U.S. Mail Imports From Asia: Entry Type 13 and the January 20, 2027 Deadline

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) moved the date for its new international mail entry rules from October 22, 2026 to January 20, 2027. After that date, certain postal parcels must be filed electronically through Entry Type 13, or go through formal entry. Sellers shipping from Asia by post should prepare data and a bond now.

This guide is for Western businesses that ship small parcels out of Asia by international mail, and for the brokers and sourcing managers who support them. It explains what changed, who has to file and what data you need ready before the date.

What Did CBP Change and Why Does It Matter for Asia Shippers?

CBP suspended the long-standing $800 de minimis exemption for international mail in 2026. That exemption let low-value parcels enter duty-free with little paperwork. In its place, CBP created a postal entry process and an informal entry route for mail valued at $2,500 or less, as described in a law firm's guide to the postal entry process.

The rule has a clear target. Parcels from Asia, much of it e-commerce, once crossed the border with almost no data. CBP wants shipment-level data in advance. Its own officials said advance electronic data will help the agency identify and stop illegal and unsafe shipments.

For a Western seller with stock in Shenzhen or Ho Chi Minh City, the effect is practical. Each parcel now carries duty, and someone must file the entry and pay.

What Is the New January 20, 2027 Deadline?

CBP announced a 90-day extension of the compliance date, from October 22, 2026 to January 20, 2027. It says international mail entry procedures will stay the same until then. The agency's official bulletin says filers can use the optional Entry Type 13 process now to prepare.

After January 20, certain postal shipments must be filed electronically in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) using Entry Type 13. Shipments that do not qualify go through formal entry. The covered groups are those subject to Section 201, 232 or 301 duties, and those under a Partner Government Agency (PGA).

KPMG notes that CBP will also temporarily accept Entry Type 13 filings for PGA-subject shipments even when electronic PGA data is incomplete. That helps early users of the test. CBP will announce in a later Federal Register notice when that flexibility ends, according to KPMG's summary.

Who Is Allowed to File an Entry for a Mail Parcel?

Only the owner or purchaser of the goods, or a licensed customs broker that they designate, can file. Foreign postal operators and other non-broker third parties no longer qualify. This is a major change from the earlier model, where the postal service or a service provider handled it for you.

That raises a question for sellers who ship under their own brand. Who owns the goods when a parcel leaves your warehouse in Asia? If a customer is the purchaser, the customer may technically be the importer. Most shops will want a broker or a consolidator that files for them.

Ask any provider that offers to "handle customs" three questions. Are they a licensed broker? Do they hold a bond? Will they file in your name or theirs? The answers affect who carries the liability.

What Data Do You Need for Each Parcel?

Entry Type 13 asks for shipment-level data. According to BDO's summary, required items include the foreign postal operator tracking number, the sender's name and address and a 10-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS) code. Filers also give the country of origin, the value, the duty rate and the total duty owed.

The table below shows where each item usually comes from in a small seller's workflow.

Origin trips up many sellers. Goods made in China but only repacked in Vietnam can still count as Chinese origin for duty. Our guide on how to vet a Vietnam factory so goods keep their origin explains how the rules work.

Value is the other common error. Declared value should reflect what the buyer paid for the goods. Mixing in shipping charges, or declaring a token $5 on a $40 item, invites questions. CBP is building a data trail that links each parcel to a sender, a code and a value.

Why Does Classification Suddenly Matter More?

A 10-digit code decides your duty rate. Under the old exemption, a wrong or missing code often did not matter for small parcels. Under an entry, the code drives the amount of money you owe and the checks CBP runs.

Many small sellers store codes loosely or leave them blank. Start by fixing your top 20 products by volume. Those usually account for most parcels.

If a product is hard to classify, ask CBP for a ruling. Our guide to finding your HTS code and requesting a binding ruling shows how. A written ruling gives you a stable answer you can reuse on every parcel.

What Does the Process Cost?

Duty is the main cost. The rate in effect depends on the product and its origin, and extra tariffs can stack on top of the base rate. A seller who assumed zero duty on a $30 parcel may now see double digits as a percentage.

A bond is the second cost. Under the postal process described by Troutman, filers need a basic importation bond on file before filing. Recurring volume generally calls for a continuous bond. Ask a surety or broker for a quote early, since bond terms vary.

The third cost is the filing itself. Brokers charge per entry or per batch. At parcel volumes in the thousands each month, those per-entry fees add up. Compare that with other routes before you commit to postal shipping.

Is Postal Shipping Still the Right Route?

For some sellers, no. The advantage of mail was low cost and light paperwork. With the exemption gone, a consolidated air or ocean shipment to a U.S. warehouse can be cheaper per unit and easier to manage.

The math depends on order size. A seller who ships 500 small parcels a month may do better to send bulk stock to a U.S. fulfillment center. Then the customer's order ships domestically, and customs happens once, in bulk.

The opposite case also exists. A seller with high-value, low-volume orders may prefer direct shipping from Asia. Run both versions in a spreadsheet before you choose. Include duty, broker fees, bonds, freight and returns.

What About the Wider Proposal CBP Published in October?

On October 8, 2026, CBP issued a proposed rule on low-value shipments. According to the official bulletin, it would extend entry and data requirements to nearly all international mail packages, excluding letters and flats. It is a proposal, not a final rule.

That means the current deadline covers only certain categories. A seller of untariffed goods may feel safe for now. Do not read that as permission to wait. The direction of travel is clear.

Watch the comment period and the final text. Plan as if the broader rule will arrive, and treat any relief as a bonus.

How Do the Cost Changes Fit With Other Fees?

Mail entries sit alongside other costs in your landed cost. Customs user fees and merchandise processing fees change each fiscal year. For European routes, a separate duty on low-value parcels is also starting. Our look at the EU €3 customs duty on low-value parcels covers that side.

At Eastern Plays, we suggest building one landed-cost sheet that covers every market you sell in. A single sheet shows which routes still make money. It also keeps surprises from landing in your cash flow.

A Six-Step Readiness Plan Before January 20

Use this list to prepare. Each step fits in a week or two.

Your Next Step

Pull your last three months of parcel data and sort by product and destination. Then count how many parcels would be covered by the January rules. That number tells you whether you need a broker conversation now or a route change.

Eastern Plays editors will update this guide when CBP finalizes the low-value shipment rule. Until then, treat every postal parcel as one that will need an entry.