De Minimis
The de minimis threshold is the shipment value below which customs does not charge duty (and often import tax), because collecting tiny amounts costs more than it raises. Thresholds vary widely by country — for example US$800 in the United States, far lower in many others.
De minimis is central to cross-border e-commerce: it is why many low-value parcels arrive duty-free, and a change to the threshold can transform the economics of cross-border retail overnight.
De minimis quietly shapes cross-border e-commerce. It determines whether a low-value parcel arrives clean or with a duty and tax bill attached — so a threshold change can make or break a direct-to-consumer model in a market.
What is the US de minimis threshold?
US$800 — shipments valued at or below this generally enter the United States free of duty and tax, though rules can change.
Does de minimis cover taxes as well as duty?
Often but not always — it depends on the country. Some exempt both duty and import tax below the threshold; others only duty.