

3. Ask for an itemized estimate

Before paying, ask the seller or marketplace:

No seller can guarantee an exact customs bill without the applicable classification and entry details. An itemized estimate is still more useful than a promise that the package is “too small to be charged.”

4. Review the return and refusal policy

If you reject a package because of an unexpected bill, the carrier may return it according to its shipping terms. The seller's refund policy may separately address the merchandise price, shipping, duties, taxes, and brokerage.

Before refusing delivery, ask the seller and carrier what will happen to the package and which charges, if any, are included in a refund. Do not assume that returning the product automatically resolves every import charge.

5. Keep the order records

Save the product page, checkout screen, order confirmation, invoice, shipping terms, tracking number, seller messages, and any customs notice. These records are useful if the amount charged differs from what the seller represented.

How U.S. customs charges are determined

The exact amount is not calculated from the shipping price alone. Customs authorities and the carrier may consider:

USPS explains that HS codes identify goods with six to ten digits and that the United States uses a 10-digit code for classification. Consumers generally should not choose a different code simply because it has a lower rate. The description and classification need to match the actual product.

Do not ask a seller to understate the value, use a vague description, or call a purchase a gift when it is not one. Those choices create a mismatch in the customs record and can delay clearance or make a correction more difficult.

What to do when a carrier asks for payment

  1. Verify the notice. Open the carrier's website directly and enter the tracking number. Avoid paying through an unexpected text message or an unfamiliar link.
  2. Request a breakdown. Ask which amount is duty, tax, brokerage, disbursement, or another charge.
  3. Compare the bill with your order. Check the item, value, origin, recipient, and shipping terms.
  4. Contact the seller if charges were supposed to be prepaid. Send the order confirmation and ask the seller to coordinate with the carrier.
  5. Ask about the deadline. If the shipment is being held, follow the official notice and find out what happens if payment or documents are late.
  6. Avoid duplicate payment. If you already paid import charges at checkout, provide the receipt before paying a second time.

A carrier may collect government charges on behalf of customs while also adding its own service fee. Ask the carrier to identify those amounts separately.

USPS shipments and prepaid import duties

USPS describes prepaid import duties as an advance payment of three components: duties, taxes, and fees. Its eligible Delivered Duty Paid service can let a sender pay those costs before delivery, but availability depends on the destination and mail service. See the USPS prepaid import duties information for the applicable service details.

Completing a customs form does not, by itself, prove that import charges have been prepaid. USPS says international customs forms must contain a clear, specific description of each item, including what it is, what it is made of, and its purpose. “Power drill,” for example, is more useful than a vague description such as “parts” or “gift.”

If the amount appears wrong

Start with the party that controls the disputed information:

For U.S. entries, CBP states that entry may be made by the owner or purchaser, or by a licensed customs broker properly designated by that person. This does not mean every shopper must file an entry personally. It does mean you should understand who is acting for you and avoid authorizing an unknown broker.

A merchant refund, a carrier fee adjustment, and a correction of a customs entry are separate matters. If the seller will not resolve a charge that contradicted the order terms, keep the records and use the marketplace or payment provider's documented complaint process. That process does not automatically cancel a valid customs assessment.

A practical checklist for international online orders

Frequently asked questions

Do I owe customs fees on a package under $800?

You may. CBP's current e-commerce guidance says the suspension of duty-free de minimis treatment applies to merchandise valued at $800 or less arriving by all modes, including international mail, unless a separate exception applies.

Does free shipping include customs fees?

Not necessarily. Free shipping can cover transportation while leaving duties, taxes, and brokerage for the recipient. Look for explicit language stating that import charges are included or prepaid.

Is a carrier's customs fee the same as a tariff?

No. A carrier may collect a government duty or tax and add a separate brokerage, entry, or advance-payment fee. Request an itemized statement.

Can I get customs fees refunded if I return the order?

It depends on the seller's terms, the type of charge, and whether the shipment has cleared customs. Ask the seller and carrier before refusing or returning the package. Keep proof of what was promised at checkout.

Before paying an unexpected bill, verify the tracking number, obtain the itemization, and compare it with the order's written import terms. That three-step check usually shows whether you are dealing with a valid customs assessment, a carrier service fee, or a charge the seller needs to correct.