If you're buying anime figures from Japan and shipping to the United States, the rules changed in 2026. The old $800 'de minimis' exemption — which let low-value parcels enter duty-free — has ended. Here's what that means for your order, how charges are calculated, and how to estimate your true total before you check out.
Until 2025, most parcels under $800 entered the US duty-free under the 'de minimis' rule. That exemption was removed for all countries on August 29, 2025, and on June 24, 2026 US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) suspended it indefinitely. By law it is scheduled to be eliminated permanently on July 1, 2027.
The practical effect: a figure shipped from Japan to the US is now subject to import duty and fees regardless of its value — even a single low-cost prize figure. There is no longer a 'small enough to be free' threshold.
Import duty is a percentage of the item's declared value, based on its tariff classification (collectible figures generally fall under HS heading 9503). On top of duty, the carrier — the postal service or courier — usually adds a customs clearance or brokerage fee.
The duty rate on Japan-origin goods changed several times during 2026 as US tariff policy shifted, so we don't quote a single fixed percentage here. Always confirm the current rate at the source (US CBP, cbp.gov) before relying on it.
The most common complaint since de minimis ended is the surprise: a parcel arrives and the courier asks for duty plus a handling fee at the door that the buyer never saw at checkout. The way to avoid it is to estimate the landed total — item + shipping + duty + fees — before you order.
Use our import tax calculator to estimate the charges for your order so there are no surprises when it arrives.
We show item pricing and international shipping up front, and our calculator lets you estimate import charges for your destination before you buy. Because we source and consolidate in Japan, multiple items can ship together, which keeps per-item shipping and handling down.
Duties and import taxes are set by your country's customs, not by us. Our aim is simply that you can see a realistic all-in total before you commit — not after the parcel is already on your doorstep.
No. Since the de minimis exemption ended, US import duty and fees can apply to any imported parcel regardless of value — even a low-cost prize figure.
It depends on the goods' classification and origin, and the rate on Japan-origin goods changed several times through 2026. Check the current rate with US Customs (CBP) rather than relying on an older figure.
Usually the carrier — the postal service or courier — collects the duty and a clearance fee, often at or just before delivery. Estimate it in advance with our calculator so it isn't a surprise.
By law, the US de minimis exemption is scheduled to be eliminated on July 1, 2027. It has already been suspended indefinitely since June 24, 2026.
