Everything you need to know about tariff compliance for ecommerce.
As of June 2026, the U.S. federal government suspended the de minimis exemption for imports under $800. This means all packages entering the U.S., regardless of value, are now subject to tariffs and duties.
Previously, shipments valued under $800 could enter duty-free. Now, sellers must calculate and collect tariffs on every import, adding complexity to cross-border ecommerce operations.
All ecommerce sellers importing goods into the U.S. are affected, whether you source from China, Vietnam, India, or anywhere else. The change applies to:
If your supply chain involves any international import, you need a tariff compliance plan.
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) is the official U.S. government classification system for imported goods. Each product is assigned a 6-10 digit code that determines its duty rate.
Duty rates range from 0% to 25%+ depending on product type and country of origin. Misclassification can result in penalties, so accurate coding is critical.
Tariff duty is calculated as a percentage of the declared value of goods:
Duty = Declared Value × Duty Rate
For example, a shipment of textiles valued at $10,000 with a 16% duty rate incurs $1,600 in tariffs.
The declared value typically includes the cost of goods plus freight, insurance, and handling (landed cost). State-level sales tax may also apply.
Yes, you can - but timing and transparency matter. Most ecommerce sellers handle tariff costs in three ways:
Be clear with customers about what they're paying. Hidden tariff fees lead to cart abandonment and chargebacks.
You'll need three pieces of information:
Once you have these, multiply landed cost by the applicable duty rate. Tariff Compliance Automation does this lookup and calculation automatically, eliminating manual HTS research.
Misclassification - whether intentional or accidental - carries serious consequences:
Even small businesses are subject to these penalties. Accuracy is both a legal and financial imperative.
It depends on your import volume and complexity. Most small ecommerce sellers don't require a broker for standard imports, but:
Even if you don't hire a broker, you're responsible for accurate declarations. Using automated compliance tools reduces risk regardless of whether you use a broker.
Clearance times vary based on several factors:
Accurate tariff classification and documentation speeds clearance. Incomplete or misclassified shipments sit in queue longer.
Our system eliminates manual HTS research by automating the entire classification process:
The process takes seconds instead of hours of manual research.
Edge cases and new product categories sometimes fall outside standard classifications. When our system flags a product as ambiguous, we:
For complex or novel products, we recommend consulting a licensed customs broker to finalize classification before large shipments.
Tariff rates change regularly due to:
Our system updates daily with the latest USITC data, so your calculations always reflect current rates. You'll be notified if rates change for products you frequently import.
Yes. We offer integrations with major platforms:
Once integrated, tariffs are calculated automatically at import, so you can pass accurate costs to customers in real-time without manual calculation.
For each import, we create audit-ready documentation:
This documentation protects you if CBP requests a classification review. It demonstrates good-faith compliance and accurate record-keeping.
Yes. Beyond automation, we provide:
Contact our team for a custom consulting package.
We offer three tiers:
Most ecommerce sellers start on Growth. See our pricing page for a full feature comparison.