Sending Goods to USA Customers... 

You may have heard about a recent Executive Order introducing some significant changes to customs requirements for goods being imported to the USA on 29 August 2025.

We’ve been working hard with US authorities, Post Office and others to adapt our postal services to these requirements.

Whether you're mailing a gift to friends or family, or you run a small business serving customers in the USA, you’ll need to send to the USA using an International Tracked PDDP (Postal Delivery Duties Paid) service. This meets the new US customs requirements and minimises work for customers.
 

Sending goods to the USA – what’s changing?

The President of the United States announced an Executive Order on 30 July which outlined planned changes to the customs requirements and processes for goods being imported into the USA from 29 August 2025. These changes affect the export of goods to the USA from any country in the world, including the UK.

Removal of duty-free for low value items – until now, items valued at less than $800 could enter the U.S. without you having to pay customs duties. That’s changing and goods, regardless of value, may now be subject to import tariffs (duties). These duties must be paid by UK senders before they enter our network.

Sending gifts? If you are sending gifts valued at $100 or less, then you won't have to pay duties on these items. There will be fees to pay in addition to postage. Information about and calculation of these fees will be clearly available wherever you buy your postage.

Sending personal correspondence? If you’re sending cards or letters, which don’t require a customs declaration, you will not have to pay duties and can continue to send these items to the USA by visiting the Post Office.

What duties will apply to goods? For goods (or gifts over $100) shipped via Royal Mail PDDP services, duties will be calculated using the country-specific tariff for the item’s country of origin (where an item was made) and its value.

 

What do you need to know?  

We want to help you carry on sending goods and gifts to the USA and keep costs to a minimum. Postage costs will remain the same for the new PDDP services as they are for the current USA services.   

There are some administrative fees associated with the new US requirements that will apply to goods and gifts. These fees will be clearly communicated, at the online checkout or at the Post Office, so you’ll know the total amount to pay before you complete your purchase.
 

Running a small business?  

Whether you purchase your postage online or at a Post Office, Royal Mail’s PDDP service will calculate and collect the duties for your items, so you don’t have to. However, it’s worth familiarising yourself with the country tariffs which will apply to the goods you’re sending.
 

Buying postage online?

We’re updating our online systems to meet the new requirements. If you use our online channels, our booking journey will guide you through to Royal Mail’s secure website where customers can purchase our USA International Tracked PDDP service. This service will display duties and fees payable, prior to checkout.
 

Buying Royal Mail services at the Post Office?

If you visit a Post Office to send items to the USA, you will be advised of and pay any duties and fees at the same time you purchase your postage at the counter.

 

When do the new services start operating?

The new USA customs requirements are effective from Friday 29 August 2025.

We are planning to withdraw existing services for sending goods to the USA on Tuesday 26 August 2025 to allow sufficient time for them to reach US customs before the new requirements become effective. 

There is likely to be a short period between existing services being withdrawn and new services being activated to allow us to send items using existing services from the UK and for them to reach the USA before 29 August. 

We expect the new PDDP services to be available to customers online and in Post Offices from Thursday 28 August 2025.

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Charges to USA recipients could be affected and will include a clearing charge going forward - please check prior to placing any order...

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