Postal Clearance Type 13 USA: Complete Guide

Low-value packages sent through the international postal network no longer receive the same duty-free treatment they once did. From September 22, 2026, eligible postal shipments valued at $2,500 or less can be filed electronically in the Automated Commercial Environment, or ACE, under the voluntary Entry Type 13 test. (public-inspection.federalregister.gov)

For forwarders, postal operators, online sellers, and importers, the main mistake is treating Type 13 as a simple replacement for the old $800 de minimis process. It isn’t. Customs data, duty payment, importer responsibility, and bonding now matter much more.

What is postal clearance Type 13 in the USA?

Entry Type 13 is a new electronic informal entry type for qualifying merchandise entering the United States through the international postal network.

The process is being tested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, through ACE. It is intended for international mail shipments with a value of $2,500 or less, including packages that might previously have qualified for the de minimis exemption. (public-inspection.federalregister.gov)

The test is voluntary. Eligible owners, purchasers, licensed customs brokers, carriers, USPS, foreign postal operators, and freight forwarders can participate, provided the entry is filed by a party with the legal right to make entry or by a properly appointed broker. (public-inspection.federalregister.gov)

Type 13 is not a shipping service, delivery product, or USPS tracking status. It’s a customs entry classification and filing process.

The important dates

CBP published the Entry Type 13 test notice on June 24, 2026. The notice states that the test begins 90 days after publication, which places the planned start date on September 22, 2026. (public-inspection.federalregister.gov)

As of September 3, 2026, the test has not yet reached that planned start date. That means companies should be preparing their ACE filing, broker appointment, data, bond, and tracking workflows now rather than waiting for the first shipment to fail.

The wider postal changes began with the suspension of the duty-free administrative de minimis exemption for international mail shipments valued at $800 or less. The suspension does not remove every possible duty exemption. For example, certain bona fide gifts and personal or household articles accompanying travelers are treated under separate rules. (public-inspection.federalregister.gov)

How does Type 13 compare with the old de minimis process?

The old process allowed many eligible shipments valued at $800 or less to enter duty-free without a conventional customs entry. Postal operators and carriers could handle much of the process with limited data.

That model has changed. Postal shipments must now move through a process that supports duty collection and more detailed customs reporting.

The practical value bands look like this:

The key takeaway is that Type 13 expands the electronic informal-entry range to $2,500, but it does not make shipments duty-free. A $300 postal package may still owe customs duty, trade remedy duty, taxes, or other charges.

When can a shipment use Entry Type 13?

A postal shipment generally needs to meet all of these conditions:

• It enters the United States through the international postal network.

• Its value is $2,500 or less.

• The filer has the legal right to make entry or is a licensed customs broker appointed by the appropriate party.

• The goods can be classified and reported with the required HTSUS information.

• The shipment is not subject to a quota or antidumping and countervailing duty order.

• The filer can provide the required customs, carrier, and tracking data.

• The required entry bond is in place.

The Type 13 test temporarily creates an informal path for some shipments subject to Partner Government Agency, or PGA, data requirements and certain additional duties. That can include products regulated by agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration, Consumer Product Safety Commission, or other government bodies.

But shipments subject to quotas or antidumping and countervailing duties remain ineligible for informal Type 13 treatment and must use formal entry procedures. (public-inspection.federalregister.gov)

CBP can also require formal entry regardless of value when it believes that doing so is necessary to protect revenue or confirm admissibility. (public-inspection.federalregister.gov)

What shipments usually need formal entry?

Formal entry is generally required when:

• The shipment value exceeds $2,500.

• The merchandise is subject to an absolute or tariff-rate quota.

• The goods are subject to antidumping or countervailing duties.

• The product requires regulatory data that cannot be properly transmitted through the available informal process.

• The shipment requires a special customs treatment that is not available under Type 13.

• CBP specifically demands formal entry.

A forwarder should not force a shipment into Type 13 simply because the value is below $2,500. That creates release problems, post-entry corrections, and possible importer disputes.

What data is required for a Type 13 filing?

