Parcels arriving in the U.S. from India may now face duties even at low values after the $800 de minimis exemption was suspended. CBP rules and carrier billing practices explain why recipients can see customs charges, including invoices after delivery.

Americans receiving parcels from India may now encounter customs duty or other import charges even on relatively low-value packages. The change follows the U.S. suspension of the de minimis exemption that had generally allowed qualifying imports valued at $800 or less to enter duty-free.

$800 de minimis exemption no longer broadly applies

U.S. Customs and Border Protection says that, effective August 29, 2025, imported goods from all countries valued at or below $800 are no longer automatically eligible for de minimis duty-free treatment. The suspension was continued by a February 20, 2026 executive order.

A parcel from India can therefore be subject to applicable duties, taxes and fees even when its declared value is below $800. Product classification, country of origin, declared value and current tariff rules can all affect the final charge.

Why the recipient may receive the bill

For courier shipments, the carrier may clear the parcel through customs and advance duties or taxes on behalf of the party responsible for payment. FedEx says the shipper, recipient or a third party can be designated to pay; if no party is selected, the recipient normally becomes responsible.

This can result in the recipient receiving an invoice or payment request. FedEx says recipients can be invoiced for outstanding duties and taxes. DHL says it may advance import charges and bill the receiver, and additional duties assessed after the initial customs entry can also appear on a later duty invoice.

Charges can vary by parcel

There is no single customs charge for every package from India. The amount can depend on the contents, tariff classification, customs value, origin and shipping method.

Recipients should also distinguish government duties from carrier processing, disbursement or clearance fees, which may appear separately.

Verify unexpected payment requests

Anyone receiving an unexpected customs email or bill should verify it through the carrier’s official website or customer-service channel before paying. FedEx warns customers to be cautious of suspicious payment requests and provides an official import-payment tool for U.S. shipments.

For people who regularly receive parcels from India, low value alone no longer guarantees duty-free entry into the United States, making it important to confirm who will be responsible for import charges before shipment.