Shipping to the US: what’s changed?
Since August 2025, all shipments to the United States follow a formal import process. The $800 duty-free threshold no longer applies, so as an exporter you need to provide complete and accurate shipment data for customs clearance.
By default, the receiver in the US pays duties, taxes and clearance fees. If you ship to the US regularly, this requires a different approach - not just operationally, but commercially as well.
US import duties: your HS code makes the difference
Import duties are usually charged to the receiver. The HS code you provide in the shipment data is key. An incorrect HS code can lead to higher costs, adjustments, and unhappy customers.
Best practice
• Record the HS code, origin, and commercial value for all your products
• For shipments above $2,500 request the receiver’s Tax ID upfront
• Use DHL Express MyGTS to provide accurate customs data in advance
DDP shipping: full transparency for your customer
Duties and taxes collected at delivery can cause unwelcome surprises and friction.
With Delivered Duty Paid (DDP), you stay in control:
• You cover duties and taxes upfront
• Your customer sees one total price
• No surprises at delivery
For many e-commerce businesses, DDP is the most customer-friendly way to ship to the US.
Managing costs when exporting to the US
With each shipment cleared individually, costs can add up quickly.
There’s a smarter way:
• Break Bulk Express: consolidate shipments and reduce clearance costs per parcel
• Stock in the US: local fulfillment speeds up delivery and avoids per-order clearance
Checklist: shipping to the US, fully prepared
• Check the HS codes for your products
• Factor in import duties in your pricing and enable DDP where possible
• Provide complete and accurate commercial invoices
• Include the receiver’s Tax ID for shipments above $2,500
FREE ADVICE FROM A DHL EXPRESS SPECIALIST
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