CBP lists a defined group of data elements for the electronic filing. The required information includes:

1. Filer code

2. Importer of record number

3. Merchandise description

4. Country of origin

5. Applicable 10-digit HTSUS classification

6. Quantity and weight when a specific duty rate applies

7. Duty rate

8. Customs value

9. Total duty owed

10. Carrier name

11. Foreign postal tracking number

12. Arrival port

Additional data may be required for PGA-regulated goods or products subject to special duties. (public-inspection.federalregister.gov)

The 10-digit HTSUS requirement is where many postal workflows will struggle. Descriptions such as “gift,” “parts,” “sample,” or “accessories” aren’t useful enough to support accurate classification. A better description identifies the product, material, intended use, and quantity.

For example:

• Weak: “Clothes”

• Better: “Women’s knitted polyester cardigan, 3 units”

• Weak: “Electronics”

• Better: “USB-C charging cable, insulated copper conductors, 2 meters, 10 units”

The invoice, postal declaration, electronic advance data, and Type 13 filing should tell the same story. Conflicting values or descriptions are an easy way to trigger a hold.

Is a customs bond required for Type 13?

Yes. A Type 13 informal mail entry requires either a single transaction bond or a continuous bond that meets CBP requirements.

The bond protects customs revenue, guarantees payment of duties, taxes, and fees, and gives the importer of record an obligation to correct noncompliance involving admissibility or other customs requirements. (public-inspection.federalregister.gov)

This is a major operational difference from the old de minimis environment. A postal operator or forwarder cannot assume that the foreign seller, recipient, or carrier automatically carries the responsibility.

If a consignee such as USPS, a foreign postal operator, freight forwarder, or carrier is not the owner or purchaser, that party must use a licensed customs broker who acts as the importer of record for the Type 13 entry. (public-inspection.federalregister.gov)

That arrangement needs to be documented clearly. Otherwise, a shipment can be released under the wrong party’s identity, creating duty liability and post-entry problems.

Who can file postal clearance Type 13?

An owner or purchaser of the goods may file electronically in ACE if they meet the applicable requirements. They can also appoint a licensed customs broker.

A carrier, foreign postal operator, USPS, or freight forwarder that is only acting as consignee does not automatically have the right to make entry. If that party is not the owner or purchaser, it needs a broker to act as the importer of record. (public-inspection.federalregister.gov)

For freight forwarders, the cleanest operating model is usually:

• Confirm who owns the goods.

• Confirm who will act as importer of record.

• Obtain a valid broker power of attorney.

• Confirm bond coverage before tendering the postal shipment.

• Validate the HTSUS classification and country of origin.

• Match the foreign postal tracking number to the customs entry.

• Confirm who pays duties and any brokerage or handling charges.

Do not leave the importer of record decision until the parcel arrives in the United States. That’s how shipments end up sitting in a postal facility while multiple parties argue over responsibility.

What role does the postal tracking number play?

The foreign postal tracking number is a required Type 13 data element. CBP is also encouraging carriers transporting international mail to report those tracking numbers on their manifests. (public-inspection.federalregister.gov)

When both the filer and carrier participate, CBP can match the tracking number on the manifest with the tracking number on the entry. That helps CBP determine when the shipment arrived and whether the entry was filed on time. (public-inspection.federalregister.gov)

This means tracking data can no longer be treated as a customer-service field only. It becomes part of customs compliance.

Common causes of mismatch include:

• A postal operator changes the tracking number format.

• A broker files the wrong number from the commercial invoice.

• A consolidated dispatch contains multiple parcel identifiers.

• The shipment is re-labeled after export.

• The carrier manifest omits the tracking number.

• The entry is filed against a house reference instead of the postal article number.

Forwarders should build an automated validation rule that rejects a Type 13 file if the foreign postal tracking number is missing, duplicated, or inconsistent with the manifest.

What causes Type 13 delays and margin loss?

The new process creates several predictable failure points.

Bad product descriptions

Vague descriptions lead to classification questions, manual review, and requests for supporting documents. The cheaper the shipment, the less sense it makes to spend staff time chasing basic product information.

