Latest on US Import Duties: What It Means for UK Shipments
30 July 2025 | Editor's Pick | Most Popular | Parcel Deliveries
Author: Parcel2Go.com
From August 29th 2025, all parcels sent to the United States will be subject to duties and taxes, regardless of their value. This follows a new Executive Order signed by President Trump on July 30th, 2025, which removes the long-standing de minimis exemption for shipments valued under $800.
But you shouldn't worry - it’s business as usual up until the end of August!
All parcels valued under $800 that are shipped before August 29th may still qualify under the current exemption rules. So there’s no reason to hold off - if you need to send a parcel to the U.S., now is the perfect time to do it.
What's Changing?
Until now, goods shipped from the UK to the US and valued under $800 USD could typically enter duty- and tax-free under what’s known as the de minimis exemption so long as they were addressed to individuals. This meant UK businesses and individuals could send low-value parcels without paying import fees.
However, that's soon going to change.
From August 29th 2025:
No de minimis exemption
All parcels, regardless of value, origin, or transport method, will be subject to full US customs duties, taxes, and fees
Even gifts or low-cost eCommerce orders under $800 will no longer be duty-free
Send Your Parcels to the USA Now
Parcels from the UK already in the U.S. postal system before August 29th may still qualify under the current exemption rules.
This is your opportunity to make the most of the $800 duty-free threshold before the changes take effect. If you have parcels to send to the U.S., ship them as soon as possible to take full advantage!
Use express services to ensure delivery before the new rules take effect
Consider couriers like UPS who are experts in US deliveries!
Book early to avoid any unseen delays
Book with Parcel2Go and Stay Ahead
At Parcel2Go, we’re here to make shipping to the US easy and cost-effective. Whether you’re sending a one-off parcel to family in Florida or shipping 200 orders a week to California, we offer affordable, tracked, and DDP-enabled delivery services to the US.
Shipping Costs from UK to USA
Shipping to the USA from the UK starts from as little as £13.12 with Evri!
The cheapest way to ship to the USA is through Parcel2Go - choose from a broad range of reliable couriers. Our best international services to the USA include:
UPS Access Point - £20.69
Parcelforce - £20.15
FedEx - £19.09
But you can compare even more couriers, including a range of services from drop off to collection, economy to express delivery, by getting a free instant quote.
Use Services with DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)
To make your shipments to the US as smooth as possible under the new rules, we recommend choosing services with Delivered Duty Paid (DDP).
How DDP helps:
Duties and taxes are paid up front - no surprises for your recipient
Faster customs clearance
Less risk of parcels 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.
Look out for shipments with the 'DDP' tag when getting a quote to the USA!