Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Mail Shipments and New Postal Informal Entry Process; Delayed Compliance Extension

This is a U.S. trade and customs measure concerning the de minimis exemption for certain low-value imports sent through international mail. De minimis is a customs term for simplified treatment that may allow qualifying shipments to enter with reduced entry requirements, subject to eligibility rules. The measure also introduces or describes a postal informal entry process, meaning a less formal customs entry method for eligible mail shipments, and addresses when compliance with the new process must begin.

It typically affects foreign sellers, marketplaces, logistics providers, postal operators, and U.S. consumers or businesses importing goods by mail. For an importer, the measure may change whether a shipment qualifies for de minimis treatment, what information must be supplied, how duties and fees are handled, and who is responsible for filing the entry. The phrase “delayed compliance extension” generally signals additional time or transitional treatment for meeting specified requirements; the controlling notice and official guidance must be checked for its exact scope.

What to check

• Confirm whether the shipment is entering through the postal channel or through an express carrier or other transport method.
• Check the shipment’s eligibility for de minimis treatment, including value, merchandise, origin, and any applicable exclusions.
• Identify who will act as the importer of record and who must provide the customs declaration or postal entry information.
• Review the official measure and agency guidance for the informal entry process, required data, duties, fees, and recordkeeping obligations.
• Verify whether any compliance extension applies to your shipment, party, process, or filing requirement, rather than assuming it applies generally.