Incorrect customs value

The value should reflect the transaction and applicable customs valuation rules. Declaring an artificially low value can cause penalties, holds, or seizure. It also creates problems when the recipient’s payment record does not match the declaration.

Missing 10-digit HTSUS codes

An HS-6 code may not be enough for a Type 13 filing. Build a product master with the full U.S. classification, country of origin, duty rate, and any PGA flags.

Assuming low value means low risk

A $40 shipment can still be subject to an agency requirement, restricted commodity rule, trade remedy, or formal-entry demand. Value is only one part of eligibility.

Ignoring duty collection

Duty has to be calculated, collected, and reconciled. If your quote says “duties included” but your workflow has no landed-cost calculation, the margin will disappear quickly.

For forwarders, this is where a structured pricing workflow becomes useful. The quote should separate freight, postal handling, brokerage, duty, taxes, and possible inspection or storage charges instead of burying everything in one number.

How should forwarders prepare for Type 13?

Start with the products that generate the most postal volume. For each SKU, collect:

• Commercial product description

• Country of origin

• 10-digit HTSUS code

• Customs value

• Duty rate

• Weight and quantity

• PGA or restricted-goods indicator

• Manufacturer or seller information where relevant

• Foreign postal tracking format

Then test the complete flow from order data to ACE filing. Don’t test only the broker screen. Test the handoff between seller, platform, postal operator, carrier, broker, and importer.

A useful operating checklist is:

1. Identify the importer of record.

2. Confirm bond coverage.

3. Validate the postal route.

4. Match the shipment to its foreign tracking number.

5. Check the value against the $2,500 Type 13 ceiling.

6. Confirm the HTSUS classification.

7. Screen for quotas, AD/CVD, PGA rules, and special duties.

8. Calculate and collect estimated duties.

9. File the entry in ACE.

10. Reconcile the final duty and release result.

Companies that handle high volumes should automate as much of this as possible. A spreadsheet is fine for a small pilot. It becomes a liability once multiple sellers, destinations, classifications, and duty treatments are involved.

FAQ

What does postal clearance type 13 mean in the USA?

Postal clearance Type 13 refers to CBP Entry Type 13, a voluntary electronic informal entry process for qualifying international mail shipments valued at $2,500 or less.

Is Entry Type 13 the same as de minimis?

No. De minimis was a duty-free administrative exemption for qualifying low-value shipments. Entry Type 13 is a customs entry process that supports duty collection and requires more detailed data and a bond. (public-inspection.federalregister.gov)

What is the value limit for a Type 13 postal entry?

The Type 13 test applies to international mail shipments valued at $2,500 or less. Shipments above that amount generally require formal entry, although CBP rules contain exceptions for certain special classes of merchandise. (public-inspection.federalregister.gov)

Do Type 13 shipments still pay customs duty?

Yes. Type 13 does not make the goods duty-free. The filer must report the applicable duty rate and total duty owed, and the importer remains responsible for duties, taxes, fees, and other applicable charges. (public-inspection.federalregister.gov)

Does Type 13 require a customs bond?

Yes. CBP requires a single transaction bond or continuous bond for informal mail entries filed under the new process. (public-inspection.federalregister.gov)

Can USPS file Entry Type 13?

USPS may participate as a consignee or carrier, but a consignee that is not the owner or purchaser must use a licensed customs broker acting as importer of record. (public-inspection.federalregister.gov)

Can a freight forwarder file Type 13?

A freight forwarder can participate if it has the legal right to make entry. If it is only acting as consignee and does not own or purchase the goods, it needs a licensed broker to act as importer of record. (public-inspection.federalregister.gov)

What happens if the package is not eligible for Type 13?

The shipment may need formal entry. This commonly applies to goods over $2,500, quota merchandise, AD/CVD goods, and shipments that require information or treatment unavailable through the informal process.

When does the Entry Type 13 test start?

CBP’s notice was published on June 24, 2026, and states that the test will commence 90 days after publication. The planned start date is September 22, 2026. (public-inspection.federalregister.gov)

The practical answer is simple: treat Type 13 as a real customs entry, not a postal shortcut. Build the data, bond, classification, duty, and tracking controls before the first shipment reaches the U.S. mail network.