From August 29, 2025, a major change in US import rules will affect every parcel sent from the UK to American buyers. The US government is scrapping the de minimis threshold — a rule that currently allows goods valued at under $800 to enter the country without duties, taxes, or lengthy customs checks.
Under the old system, a small order from a UK shop — whether it was a £20 standard set of markers or a £300 custom set — could usually arrive in the US quickly and without any extra costs beyond postage. This made buying from UK sellers easy and predictable for American customers.
Once the de minimis exemption is removed, all imported goods from the UK, regardless of value, will be treated as formal imports. This means that every shipment will need to go through full customs clearance, and most will attract import duty, state sales tax, and an administrative fee.
What will change for our US customers?
For US customers, the most immediate impact will be cost. Let’s take a £20 set of markers as an example. After August 29, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will calculate an import duty, apply state sales tax (which varies but is at least 4–7% in most states), and then add a handling fee charged by the delivery carrier.
Buyers will also notice changes in delivery times. Because each parcel must be processed individually by customs, clearance could add several days to delivery — especially if payment is required before release. Most postal services, such as USPS, will notify recipients when duty and tax are due, but they will not deliver the parcel until payment is made.
Why is this happening?
The US government has argued that the de minimis rule has been abused by overseas sellers to avoid import taxes, creating an uneven playing field for domestic businesses. Removing the threshold is intended to protect US manufacturers and retailers, and to ensure all imports are treated the same.
What can US customers do?
If you order from UK sellers after August 29, it’s important to:
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Be aware of the total landed cost — be aware that there will be duty, taxes, and fees you’ll need to pay.
- Be prepared for longer delivery times — especially with standard postal services.
Final thoughts
The change to US import rules doesn’t mean you can’t shop from your favourite UK stores — but it does mean you’ll need to budget for extra charges and a little more patience.
Be aware it is not the UK sellers increasing your costs and making more profit. It is the ending of the US de minimis rule by US government which has added this extra cost who are collecting the revenue.