US customs on parcels from France: what you pay, and who collects it
For years a small parcel from France slipped into the United States without anything to pay. That stopped in 2025. The good news is that the new system is not mysterious: it follows the same few steps every time, and once you know them there is nothing left to be surprised by.
If you buy from France regularly, you have noticed it: parcels that used to arrive with nothing to pay now come with a customs bill. This is not specific to France, to one shop or to one forwarder. It is a change in US rules that applies to every parcel entering the country, and it is worth understanding properly, because it changes what a good order looks like.
What changed: the end of the small-parcel exemption
US customs long exempted low-value shipments from duties and taxes — the "de minimis" rule. It was suspended for parcels from every country at the end of August 2025, by courier and by post alike. In June 2026, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) wrote an indefinite suspension for postal parcels into its own regulations, and Congress has repealed the exemption outright with effect from July 2027.
In plain terms: every purchase you receive from France now goes through US customs, whatever its value, and pays whatever duties apply to it. There is no longer a value below which a parcel is waved through.
How the duty is worked out
Customs assesses duty on the declared value of the goods — what was actually paid — according to two things: what each item is, which decides its tariff classification, and where it was made, its country of origin. A leather bag made in France and one made in Asia, bought in the same Paris shop, are not treated the same way.
The rates themselves have moved several times since 2025, as trade measures were introduced, struck down by the Supreme Court in February 2026, and replaced. We won't print a figure here that could be wrong by the time you read it: CBP is the reference, and your carrier's duty notice shows the exact amount, line by line, for your own parcel.
Who collects the money, and when
You don't pay CBP directly. With express carriers, the carrier acts as customs broker: it files the entry, pays the duties so the parcel can be released, and then bills you — through a payment link before delivery, at the door, or by invoice afterwards, depending on the company. On top of the duties it charges for that service: a brokerage or disbursement fee, which is the carrier's own price, not a tax, and differs from one carrier to the next.
Through the postal network, the 2026 rule introduced a new entry process for mail, and postal parcels arrive with duties to pay too. Whichever way your parcel travels, the principle is now the same.
Duties paid at checkout, or on arrival
Some large brands ship to the US "duties paid": the duties are built into the dollar price you see at checkout and you pay nothing on delivery. It is convenient, but it means that price already contains them — and, as we explain in our guide to buying from French sites, the dollar catalogue is often shorter than the French one.
A forwarded parcel works the other way round: you buy at the French price, on the French site, and the duties are assessed when the parcel enters the US. Neither is cheaper by nature. What matters is knowing which of the two you are looking at before you compare prices.
Four things that keep a US clearance smooth
A precise description per item. "Women's wool coat" clears; "clothing" invites questions. The classification depends on it, and so does the duty.
The real value. Under-declaring is the surest way to have a parcel held, assessed on an estimate or seized — and insurance only ever pays out the declared value. We declare what was paid, from the invoice.
The right country of origin. Not "France" by default: the country on the label. It changes the duty, and a wrong one is a false declaration.
No "gift" label on a purchase. US law still exempts genuine gifts between individuals up to a modest value; that exemption was left in place. But a purchase is not a gift, and customs knows what a forwarded parcel is.
What we do, and what we don't
- We declare the real value of your items, as it appears on your invoices. It's the law, and it's what protects you: our insurance covers the declared value.
- We never under-declare, even on request. An under-declared parcel can be held, taxed on an estimated value, or seized.
- Duties, taxes and handling fees are never in our price: they depend on US Customs and your carrier, not on us, and can only be known on arrival.
What it changes for your orders
Every parcel now carries a fixed cost on arrival — the clearance, and the carrier's fee for handling it — on top of the duties themselves. Six small parcels mean six clearances; one box holding the same six items means one. That is the whole argument for consolidation, and it has never been stronger for the US than it is now. Your purchases wait free of charge for 45 days in our warehouse precisely so they can leave together. Estimate the shipping before you order.
Some goods need more than a duty payment. Food, and goods made from certain plants or animals — exotic leathers, some woods — can be checked by other US agencies, and anything with a lithium battery has carrier rules of its own. If in doubt, ask us before you buy; the list of what can't be forwarded is here.
Where to check the current rules
CBP publishes its guidance for e-commerce and low-value shipments, and its notices are the only source that is always up to date. Your carrier's duty notice is the second: it itemises what is charged, as duty and as fees, before you pay. For everything about the journey itself — delivery times, carriers, how the shipping price is built — our USA guide covers it.
Frequently asked questions
Is there still a duty-free limit for parcels from France to the US?
No. The small-parcel exemption was suspended for every country in August 2025, has since been made indefinite for postal parcels, and has been repealed by law from July 2027. Every purchase now goes through customs whatever its value.
Who do I pay US customs duties to?
To the carrier, not to CBP directly. The carrier pays the duties so the parcel can be released, then bills you — before delivery, at the door or by invoice, depending on the carrier — usually with a brokerage fee of its own.
How much duty will I pay on clothes or a bag from France?
It depends on what the item is, what it is worth and where it was made, and US rates have changed several times since 2025. CBP publishes the current rules, and your carrier's notice shows the exact amount for your parcel. We never quote a figure that could be out of date.
Can you mark my parcel as a gift?
No. A purchase is not a gift, and declaring it as one is a false declaration that gets parcels held and voids the insurance. We declare the real value, from your invoice, every time.
Is it better to group my purchases into one parcel?
Yes, more than ever. Each parcel now goes through its own clearance and carries its own carrier fee. One box with several items pays that fixed part once. Your items wait free for 45 days in our warehouse for exactly that reason.
