In direct response to recent changes in the United States (U.S.) import regulations which removed de minimis exemptions for shipments, all items with commercial value shipped to the U.S., will now be subject to new duties and taxes starting 29 August 2025.
To support compliance with these new requirements, SingPost offers the following solutions:
For Retail Customers
New Service: Speedpost Direct International (Retail)
- This service offers a cost-effective alternative to Speedpost Express International for walk-in customers to our post offices islandwide from 15 September 2025.
- The new service requires shipments to be packed in one of two standard packaging options— envelope (16.2 x 22.9cm) or a box (31 x 23 x 9cm), both provided by SingPost at a flat shipping rate.
- Speedpost Direct International (Retail) has a flat shipping rate of S$29 for items up to 0.5kg that fit into the standard envelope or S$69 for the standard box for items up to 2kg. Each shipment’s value must not exceed more than US$100.
- Post office staff will assist you in calculating and collecting all necessary duties and taxes upfront, providing you with full transparency and peace of mind.
Key Steps for Senders @ Post Offices
To ensure a smooth and efficient process at the post office, customers using the new service must have the following prepared:
- Item for Shipment: Bring your item to be shipped. To ensure compliance, all items will be repackaged into either the standard envelope or small box, regardless of any existing packaging materials.
- Country of Origin: Know the country where your item was manufactured. This is a new mandatory requirement for U.S. customs.
- HS Code: Have the 10-digit Harmonised System (HS) Code for your item ready. This 10 digit code is a universal classification for products and is now mandatory for customs clearance. If you do not know the HS Code, our staff will assist you in finding the correct one.
- Recipient Information: Provide the full and correct name, address, and contact number of the recipient in the U.S. to ensure accurate delivery.
Existing Service: Speedpost Express International
- At the post office, for packages above 2kg or valued more than US$100, or customers who need a faster delivery to the U.S. may use the premium Speedpost Express International service instead. Speedpost Express International is a premium service which has express delivery services for delivery to the U.S. within 3-6 days, compared to the more economical, but slightly longer delivery within 5-8 days for Speedpost Direct International.
For Corporate Customers
- SingPost has introduced a new service, Speedpost Direct International in addition to our Speedpost Express International service available for corporate customers. Dedicated account managers will be contacting customers to help them with this service.
Please note that SingPost has suspended the acceptance of items with commercial value via our standard Post service for shipments to the U.S. since 25 August 2025. The following services to the U.S. are impacted: Speedpost Priority International, Speedpost Standard International, Speedpost Economy International, Registered Service (Air and Surface), Basic Package (Air and Surface) and ePac.
Shipments of letter mail (documents with no declared value) via Post are not affected and will continue to be accepted as usual.
SingPost will not be responsible for and the sender will bear all risks and liabilities associated with customs clearance for postal items containing items with commercial value sent to the U.S., including delays, returns, penalties, and confiscation.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we adapt to these new regulations. We remain committed to providing you with reliable and seamless service.
Additional Information:
Starting 29 August 2025, the U.S. will suspend the de minimis exemption for all international shipments. This means that duties and taxes will now apply to all imports to the U.S., including those valued at US$800 or less.
New Mandatory Customs Information
To ensure your shipments are not delayed, it is also now mandatory to provide a Country of Origin and a 10-digit Harmonised System (HS) code for each item in your shipment.
- What is a Country of Origin? This refers to the country where the item was manufactured or produced.
- What is an HS code? This is a globally standardised code used by customs authorities to classify products. You can find your product's HS code here: https://hts.usitc.gov
FAQs
1) What are postal shipments containing items with commercial value?
This includes all existing SingPost products including Speedpost Priority International, Speedpost Standard International, Speedpost Economy International, Registered Service, Basic Package and ePac.
Shipments of letter mail (documents with no declared value) via Post are not affected and will continue to be accepted as usual.
For retail customers, items with commercial value can be sent via SpeedPost Express International service for international deliveries. For corporate customers, SingPost has introduced a new service, Speedpost Direct International, in addition to our Speedpost Express International service available for corporate customers. Dedicated account managers will be contacting customers to help them with this service.
2) Why can't I ship postal items containing items with commercial value to the U.S. anymore?
A new U.S. customs regulation will suspend the de minimis exemption for all international shipments, effective 29 August 2025. This change means all imports, regardless of value, will now be subject to new duties and taxes. To ensure all shipments are compliant and avoid potential issues for our customers, we are directing customers to use Speedpost Express International.
3) What is the de minimis exemption?
The de minimis exemption previously allowed imports valued at US$800 or below to enter the U.S. without being subject to duties and taxes. This change by the U.S. government impacts all international shipping providers.
4) When will this change take effect?
The U.S. regulation is effective from 29 August 2025. As a precautionary measure to prevent any items with commercial value from being affected, SingPost has suspended the acceptance of items with commercial value via our standard Post service for shipments to the U.S. since 25 August 2025. The following services to the U.S. are impacted: Speedpost Priority International, Speedpost Standard International, Speedpost Economy International, Registered Service, Basic Package and ePac.
Retail customers can still send items with commercial value to the U.S. using our Speedpost Express International service or new Speedpost Direct International (Retail) for international deliveries.
For corporate customers, SingPost has introduced a new service, Speedpost Direct International in addition to our Speedpost Express International service available for corporate customers. Dedicated account managers will be contacting customers to help them with this service.
Shipments of documents with no declared value via SingPost products are not affected and will continue as usual.
5) Where can I send my item using SpeedPost Express International service or Speedpost Direct International (Retail) for international deliveries?
Walk into any of our Post Offices; you may locate the nearest one to you via this site: https://www.singpost.com/locate-us.
6) What if I dropped a shipment containing items with commercial value bound for the U.S. into the posting box and needed to retrieve it?
Any shipment containing items with commercial value bound for the U.S. would be returned to the sender. For items without return address, a retrieval fee of $20 (subject to prevailing GST) would be imposed upon request for retrieval and return.
7) Why do I need to be aware of the list of restricted and prohibited items?
The new regulation on de minimis only affects duties and taxes, not the U.S. government's strict rules on restricted and prohibited items. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will continue to seize any goods that are not permitted to enter the country, regardless of their value. This includes common items like certain food products (e.g., bak kwa, mooncakes with egg yolk), products made from endangered species, counterfeit goods, and certain health supplements or medications that are not FDA-approved. To ensure your shipment is not confiscated or destroyed, it is crucial to accurately declare all items and verify they are not on the official U.S. list of prohibited and restricted goods before shipping.
Here are some resources for your reference:
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/know-before-you-go/prohibited-and-restricted-items
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/internet-purchases
8) If I’m expecting a package from the U.S. to Singapore, would it be subject to the same restriction?
Items from the U.S. to Singapore are not affected and you will continue to receive the delivery through SingPost.
