Quick answer: Entry Type 13 is a new CBP test, going to production on 22 September 2026, for filing low-value international mail to the USA electronically in ACE. Eligible mail shipments of US$2,500 or less that qualify for informal entry get a full customs record. The broker acts as importer of record, and no MPF or express reimbursable fee applies.
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De minimis made low-value trade cheap by asking governments to know very little about each parcel. Entry Type 13 is part of the model that replaces it: keep the speed of small-parcel mail, but make every transaction visible as structured data. For the small community of parcel customs brokers, its arrival is a significant moment.
For clearance of non-postal e-commerce shipments to the USA, contact our team.
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The context is short and well known. The United States suspended duty-free de minimis treatment for low-value shipments, first for China and Hong Kong in May 2025, then for all countries on 29 August 2025, and codified the suspension indefinitely on 24 June 2026. Shipments that once qualified for the exemption must now clear through a formal or informal customs entry and be assessed for applicable duties, taxes, and fees, which brings far more detailed information requirements to low-value trade.
Correction noted: the all-countries suspension took effect 29 August 2025 under Executive Order 14324, not simply "mid-2025." It was later codified in regulation (91 FR 37789) on 24 June 2026.
To process the enormous volume of low-value international mail under more complex procedures, CBP is testing a new system called the Entry Type 13 Test. Under the test, eligible international mail shipments valued at US$2,500 or less that qualify for informal entry can be entered electronically through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).
CBP receives detailed shipment-level information, including the importer of record, country of origin, merchandise description, tracking number, 10-digit US tariff classification, value, duty rate, and duty owed. In effect, each parcel gains a digital identity alongside its physical one.
Correction noted: 22 September 2026 is the Production launch. The test first opened in CBP's Certification environment on 24 July 2026, so "the test begins on 22 September" is precise only for the production phase.
This is the part brokers should sit with. Any eligible broker can participate, but the broker acts as the importer of record and assumes the related liability. The postal service serves as the nominal consignee, and a power of attorney from the postal authority to the broker will likely be required.
As importer of record, the broker should be able to demonstrate that it vets its processes and is proactive toward errant packages, violations, and similar issues. Goods must originate from a postal authority and transit via an international mail processing centre. The entry must carry the FIRMS code for that mail processing location.
The Firms code identifies the facility where the importing goods arrive. The entry required the FIRMS code of the relevant mail import processing location. There are 6 mail import processing facilities in the US.
Under the test, participating carriers can transmit the foreign postal tracking number associated with an individual shipment. Where both the carrier and the filer participate, CBP can match that number against the tracking number in the electronic customs entry, connecting the arrival of a physical parcel to its customs record.
A few operational points brokers are asking about:
Information from Jet Worldwide file data across the low-value US-bound shipments indicate the most common error is missing basic information. Easy to identify and fix prior to shipping.
Duty is assessed, but the fee structure is lighter than the express channel.
The bond requirement is the same as the bond for a Type 11 entry.
Formal entries follow normal processes and are not part of Entry Type 13. Shipments requiring Partner Government Agency (PGA) data follow the same processes as Type 11. If a shipment is cleared but is called back by a PGA requiring additional information, the package will be recalled.
The duty-free exemption for gifts is a customs matter, but personal exemptions likely do not apply, or apply differently, once a PGA requirement is in play. If a shipment requires a PGA ACE entry and is then filed under Entry Type 13, it loses its gift classification. Agency rules differ, and for some the applicable threshold can exceed US$100.
| Feature | Entry Type 13 (mail) | Entry Type 11 (informal) |
|---|---|---|
| Channel | International postal network only | Express, air, ocean, truck |
| Value ceiling | US$2,500 or less | US$2,500 or less |
| Importer of record | Broker as IOR; postal service nominal consignee | Ultimate consignee |
| Foreign postal tracking number | Transmitted | Not transmitted |
| Mail processing FIRMS code | Required | Firms code needed not applicable for postal facilities |
| MPF | None | |
| Express reimbursable fee | None | None (charged in express clearance) |
| Data set | Pilot set now; mirrors Type 11 at full implementation | Full informal data set |
Clarification noted: Entry Type 13 is designed to mirror Type 11 requirements, but the pilot data elements do not yet fully mirror Type 11. They are expected to align after the test and once the program is fully implemented.
Success should be measured by more than how efficiently ACE processes Entry Type 13 declarations or supports duty collection. The emerging model tries to preserve the speed of small-parcel trade while making each transaction far more visible, and that raises three tests.
The ultimate challenge is to make trade more visible without making legitimate commerce unnecessarily more expensive or less diverse.
Entry Type 13 is a voluntary CBP test of a new electronic informal entry process in ACE for international mail shipments valued at US$2,500 or less that qualify for informal entry. It moves low-value mail from a manual, carrier-remittance model to a structured electronic entry with full shipment-level data.
When does the Entry Type 13 test start?The test opened in CBP's Certification environment on 24 July 2026 and moves to Production on 22 September 2026, continuing indefinitely. Participation is voluntary during the test.
Does Entry Type 13 require a US importer of record?Yes. The broker acts as the importer of record and assumes the related liability, while the postal service serves as the nominal consignee. A power of attorney from the postal authority to the broker will likely be required, and the broker should be able to show it vets its processes and handles errant packages and violations proactively.
What charges apply to an Entry Type 13 entry?Duty applies, but no Merchandise Processing Fee and no Express Consignment reimbursable fee apply to Entry Type 13. A preference such as USMCA can be claimed with a valid certificate of origin, which can bring the duty to zero.
How does Entry Type 13 differ from Entry Type 11?Entry Type 13 is only for international mail and is designed to mirror Type 11 requirements at full implementation, though the pilot data elements do not yet fully mirror Type 11. A foreign postal tracking number is transmitted on Type 13 but not on Type 11, and a FIRMS code for the international mail processing centre is required.
Do gifts and personal exemptions apply under Entry Type 13?The duty-free gift exemption is a customs matter, but personal exemptions likely do not apply, or apply differently, once a Partner Government Agency requirement forces an ACE entry. If a shipment requires a PGA entry and is filed under Entry Type 13, it loses gift classification. Agency thresholds vary, and for some can exceed US$100.
Can returned USPS mail be sent back without an entry?If the item never left the custody of the postal service, it can be returned without an entry. If the goods left postal custody, for example a damaged shipment that was delivered and then returned, an entry is required as US goods returned.
Disclaimer: Jet Worldwide content is for general information only, and does not constitute customs or legal advice. Entry Type 13 is a voluntary CBP test and its rules may change. Confirm current requirements with CBP and your customs broker before filing.