USPS Slaps Duties on Mail from Guam to America? Wait, What?
Published Date: 7/30/2026
Rule
Summary
The Postal Service is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]), section 608, to provide instructions for customs clearance and the prepayment of applicable customs duties, taxes, and fees for certain goods mailed from American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands destined to the customs territory of the United States (CTUS), which is defined in 19 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 101.1 as the fifty States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Prepay Duties for Goods up to $2,500
If you send dutiable goods from American Samoa (AS), Guam (GU), Northern Mariana Islands (MP), or the U.S. Virgin Islands (VI) to the customs territory of the United States, you must ensure payment of all applicable duties, taxes, and fees for items valued up to $2,500 before presenting the item at a Post Office retail service counter. You must present proof of payment or confirmation of duty-exemption (for example, a declaration ID or QR Code) at the time of mailing. This rule is effective July 30, 2026.
Must Use Electronically Generated Customs Forms
All items containing goods mailed from the listed possessions into the customs territory must bear a properly completed computer-generated customs form that can electronically transmit customs data. The form must include mandatory data like sender and recipient names and addresses, item descriptions, quantities, net weights, values, country of origin, and applicable Harmonized Tariff Schedule codes (including 10-digit and 8-digit codes) before acceptance.
Use Zonos Prepay App and Fees Possible
The Postal Service enables mailers to prepay duties, taxes, and fees using the Zonos Prepay mobile app to get a declaration ID and QR Code that must be presented at mailing. Zonos is a licensed customs broker and may charge a fee for its services when you use the app to pay duties.
Restricted Deposit/Pickup for Dutiable Items
Items that require prepayment of customs duties, taxes, and fees (per 2.6.3) cannot be deposited or picked up using the deposit and pickup methods listed under DMM 2.3.5; they must be presented at a Post Office retail service counter with proof of payment. This affects how you can hand over dutiable mailpieces when shipping from the listed territories.
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Key Dates
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