US gives postal importers until January for formal-entry rules

The formal-entry deadline moves to January

CBP's final-rule filing moves the compliance date for 19 CFR 145.12(a)(2)(v) and (vi) from 22 October 2026 to 20 January 2027. Those provisions require formal entry for international-mail merchandise subject to another government agency's requirements, for goods subject to duties under Chapters 98 or 99 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, and where Chapter 98 or free-trade-agreement duty-free treatment is claimed. CBP says the extra period is intended to let importers, brokers and logistics providers update systems, procedures and data infrastructure; businesses may comply earlier voluntarily.^[1][3][5]

Entry Type 13 receives a temporary data concession

A separate notice modifies CBP's voluntary Entry Type 13 test for international-mail shipments valued at $2,500 or less. The test, which began on 22 September 2026, provides an electronic informal-entry alternative in the Automated Commercial Environment for qualifying shipments. CBP will temporarily accept an Entry Type 13 filing without complete electronic Partner Government Agency data while filers build full submission capability. The concession does not remove applicable Chapter 98, Chapter 99, free-trade-agreement or other data requirements, and CBP will announce its end in a later Federal Register notice.^[2][4]

The de minimis suspension remains in place

The filings change transition mechanics, not the underlying suspension of the duty-free de minimis exemption for postal merchandise. CBP's June interim final rule suspended the 19 USC 1321(a)(2)(C) exemption for international-mail goods valued at $800 or less and established the current informal-mail process for eligible shipments valued at $2,500 or less. The new extension leaves that framework operating during the delay; it does not restore duty-free treatment or make shipments above the $2,500 informal-entry ceiling eligible.^[1][3][5]

Postal supply chains should separate route and data readiness

Groups importing through the postal network should identify shipments falling within paragraphs (v) and (vi), decide whether eligible consignments will use formal entry or the voluntary Entry Type 13 pathway, and map the partner-agency and special-tariff data each route still requires. The January extension reduces immediate cutover pressure, but the temporary incomplete-PGA acceptance has no fixed end date. Controls should therefore retain a route-specific readiness date and a separate trigger for CBP's future notice ending the concession, rather than treating the extension as a general customs-data waiver.^[1][2][5]

Publication confirmed

Both documents were published on 22 October 2026. The Entry Type 13 modification took effect that day; the formal-entry compliance date remains 20 January 2027.^[6][7]