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ImportCostEstimate duty

What is on my customs bill?

Short answer

A courier customs invoice mixes two things: money that goes to the U.S. government, which is set by law, and money that goes to the carrier, which is set by its published tariff. Only the second is worth arguing about.

Government charges

  • Duty

    The rate for your HTS classification applied to the entered value, plus any additional-duty program in scope.

  • Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF)

    FY2026 formal entry: 0.3464%, minimum $33.58, maximum $651.50, plus $4.03 if filed manually. Informal entry: a fixed $2.69, $8.06, or $12.09 — the formal minimum does not apply.

  • Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF)

    0.125% of cargo value, ocean vessel imports only. Never applies to air or mail.

Carrier charges

  • Advancement / disbursement fee

    Charged for paying duty to CBP on your behalf before delivery. Usually a percentage of the amount advanced, subject to a minimum.

  • Brokerage / entry preparation

    Charged for preparing and filing the entry. Varies by entry type and carrier.

  • Storage or exam fees

    Applied when a shipment is held, examined, or stored beyond a free period.

Check your carrier’s schedule

DHL customs fees

UPS customs fees

FedEx customs fees

USPS customs fees

Sources

  1. CBPCOBRA user fee adjustments for Fiscal Year 2026
    FR
    90 FR 34665
    effective
    2025-10-01
    retrieved
    2026-08-09

    FY2026 MPF: formal 0.3464% ad valorem, min $33.58, max $651.50, $4.03 manual filing surcharge. Informal fixed fees $2.69 / $8.06 / $12.09. MPF value base excludes duty, freight, and insurance.

  2. White HouseExecutive Order 14324 — Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries
    EO
    14324
    effective
    2025-08-29
    retrieved
    2026-08-09

    Extends the de minimis suspension to all countries worldwide effective 12:01 a.m. EDT August 29, 2025.