Customs officials are temporarily widening an electronic filing test for certain low-value international mail shipments entering the United States.
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Customs Update
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the change allows an Entry Type 13 filing to be transmitted through the Automated Commercial Environment with or without complete electronic Partner Government Agency data.
The modification took effect on October 22, 2026, under a general notice published by CBP in the Federal Register.
The notice changes how participating filers can use the customs entry process during the test.
What CBP changed on October 22
The change applies to CBP’s Entry Type 13 test, a voluntary electronic informal entry pathway for qualifying merchandise arriving through the international postal network.
Before the modification, participants whose shipments required Partner Government Agency data could transmit that data electronically as part of the Entry Type 13 customs filing.
CBP will now temporarily accept a Type 13 entry even when the filer cannot yet transmit complete electronic PGA data with the filing.
The agency said the temporary flexibility is intended to let filers begin using the new entry type while they complete the technical work needed to submit all required PGA information electronically through the customs system.
CBP did not announce an end date for the temporary acceptance policy.
Instead, the agency said it will publish a future Federal Register notice when the temporary acceptance period concludes.
Which shipments are covered by the Entry Type 13 test
The Entry Type 13 test generally covers international mail shipments valued at $2,500 or less.
That category includes shipments that previously might have qualified for the de minimis duty exemption, although eligibility for the entry test does not itself make merchandise duty-free or exempt it from applicable customs treatment.
The merchandise must be sent to the United States through the international postal network rather than through a private express carrier or another non-postal transportation method.
The test creates an electronic alternative to the interim informal mail entry process and, for eligible shipments, can provide another option instead of a formal customs entry filing.
CBP’s broader informal-entry guidance says informal entries are commonly used for personal or commercial importations valued below $2,500, but some products remain ineligible because of regulatory or trade-enforcement requirements.
PGA data remains important even during the temporary period
Partner Government Agencies are federal agencies that regulate particular imported products or require additional information before merchandise can be released through customs.
Depending on the product, PGA-related requirements can involve agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Fish and Wildlife Service or other federal regulators.
Examples may include regulated food, plants, animal products, pesticides, chemicals, wildlife products or other merchandise subject to federal safety, health or environmental controls.
CBP’s notice does not eliminate those underlying regulatory requirements or other customs requirements.
Rather, it temporarily permits the Entry Type 13 transmission to proceed without complete electronic PGA data while filers work toward full electronic submission capability.
Importers, brokers and other participants should therefore treat the change as a filing accommodation, not as a waiver of product-specific import rules or customs review.
Whether a shipment can ultimately be released may still depend on the information, documentation, permits or approvals required by CBP and the relevant Partner Government Agency.
Who can file an Entry Type 13
The importer of record may file the entry if the importer is the owner or purchaser of the merchandise being mailed to the United States.
A licensed customs broker may also file when properly appointed by the owner, purchaser or consignee and acting as the importer of record.
Participants must transmit the required Entry Type 13 information electronically through ACE.
That information generally includes the importer of record number, merchandise description, country of origin, applicable tariff classification, value, duty information and shipment details needed for customs processing.
Additional information may be required when the merchandise is subject to Chapter 98 or Chapter 99 provisions of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.
Additional data can also be required when the filer claims duty-free treatment under a Chapter 98 provision or a free trade agreement.
Filers should consult the current CBP and Trade Automated Interface Requirements before transmitting an entry because the technical data fields and customs submission procedures may change during the test.
What the change does not allow
The October 22 notice does not create a general exemption from customs duties, fees or other import charges.
Merchandise may still be subject to ordinary customs duties, special tariffs, processing fees and other applicable charges.
The temporary PGA-data accommodation also does not mean every international mail shipment valued at $2,500 or less qualifies for informal entry or avoids customs requirements.
Shipments subject to quota, antidumping or countervailing duties generally remain subject to formal entry procedures rather than the informal test.
Products subject to trade remedies, including certain Section 232, Section 201 or Section 301 duties, may require additional tariff treatment and customs data.
Merchandise requiring Chapter 98 or Chapter 99 reporting must include the additional data required by those tariff provisions when applicable.
Importers should not assume that a postal shipment will be released solely because it falls below the $2,500 value threshold or meets the basic customs entry criteria.
Why CBP is testing electronic mail entries
CBP has been moving toward more detailed electronic information for postal shipments because traditional mail-entry processes provide less data for customs targeting and compliance work.
Electronic filings can give the agency information about the importer, merchandise, tariff classification, country of origin, value, duty and tracking number before or during the entry process.
The information can also help CBP identify shipments that may involve prohibited goods, health and safety concerns, intellectual property violations or trade-enforcement issues.
The Entry Type 13 test began on September 22, 2026, after CBP announced the new electronic informal entry process in a June 24 Federal Register notice.
The test is designed to provide an electronic option for eligible international mail shipments while CBP and the trade community adjust to the new customs process.
CBP has also encouraged mail carriers to participate voluntarily by reporting foreign postal tracking numbers in their manifests.
When both the carrier and the filer participate, CBP can potentially match the carrier’s tracking information with the entry filing for a specific shipment.
What importers and brokers should do now
Importers using a broker should ask whether the broker is participating in the Entry Type 13 test and whether the shipment requires PGA data.
Businesses filing their own entries should review the latest ACE and CATAIR instructions before attempting to transmit a Type 13 entry.
Filers should maintain commercial invoices, product descriptions, country-of-origin records, tariff classifications and any product-specific documentation needed for the shipment and customs review.
They should also identify whether the merchandise is subject to a Partner Government Agency requirement, a Chapter 98 or Chapter 99 provision, a free trade agreement claim, quota or trade-remedy duties.
When complete PGA data cannot yet be transmitted electronically, participants should confirm how CBP and the relevant agency expect the required information to be handled during the temporary acceptance period.
Recipients should continue monitoring shipment status and respond promptly if CBP, the postal operator or another agency requests information, payment or documentation.
CBP has not stated how long the temporary acceptance of entries without complete electronic PGA data will last.
Participants should watch for a future Federal Register notice announcing when that portion of the test ends or changes.
Key details at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Agency | U.S. Customs and Border Protection |
| Entry type | Entry Type 13, Informal Mail Entry |
| Shipment value | Generally $2,500 or less |
| Transportation method | International postal network |
| System | Automated Commercial Environment |
| Change effective | October 22, 2026 |
| Temporary accommodation | Entry may be transmitted with or without complete electronic PGA data |
| Future notice | CBP will announce when the temporary acceptance ends |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CBP Entry Type 13 test?
It is a temporary electronic informal entry process for qualifying international mail shipments valued at $2,500 or less that are filed through the Automated Commercial Environment.
What changed on October 22, 2026?
CBP began temporarily accepting Entry Type 13 filings with or without complete electronic Partner Government Agency data while filers work to establish full electronic submission capability.
Does the change make international mail shipments duty-free?
No. The modification changes how certain entries may be transmitted and does not eliminate applicable customs duties, tariffs, fees or product-specific import requirements.
Who can file an Entry Type 13?
The importer of record or a properly appointed licensed customs broker may file the entry through ACE, subject to CBP’s test requirements.
Fact-Checked: The article was checked against the October 22, 2026 Federal Register notice, CBP’s June 24, 2026 Entry Type 13 notice and current CBP ACE guidance.
Disclaimer: This article is general information and does not replace CBP instructions, agency approvals or advice from a qualified customs professional.
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