Come October 1, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will roll out new fee adjustments. For most importers, the changes are pretty straightforward. In short, CBP is raising user fees again.
At the same time, updates to CBP’s ACE platform, and the halt of Section 321 de minimis shipments, are shaking up the way low-value imports move through the system. Shippers using Type 11 entries for informal filings on goods under $2,500 will feel this right away.
All this brings a double whammy: importers in general will see their costs tick up, but folks dealing with lots of low-value entries will also find the process getting more attention from CBP.
Ahead is a clear rundown of what’s coming this fall and some pointers on getting your compliance plans in order.
Background: CBP User Fees and Entry Types
CBP handles its daily costs by collecting user fees authorized under COBRA (the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act). This money goes toward things like port staffing, running ACE, and making sure trade is following the rules.
These fees get tweaked every year for inflation, so the agency doesn’t fall behind.
Most importers are well aware of the Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF):
- Formal entries pay it as a percentage (0.3464%) of shipment value, but there’s both a minimum ($651.50) and a maximum ($33.58) set in stone.
- Informal (Type 11) entries, on the other hand, just pay a flat fee.
Entry type decides which filing route you follow:
- Type 01 formal entries: Higher values mean a customs bond is needed.
- Type 11 informal entries: Work for anything valued at $2,500 or less, and the process is quick and simple by design.
Nothing in the 2025 update redefines these categories—fees are just nudged up a bit, and ACE gets clearer rules for handling small shipments.
What’s Changed on October 1, 2025: CBP User Fee Increases
CBP spelled out the new numbers in the Federal Register, and the CSMS notifications fill in the gaps. Here’s what you’ll see, and how it’ll play out:
MPF for Formal Entries
- The rate itself is holding steady at 0.3464% of declared value.
- Minimum fee jumps up to $33.58 from $32.71.
- Maximum (cap) goes to $651.50, up from $634.62.
Example:
- Ship $10,000 of goods and the MPF totals $34.64, which is above the new floor.
- With a $100,000 shipment, MPF is $346.40, safely under the limit.
- If you import $2 million of goods, the math comes out to $6,928, but you’ll only pay the $651.50 top end.
So, the calculation hasn’t shifted, but those minimum and maximum numbers moved up a notch. Make sure your budgets and systems keep pace if you’re often hitting those marks.
Informal Entries (Type 11 and Others)
For informal entries, the percentage doesn’t apply, there’s just a flat fee.
- Every automated informal entry or release will be charged $2.69 (previously $2.62).
- If you submit a manual entry not done by CBP, it’s now $8.06 (was $7.85).
- If CBP does the paperwork, it’ll be $12.09 (up from $11.78).
On the surface, a bump of seven cents per parcel might not seem major. But if you’re moving thousands of packages a month, it adds up in a hurry.
Other Fee Changes
Expect bumps in plenty of other user fees, too:
- Broker permit user fee climbs to $185.38 from $180.57.
- Express consignment hub facility fees see a slight lift, $1.34 for each airway bill, versus $1.31 before.
- Commercial truck arrival fee goes up as well, now $7.35 instead of the prior $7.20.
- Dutiable mail fees and passenger arrival charges inch up with inflation, rising from $7.20 to $7.39.
These tweaks are simply CBP keeping pace with mandatory inflation bumps, but when you’re overseeing regular cross-border shipments, they don’t go unnoticed.
Why CBP Adjusts Fees
Every year, CBP recalculates under instructions from the FAST Act, making sure user fees line up with what’s happening in the overall economy. This keeps things funded without Congress needing to step in each time.
So, for importers, it’s just a fact of life to budget for new fees every fall. Be sure your software, plans, and bottom line reflect these changes.
Quick Reference Table
| Fee Type | FY 2025 | FY 2026 (Oct 1, 2025) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
|
MPF Minimum |
$32.71 |
$33.58 |
+$0.87 |
|
MPF Maximum |
$634.62 |
$651.50 |
+$16.88 |
|
Informal Entry |
$2.62 |
$2.69 |
+$0.07 |
|
Broker Permit |
$180.57 |
$185.38 |
+$4.81 |
Type 11 Entries: Recent Updates and Fee Intersection
October’s new numbers don’t mess with the basics for Type 11 entries. Goods worth $2,500 or less still qualify, so long as the situation fits. But the ACE upgrades and pause on Section 321 have switched up how things play out for these low-value filings:
- Anything that would’ve qualified for Section 321 before now faces a Type 11 entry.
- Each one of those entries will cost $2.69, thanks to the revised release fee.
- Paying a bit more for every parcel isn’t wild on its own, but with heavy volume, it’s a very real difference.
CBP put out temporary 2025 guidance that changed some mail rules as well. If you’re a customs broker, pay close attention to the CSMS feed, requirements for Type 11 entries tend to shift fast.
Impacts and Practical Advice
A few ways to roll with these changes, depending on how you ship:
Small Importers
Bump up your expectations on per-shipment costs. Even if your shipments are small, this adds up if you’re shipping consistently.
Take a look at consolidating several packages when it makes sense—just don’t invite delivery hold-ups.
E-commerce Shippers
Adding a handful of cents to every informal entry doesn’t sound like much until you hit high volumes. Move 100,000 parcels? That’s $7,000 out of your budget every year. Pencil it into your numbers.
Always make sure you’re using up-to-date rates, especially if you hop between shippers or use different fulfillment services.
Watch your ACE reports; if you spot lots of reclassifications or rolling delays, your fees or shipment speed might be changing too.
Large Importers
The higher MPF max ($651.50) has a real bite to it when you’re handling expensive shipments. Update those landed cost formulas to reflect the new cap.
Don’t just trust that your automation is current. Go through your process and double-check that new minimums and maximums are programmed correctly. Even one slip can mean customs trouble or extra fees.
Consider if you’re better off breaking apart shipments or shifting timing, provided it doesn’t cross any compliance lines.
Customs Brokers
Time to update those ACE EDI system fields. Any old numbers or codes could slow down or block your clients’ shipments at customs.
Keep an eye on clients who submit a lot of Type 11 entries. They’ll want to know what’s changing in costs and reporting.
CSMS alerts drop fresh exceptions, rule tweaks, and notes about different countries or goods all the time—don’t miss them.
Action Checklist
Here’s a no-nonsense to-do list to stay current:
- Plug the new MPF minimum ($33.58), maximum ($651.50), and automated informal entry fee ($2.69) into your projections.
- Test your ACE and EDI maps to ensure the right classes and costs get applied.
- Chat with your broker to decide if it’s more cost-effective to break up or combine shipments under these rules.
- Stay alert for CSMS and Federal Register updates, they’re often first with new info.
- Building internal dashboards if you’re managing lots of shipments, makes monitoring actual costs way easier over time.
- Make sure everyone who handles filings is trained on present-day thresholds, ACE notifications, and Type 11 rules.
October 2025 CBP Updates - Next Steps for Importers
This set of CBP changes, rolling out October 1, 2025, is the latest step in their normal inflation routine. The MPF rate hasn’t changed, just the minimums and caps have both crept upward, along with informal entry fees.
What really changes the game is that ACE no longer allows Section 321. Even smaller shipments must now go through formal entries and pay the fee.
If you move goods across the border or support those who do, keep an eye out: small increases can have big consequences at scale, and the rules are always shifting. Make sure your planning tools and systems keep up with the latest CBP releases.
Those who take the time now to prep will breeze through this round with fewer headaches. If you want to avoid hiccups during the transition, give Customs City a look. Getting your entries automated now pays off with fewer surprise fees and less hassle at clearance.
Book a demo now if you want to get your compliance strategy running efficiently.
