USA Tariff Guide
Hi everyone!
The good news: at this stage, I'm planning to remain open to US customers. 💖 😊
The bad?
1. U.S. customers must now pay a 10% import duty, collected by USPS. For now, this only applies to parcels above $800 USD in value.
2. USPS might take longer than usual to deliver parcels, as they have more customs processing tasks to do.
This may change, depending on US government decisions. There are also some grey areas, so I can't 100% guarantee if this is all correct.
I know for certain that there is a grace period - according to guidance provided by US officials, any parcel entering the US from Australia will not be subject to tariffs up until 12AM 27th May EST.
I'll be actively following the news & official sources. I'll be here to support you as much as I can.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
What is the tariff?
On April 5 2025, the United States imposed a 10% tariff on most goods imported from all around the world, including Australia, overriding the existing Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA). The tariff is enforced by US Customs Border Protection. Will this change in the future? I'm not sure. This 10% fee may go up or down. Any upcoming changes will be around July (after the 90 day pause) - and it all depends on what the current US Federal Administration decides on.
Why $800?
Section 321(a)(2)(C) of the U.S. Tariff Act says there is a $800 duty-free threshold for low-value imports entering the United States. This rule is commonly known as the "de minimis" exception. As far as we know, the limit has not been removed for goods sent via postal services from Australia to the US, only for parcels from China and Hong Kong.
The U.S. administration has indicated plans to eliminate this exemption for all countries once the necessary systems are in place to process and collect tariff revenue efficiently. As of now, no specific date has been announced for this broader elimination.
How do I pay?
After we send your parcel via Australia Post, it will land in the US and be handed over to USPS to finish the delivery.
Around that point, USPS will then deliver a fee notice with payment instructions to your mailbox/address.
The fee notice will tell you how much to pay, and whether to pay online or in person at your local USPS. Once paid, US Customs will approve your parcel and USPS will complete the delivery.
What happens if I don't pay it?
Usually, if you don't pay within 5-10 days, the parcel will be returned to sender or marked abandoned and destroyed by USPS. We won't cover replacement costs in most cases.
What if I don't receive a fee notice?
Sometimes USPS may fail to deliver your fee notice. If you think you should have received your notice by now, or if you see that your parcel is delayed or wrongly marked "delivered", please ring / visit your local USPS to arrange payment and release your package.
Can't I prepay the fee at checkout?
I'm sorry, at this point, we can’t pay these duties on your behalf. Customs decisions are made by U.S. authorities upon arrival, and we don’t control them. In this case, USPS is responsible for collection of duties. As the "importer", you are liable to pay those duties.
Need help?
If you want to know more details about the entire process, or have questions about your order, reach out to us anytime — we’re happy to help. While we can't pay your fee, we can help point you in the right direction. 📧 help@estoricollective.com