Why was I charged customs fees?
You bought something abroad, and now the carrier wants money before delivery. Since de minimis ended, that's normal — here's how to read the bill and check whether it's right.
First: this is normal now
Since the de minimis suspension (August 29, 2025), every commercial parcel entering the US is dutiable — there is no $800 free pass anymore. If you bought anything from abroad after that date, a customs charge isn't a mistake; it's the default. The question isn't whether you owe something, but whether the amount is right.
The three charges on your notice
Every charge notice breaks into the same three layers:
| Line item | Who charges it | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Customs duty | CBP (collected by carrier) | 0–35%+ of value |
| MPF — Merchandise Processing Fee | CBP | $2.69–$651.50 |
| Brokerage / clearance / disbursement | Your carrier | $9.35–$35+ |
The duty is a percentage of the declared value, set by your item's HTS classification and origin country. The MPF is CBP's flat paperwork fee. The third line — often the biggest on a small parcel — is the carrier's own charge for doing the customs paperwork and fronting the money. That one is negotiable only in the sense that choosing a different carrier changes it.
Check the duty line in 60 seconds
- Find the declared value on the notice. Duty should be roughly that value × the rate for your category (16.5% for cotton clothing, 5–8.5% for leather shoes, 0% for electronics, cosmetics, and books at MFN).
- Add the origin overlay. From China, add ~35 points (IEEPA + Section 301). From the UK, EU, Japan, or Korea, add ~10 points (forced-labor overlay, July 2026). If your duty line is far above that combined rate, the classification may be wrong.
- Compare against our calculator — enter the same item, price, and carrier, and see whether the estimate is in the same neighborhood.
When the charge is actually wrong
The most common real errors: the carrier classified your item under the wrong HTS heading (a duty-free book charged as "printed matter, other"), the declared value included your domestic shipping or a discount that shouldn't count, or a duplicate billing after the seller already shipped DDP. Each carrier has a duty-dispute process — file it with the tracking number and your order invoice, and reference the correct HTS heading if you can.
How to pay less next time
Two levers matter most. Choose postal over courier where possible — USPS's flat $9.35 beats courier brokerage on parcels under a few hundred dollars. And prefer sellers who ship DDP ("duties included" at checkout): they clear in bulk at commercial rates, and the surprise bill disappears entirely. Our carrier fee comparison shows the numbers.
FAQs
Can I refuse to pay and return the parcel?
Yes — you can refuse delivery, and the parcel returns to the sender. But whether you get a refund depends on the seller's policy, and return shipping of the goods is usually your problem, not theirs. Pay-and-dispute is usually the better path if the charge looks wrong.
Why is the fee more than the item cost?
On low-value parcels the fixed fees dominate: a $25 item via DHL can attract $15 clearance + $17.50 disbursement plus duty and MPF. The duty on the item itself may be small — it's the fee floor that stings.
The seller said shipping was 'free'. Why do I owe anything?
Free shipping covers transport, not import charges. Unless the seller shipped DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) and prepaid duties, US import charges are the buyer's responsibility by default.
Calculate your landed cost
Duty, MPF, and carrier fees — broken down before you buy.