Changes to De Minimis Tax Exemption

The de minimis exemption allows for low‑value shipments to enter the United States free from customs duties, taxes, and complex bureaucracy, and applies to any order under a certain value threshold. This threshold has typically been $800 per person, per day for packages entering the US from abroad.

The exemption streamlines customs processing by letting agencies focus resources on higher‑risk or higher‑value shipments. This speeds up delivery, and allows US residents access to rare, hard-to-find, and high quality goods from abroad without paying extra fees or taxes, all without compromising regulatory oversight

American small businesses and private consumers benefit the most from this exemption, especially those in remote or underserved areas who gain crucial access to affordable goods, without inflated costs.

During times of crisis or supply chain disruption, like the coronavirus pandemic, the de minimis exemption is crucial in allowing quick, low-cost deliveries across the United States.

How Will Eliminating the Exemption Hurt People?

Eliminating the de minimis exemption could dramatically raise prices, potentially adding billions of dollars annually to consumer costs, by triggering duties, fees, and delays. This will hit everyone's wallet, and cripple small businesses who rely on imported goods.

Moreover, it will slow-down US Customs and Border Protection as they become bogged down in paperwork and red tape for every package entering the US, rather than being able to focus on high value and high risk shipments.

The de minimis exemption is a vital tool for trade facilitation, economic inclusion, and efficient enforcement. Its removal risks higher costs, more inflation, slower delivery, diminished access to quality goods at reasonable prices, crippling delays and taxes for small businesses, and much more.

Changes to the Import Tax Exemption

The situation can change at any time, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly when a change or removal of the exemption will take place, or how long it will last, so it’s best to keep up with the latest news regarding the situation and make sure you act before any changes impact you or your business.

Without a de minimis exemption, we will see:

• Tariffs will be applied to all international orders, including a flat 15% for those imported from Japan
• There will no longer be tax relief for orders under $800, even for personal orders
• All U.S.-bound shipments from abroad will be subject to import duties, delays, and red-tape

Shop Now and Save

While changes to the exemption may impact pricing, when the exemption is in place you’re able to shop duty-free on orders under $800. We encourage customers to:

• Stock up on daily essentials or favorite products ahead of any changes
• Bundle multiple items into a single order to maximize value while tariffs are not yet applied
• Buy holiday gifts and non-expiring items in advance, such as skincare, home and pantry goods, wellness products, and stationery.

At Japanese Taste, we are dedicated to providing transparent pricing, exceptional service, and authentic Japanese products, even as global trade policies evolve.

Thank you for your continued trust and support.