US buyers will be responsible for additional duties on most orders exceeding US$800. They may need to provide personal information to facilitate customs clearance of their orders.
Shipments may be delayed due to US customs processing. eBay will adjust Estimated Delivery Dates (EDDs) to ensure arrival estimates for our buyers.
Duties, import fees, and personal information are typically collected by shipping carriers after the buyer completes their purchase on eBay. These duties and import fees will not be included in the prices displayed to buyers on eBay (except for DDP items).
Impact on eBay sellers
You won’t need to pay tariffs or collect duties
When selling to buyers in foreign countries, shipping providers will contact buyers and collect any duties and fees.
eBay helps managing international shipping
With eBay International Shipping, eBay handles the process for you and your buyer. Duties and fees may be included at checkout.
Delays and negative feedback
If you receive feedback from buyers about customs delays or fees, eBay can help remove defects and Late Shipment Rates.
Your delivery options when exporting
eBay International Shipping
- Buyer sees applicable duties and fees upfront and has the option to pay at checkout
- Seller ships and eBay handles the rest
Other shipping provider
- Buyer sees item price at checkout
- Buyer pays applicable duties and fees to the carrier
- Seller responsible for managing applicable customs processes with the carrier
Impact on DDU Items:
For Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU) items, there will be no tariff impact on Items with a selling price below US$800. For items with a selling price above US$800 on DDU, sellers do not need to update prices, as it’s the shipping carrier’s responsibility to handle formal clearance and collect duty.
Impact on DDP Items:
For Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) items, tariff changes will require a review and potential revision of selling prices. Sellers may need to adjust prices to maintain profit margins and comply with new regulations, which may involve recalculating costs to include updated tariff rates.
Item Location:
The location where an Item is stored and shipped from does not impact the duty structure. For example, goods from India stored and shipped from another country to the USA will be charged according to the tariff structure applicable for Indian goods. Please be ready for updates to this policy, as changes may occur in the future.
Specific Tariff Changes:
Additional tariffs will apply beyond current Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariffs. For goods from India, a 10% tariff (revised from the earlier 26%) will apply based on Harmonized System (HSN) codes. After a period of 90 days, this is will be reviewed. Sellers must review HSN codes and may adjust pricing strategies accordingly.
DDP includes import costs in the price, while DDU does not, making the buyer responsible for them. DDP places more responsibility on the seller.
DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid):
Seller delivers goods to a named destination. Buyer handles and pays for import duties, taxes, and customs clearance.
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid):
Seller delivers goods to a named destination and covers all costs, including import duties, taxes, and customs clearance. Buyer just receives the goods.
| Type of Duty | Freight Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Formal Customs Clearance | Over US$2500 | Shipments over US$2,500 must undergo a formal entry process with Customs and Border Protection, requiring a customs bond and a detailed clearance process. |
| De Minimis | Under US$800 | Shipments under US$800 qualify for duty-free entry under the De Minimis rule, with no customs bond or duties required, streamlining the clearance process. |
| Formal Customs Clearance - China and Hong Kong | Over US$250 | Formal clearance will be required for items valued above US$250 |
| De Minimis - China and Hong Kong | Eliminated | De Minimis will be removed completely for China and Hong Kong starting May 2, 2025, at 12:01 AM |
Formal entry is required for shipments that exceed a country’s designated value threshold or contain regulated commodities. It involves a more detailed customs clearance process, requiring additional documentation, and, in many cases, the assistance of a licensed customs broker.
- Higher value threshold: In the United States, for example, earlier, shipments valued at over US$2,500 generally require a formal entry
- Detailed documentation: Formal entries require submission of a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or airway bill, and potentially other import-related documents
- Customs bond requirement: A customs bond is often required to ensure compliance with customs regulations and payment of duties
- Brokerage fees: Due to the complexity of formal entries, importers typically use a licensed customs broker to facilitate the process
- Longer processing time: Because customs authorities need to review and process more documentation, formal entries can take longer to clear than informal entries
- Controlled goods: Some controlled goods, such as food, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and electronics, may always require formal entry, regardless of their value
Frequently asked questions
How will eBay protect sellers?
eBay’s focus is on promoting policies that support small businesses and entrepreneurs. To help navigate these changes, eBay is working to build and expand solutions to support sellers. If you’re an eligible US seller, you can use eBay’s managed shipping service, which takes care of all elements of international shipping and returns on your behalf. Learn more about eBay International Shipping.
eBay will take steps to protect sellers as they adjust to these new tariffs and requirements. This includes adjusting Late Shipment Rates when valid tracking shows problems were caused by shipping delays, and removing associated defects. eBay will also remove Neutral and Negative feedback related to tariffs. Learn more about eBay’s feedback removal policy.
What happens if a buyer requests a return or cancellation?
There’s no changes to eBay’s return policy. Most eBay sales are on DDU basis where the buyer is responsible for paying tariffs, associated fees, and providing further information, if required. Sellers aren’t obligated to accept cancellation requests from buyers due to unexpected tariffs, delivery requirements, or carrier or customs fees.
What happens if a buyer does not pay the tariffs and fees?
For DDU sales if buyers do not pay tariffs, associated fees, or provide the required information to carriers, they will generally not receive their item from the carrier. What then happens to the item depends on the carrier’s policies.
eBay Money Back Guarantee will not apply in this case.
What if buyers have questions about tariffs and the new requirements?
You can refer US buyers to this page for more information. Buyers from other countries can find information on International purchases here.
Do I need to change my shipping settings due to updated tariffs for shipping to the US?
No, when buyers in the US receive your items, they will need to pay the mentioned tariffs and undergo all necessary customs clearance procedures under DDU, regardless of your shipping settings and preferences.
Do I need to inform buyers about updated tariffs?
No, sellers are not obliged to inform buyers of the changed tariffs. For DDU shipments, duties, import fees, and personal information are typically collected by carriers after checkout.
As a seller, will I need to pay duties?
No. Under DDU, you don’t need to collect or report duties; these are paid by the buyer. The carrier will handle contact and collection of payment.
Does the item origin affect the duty structure, or is it the item location that matters?
The location where an Item is stored and shipped from does not impact the duty structure.
What carriers can I use to ensure formal entry is accepted?
Sellers should utilize express carriers such as DHL, FedEx, or UPS for items that require formal clearance. These carriers are already set up to comply with the additional requirements for formal entry.
Will parcels be delayed at the border?
Due to changes in import requirements and tariffs, there may be potential delays at the border that could affect delivery times. Check your tracking details for real-time updates from the carrier in case of a delay.
If there is a delay or an item is blocked at the border will sellers be protected for defects/negative feedback?
eBay will take steps to protect sellers as they adjust to these new tariffs and requirements. This includes adjusting Late Shipment Rates when valid tracking shows problems were caused by shipping delays, and removing associated defects. eBay will also remove Negative-Neutral feedback related to tariffs. Learn more about eBay’s feedback removal policy.
Will I need to update my listings?
Outside of China and Hong Kong, sellers do not need to make any listing updates currently. However, sellers may need to provide additional information, such as Country of Origin and Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) Codes to customs agents and carriers. Shipping with eBay-managed options like Speedpak, the Global Shipping Program (GSP), and eIS (eBay International Shipping) eliminates this burden for sellers.
Will the added tariffs also apply to the seller’s Final Value Fee for the order?
Tariffs will not impact Final Value Fees.
Will the duty be added during checkout on eBay?
eBay will let buyers know if there are potential duties (fees from tariffs) on the item page and at checkout. However, due to rapidly evolving changes to US Customs policies, the amount of the duties may not be shown. Buyers should contact carriers directly to confirm the actual amount.