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What happened: Entry Type 13 opens in ACE
CBP opened a voluntary test of a new electronic informal entry for international mail, Entry Type 13 (Informal Mail Entry), on Sept. 22, 2026, as announced in a Federal Register notice published June 24. The test covers mail shipments valued at $2,500 or less, including parcels that used to qualify for the $800 de minimis exemption, which CBP has indefinitely suspended for mail. Entry Type 13 lets the owner, the purchaser or a licensed customs broker file the entry electronically in ACE. It also opens an informal path for low-value mail subject to partner agency data or Chapter 98 and 99 duties, such as Section 232 or 301. Shipments subject to antidumping or countervailing duties or quotas still require formal entry.
Entry Type 13 by the numbers
| Mail shipment profile | Entry path under the test | Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Value $2,500 or less, ordinary duties (HTSUS Ch. 1-97) | Entry Type 13 in ACE, or CBP’s interim informal mail process | Single transaction or continuous bond for Type 13 |
| Value $2,500 or less, Section 232/301 or other Ch. 99 duties | Entry Type 13 (test waiver); otherwise formal entry | Required |
| Value $2,500 or less, partner agency data required | Entry Type 13 (test waiver); otherwise formal entry | Required |
| Subject to AD/CVD or quota | Formal entry only | Required |
| Value above $2,500 | Formal entry | Required |
Table summarizes the notice; CBP may still require formal entry for any mail shipment when needed to protect the revenue.
What Entry Type 13 means for your shipment
This matters if your business buys low-value parts, samples or supplies from overseas sellers who ship by post. Those parcels no longer clear as de minimis. Someone with the right to make entry must file, transmit a 10-digit HTSUS number (plus any Chapter 98 or 99 secondary number), country of origin, value, duty rate, total duty owed and the foreign postal tracking number, and post a bond. A foreign post, USPS, a freight forwarder or a carrier that is only the consignee must use a licensed broker as importer of record.
Worked example (hypothetical duty rates, check your own classification)
A $600 order of components arrives by international mail.
- Under the former de minimis exemption: $0 duty, no formal filing
- Now, with a hypothetical base rate of 3.4%: $600 x 0.034 = $20.40
- Plus a hypothetical additional Chapter 99 duty of 25%: $600 x 0.25 = $150.00
- Total duty: $20.40 + $150.00 = $170.40, or 28.4% of the order value, plus a bond and any filing fee
The rates above are placeholders. Your real exposure depends on the 10-digit HTSUS code and origin.
Next steps for importers of low-value goods
- List suppliers that ship to you by post and the typical value per parcel.
- Confirm the 10-digit HTSUS code for each item; our HTS classification guide walks through the method.
- Decide who will file: you as owner or purchaser, or a licensed customs broker, and arrange a single-entry or continuous bond.
- Ask suppliers for a commercial invoice with value, description and country of origin on the parcel.
- For recurring low-value buys, compare postal delivery with consolidating orders into one commercial air or ocean shipment; a landed cost estimate shows the duty side of that comparison.
Background on the policy shift: the end of the $800 de minimis threshold.
How ExFreight can help
For U.S. imports booked door-to-door, a basic customs entry is included in ExFreight rates; duties, taxes, bonds, MPF and HMF are billed separately (truck-only shipments from Canada are an exception). Consolidating supplier orders into one commercial shipment can replace many small postal entries. Quotes are informational and subject to change; shipments can be re-invoiced if actual details differ.
Sources
- Primary U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Test of the New Electronic Informal Entry Process for Mail, 91 FR 38007 (FR Doc. 2026-12668), June 24, 2026
- Primary U.S. Government Publishing Office, Federal Register PDF, FR Doc. 2026-12668, June 24, 2026
- Primary U.S. Customs and Border Protection, ACE CATAIR technical guidelines
This guide explains market and regulatory changes for shippers. It is not customs, legal or financial advice. Rates quoted are third-party index values, not ExFreight prices.
Frequently asked questions
What is CBP Entry Type 13?
Entry Type 13, Informal Mail Entry, is a test entry type in ACE for international mail shipments valued at $2,500 or less. It started Sept. 22, 2026 and lets owners, purchasers or licensed customs brokers file informal entries for postal imports electronically, with a bond.
Can a freight forwarder file Entry Type 13?
Not as importer of record unless it is the owner or purchaser. Under the CBP notice, a consignee such as a foreign post, USPS, a freight forwarder or a carrier must use a licensed customs broker, who acts as importer of record.
