TL;DR: The U.S. is suspending duty-free de minimis treatment for all countries. All low-value shipments become dutiable and require proper data/entry. Teleship keeps your U.S. DDP parcels moving and lets you collect duties at checkout.
Published: August 26, 2025 | Effective date: August 29, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. EDT
What exactly changes on August 29?
- Global suspension of de minimis (Section 321). All shipments that previously entered the U.S. duty-free under $800 now owe applicable duties, taxes, and fees.
- Postal operators are stopping service across Europe and Asia. Major posts have announced temporary suspensions of U.S.-bound parcels. This is because postal operators don't yet have systems in place to: (1) Calculate and collect duties on each parcel. (2) Transmit full customs data (HS code, origin, product-level value). (3) Handle the new "specific duty per parcel" model (e.g., flat $80–$200 per package) during the U.S. transition period.
What this means for retailers
- Collect duties at checkout. No more "under-$800" free passes.
- Show true landed cost before purchase—customers expect clarity.
- Use DDP-compliant labels so goods clear without COD surprises.
- Provide full product data (HS code, origin, values) on each shipment.
How Teleship keeps you shipping
- ✅ DDP to the U.S., uninterrupted. Our workflows generate compliant DDP labels and transmit the required data so parcels keep moving.
- ✅ Duties at checkout. Teleship lets you collect import duties at checkout now, preventing surprise costs at delivery.
- ✅ Up-front landed costs. Expected duties surface at label generation for finance, ops, and CX alignment.
- ✅ Attractive rates with no hidden surcharges. Options designed for a post-de-minimis reality.
- ✅ Audit-ready data. HS codes, origin, and values validated and included in your electronic documentation.
Merchant checklist
- ☑ Enable duties collection at checkout. (Shopify: Settings → Taxes & duties). Verify HS codes and country of origin on every SKU.
- ☑ Switch to DDP for U.S. orders; confirm your service supports it.
- ☑ Update customer comms (FAQs, order emails) to reflect duties collected at checkout.
- ☑ Recheck unit economics with duty-inclusive totals on popular SKUs.
FAQs
We used to rely on postal "small packets." Can we keep doing that?
Possibly—but postal shipments are still assessed duties under a postal-specific scheme during the transition. Some posts have paused shipments while systems are updated.
How will Teleship handle duties?
Teleship calculates duties using ad valorem calculations (percentage based on product level). We have supported CN-made goods since May without delays, as fast as previous de minimis deliveries.
When will the new duty rates apply?
Teleship started collecting import upfront on 22 Aug.
How can I connect my store to Teleship?
Teleship has native integrations for Shopify and WooCommerce. We are adding ShipStation/ShipEngine connectivity soon to support Etsy, Amazon Shipping, WIX, GoDaddy and more.
Can I manually create shipments?
No. We require native order data for customs automation and compliance; manual entries are not supported.
How does the Teleship service work?
For SMEs (<100 parcels/day), we provide a Royal Mail drop-off label to inject into our Heathrow facility, then manage clearance, relabeling, and international delivery with USPS/UPS etc. For larger shippers (>100/day), direct hub injection to LHR is available. All shipments are tracked.
Does Teleship have minimum volumes?
No minimum. Both small and large shippers can use the service.
Is the service tracked?
Yes, fully tracked via your shipping dashboard or teleship.com/tracking.
Does Teleship require subscription fees?
No, it's pay-per-label. No monthly charges.
What does the shipping price include?
All-in pricing: first mile (if using Royal Mail injection), customs, handling, fuel, and residential surcharges. Only duty % and VAT (if applicable) are added. No hidden surcharges if declarations are accurate.
Who pays the duties?
The shipper pays at label purchase; customers pay nothing on delivery.
How are duty rates calculated for U.S. orders?
Rates depend on HS code, materials, and country of manufacture. UK-made goods use UK-US trade agreement rate (~10%) plus commodity-specific amounts.
Are duties calculated on discounted or free items?
No, duties apply to full commercial value, not discounted prices.
Can I ship gifts?
No, Teleship is only for business sales.
What if a parcel is declared inaccurately?
Misclassification can incur penalties (from $5,000 in the U.S.). Shippers are responsible for accurate HS codes and origin declarations.
Are there extra charges for non-contiguous U.S. states?
No, current cost is fixed for all U.S. destinations (incl. Hawaii/Alaska). This may change; we will notify customers if so.
What if the customer is charged duty at delivery?
This should not happen if declarations are accurate. We guarantee refund if a customer is incorrectly charged.
How do I collect duties from customers in Shopify?
Follow instructions in this video.
How do I install the Teleship app on Shopify?
Download from Shopify App Store. Setup via tutorial video in-app; takes <10 minutes.
Are duties paid at label purchase?
Yes, duties are charged with shipping costs to your card on file.
What if the app doesn't allow label purchase or orders don't show?
Common causes: missing origin data, order value above £600 (contact us to unblock), or fulfillment status already "fulfilled." Ensure orders are unfulfilled before generating labels.
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