AliExpress USA: Do You Pay Tariffs on Your Order?

AliExpress.us
The short answer: AliExpress ships to the US, but the old $800 duty-free rule is gone. Since 29 August 2025, low-value imports from every country face the duties that apply to them, CBP has suspended the exemption indefinitely, and Congress has repealed it by law from 1 July 2027. There is no safe dollar threshold to remember any more. What you pay depends on the product, where it was made and the rules in force, so the number that matters is the total at checkout.

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What changed: the end of the $800 rule

For decades, shipments worth $800 or less could enter the US free of duty under the “de minimis” exemption, which is how small AliExpress parcels usually arrived without extra charges. That has ended.

WhenWhat happened
Before August 2025Shipments valued at $800 or less generally entered the US duty-free.
4 July 2025The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” became law and terminated the de minimis exemption from 1 July 2027, according to the Federal Register.
29 August 2025The duty-free exemption was suspended for all countries under Executive Order 14324, and CBP began enforcing it.
24 June 2026CBP published rules in the Federal Register making the suspension indefinite for all modes other than the international postal network, with a separate rule covering mail.
24 July 2026CBP’s new mail informal entry process took effect, according to its e-commerce FAQ.
13 August 2026The Court of International Trade ruled that the suspension can continue, according to Axios.
1 July 2027The statutory repeal of the exemption takes effect.

In short, the direction is settled even though the details keep moving. The Supreme Court ruled in February 2026 that the emergency-powers law could not be used to impose tariffs, and the administration has used other legal routes since, so specific rates have changed more than once. This page doesn’t quote rates for that reason.

What you may pay now

CBP says all applicable duties, taxes, fees and charges must be paid on low-value shipments, based on the product’s classification, its country of origin, its value and other criteria.

  • Duty depends on the goods and where they were made. Rates follow the US tariff classification of the item and are the rates in effect when the entry is made. Because rates have changed several times, ignore old figures you see online.
  • Small orders are no longer exempt. CBP says shipments valued at $2,500 or less generally use informal entry, and everything above $2,500 needs formal entry. Duties apply either way, with limited exceptions.
  • Mail needs data and a bond. CBP says shipments that arrive without the required data or bond are not released until the requirements are met. This can delay a parcel.
  • Gifts don’t cover your purchases. Genuine gifts remain exempt, but CBP’s definition excludes anything acquired by purchase, so an AliExpress order can’t be relabelled as a gift.
  • Mail parcels skip one fee. CBP says mail shipments are exempt from the merchandise processing fee, apart from Inbound Express Mail service. Other fees may apply.
  • Sales tax is separate. Depending on your state and the seller, sales tax may also appear at checkout.

How to see the real cost of an order

  1. Open the item and check the country it ships from and the estimated delivery date.
  2. Add it to your cart and open the price breakdown at checkout. Look for lines covering taxes, duties or import charges.
  3. If duties are shown, they are being paid up front. If none are shown, be ready for the carrier or a broker to bill you on delivery.
  4. For a rough idea, look up the item’s tariff classification in the US International Trade Commission’s Harmonized Tariff Schedule, then check CBP’s e-commerce page for the current rules.
  5. Compare the full total, including shipping and any duties, against a local option before you pay. Why the gap is narrowing.

AliExpress’s Help Center says import duties, taxes and other customs charges are normally collected by the shipping company on delivery, so check whether your order shows them up front.

Delivery in the US: what decides the wait

  • The shipping method you pick. Standard shipping is slower and cheaper. Faster or tracked options cost more. Compare the estimated delivery date on the item page.
  • Where the item ships from. AliExpress search pages include a “Shipping from” filter. Items that already sit in a US warehouse can arrive faster, and a parcel that doesn’t cross the border on your order usually avoids import duties. Check the item page to see what applies.
  • Choice items. AliExpress lists free shipping over $10 on Choice items, and a delivery guarantee on items carrying the “Fast delivery” label. Buyers report the real threshold can differ, so check your cart. How Choice works.
  • AliExpress’s safety net. For items without a “Fast delivery” label, AliExpress says you can apply for a refund and keep the item if it isn’t delivered within 60, 75, 90 or 120 days of shipment, depending on delivery conditions.

Orders are often split into several parcels, so track each one separately.

Returns, Buyer Protection and your card

AliExpress’s Buyer Protection covers items that don’t arrive, arrive damaged or aren’t as described. AliExpress says you can claim within 15 days of receiving an item that doesn’t match its description, and a Free Return service applies within 15 days of delivery. Start by contacting the seller, then file a return or refund request from your order. Full guide to Buyer Protection.

If a returned or refunded order included duties you paid, ask AliExpress how those charges are handled before you send anything back. If you paid by credit card, the CFPB says you should report a billing error to your card company within 60 days of the charge appearing on your statement. Payment methods compared.

Before you order from the US: a checklist

  1. Set the United States as your ship-to country and USD as your currency.
  2. Check where the item ships from, and consider items already in the US.
  3. Read the price breakdown for taxes and duties before you pay.
  4. Compare the full total against a US retailer for the same product.
  5. Read the estimated delivery date, then decide if the wait is acceptable.
  6. Apply your coupons and check the final total before you pay. How coupons work.
  7. Check the seller and the listing. Seller checks and product red flags.
  8. Keep the order number and tracking for each parcel.

Don’t ask a seller to mark a parcel as a gift or to understate its value. CBP requires accurate declarations, and shipments without the required information aren’t released.

Ready to shop?

Before you order, add the item to your cart on AliExpress and read the import charges shown for your address. If you want a small first order, browse low-price items on AliExpress, then check the current price and delivery estimate before you pay.

Where to go next

Frequently asked questions

Is there still an $800 duty-free limit for AliExpress orders?

No. The duty-free exemption for shipments valued at $800 or less has been suspended for all countries since 29 August 2025, CBP has suspended it indefinitely, and the exemption is repealed by law from 1 July 2027.

Do I pay tariffs on AliExpress orders in the US?

Applicable duties now apply to low-value shipments. The amount depends on the product’s classification, its country of origin and its value, using the rates in effect when the entry is made.

Can I avoid duties by calling it a gift?

No. CBP’s definition of a bona fide gift excludes articles acquired by purchase. Understating value or mislabelling a parcel can also stop it being released.

Why did my AliExpress order cost more than the listing price?

Duties, taxes or fees may have been added at checkout or billed on delivery. Check the price breakdown before you pay and keep it for your records.

Are US-warehouse items exempt from duties?

A parcel that doesn’t cross the border on your order usually avoids import duties, though the price may already reflect them. Check the item page and the checkout total.

Why is my parcel held up in customs?

CBP says mail shipments without the required data or bond are not released until the requirements are met. Track the parcel and contact the carrier if it stalls.

Is AliExpress safe to use in the US?

It is a large marketplace with a Buyer Protection programme and a refund safety net for undelivered items. Check seller ratings and reviews, keep your records, and use the protection if something goes wrong. How to check a seller.

The bottom line

AliExpress still works from the US, but the era of automatic duty-free parcels is over. Treat the checkout total as the real price, check where each item ships from, and compare with a local option before you pay. Then stack your coupons and order.

Check current prices on AliExpress →

Sources

Tariffs, duties and import rules change often. Confirm current details with CBP and check your checkout total before you pay.

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