This is the rule. The checker puts your own order through it → Choose your country, enter the value, and see who collects the charge.
K-beauty blogs: “Orders under $800 are duty-free!” 🥳
2026: “Ma’am, that rule left in August 2025.”
Quick answer: No, de minimis is not back. The old “under $800 = duty-free” rule has been suspended for every country since 29 August 2025, and the February 2026 Supreme Court tariff ruling didn’t bring it back. Since 24 July 2026, many Korean-origin goods face a Section 301 tariff capped at 12.5% including the normal duty. So yes, a small K-beauty parcel from Korea can come with a duty bill.
I went through CBP, trade-law and customs-broker sources on 30 September 2026 and turned them into one timeline and 3 example baskets, so you don’t have to read a CBP bulletin on a Friday night.
Rosé gets ready for the Met Gala (the most American K-pop moment)
Since we’re talking about the US: here’s BLACKPINK’s Rosé getting her last looks done before the Met Gala, from Vogue’s channel. Okay, now the tariffs. Sorry.
How de minimis disappeared, in one timeline
A plot with more twists than a K-drama finale.
Is de minimis still available in the US?
| Date | What changed |
|---|---|
| 29 Aug 2025 | Duty-free de minimis suspended for all countries. [4] |
| 20–24 Feb 2026 | The Supreme Court struck down IEEPA tariffs, but a new executive order kept de minimis suspended. A temporary 10% surcharge replaced the IEEPA tariffs. [1] |
| 24 Jun 2026 | CBP rules put the suspension on its own legal footing. [1] |
| 24 Jul 2026 | The 10% surcharge expired and new Section 301 tariffs began. Normal duties now apply to postal parcels too. [3][5] |
| 1 Jul 2027 | Statutory repeal of de minimis scheduled. [1] |
What a Korean skincare parcel can cost now
Real numbers, minus the legal jargon.
Many leave-on skincare products fall under a US heading with a 0% normal duty. The July change added a Section 301 layer for Korea, capped so the total is 12.5%. If the normal duty is 0%, the extra layer can be the full 12.5%.
| Illustration (Korean-origin skincare, 0% MFN assumed) | Possible duty at 12.5% |
|---|---|
| One $21 serum | about $2.63 |
| A $40 basket | about $5.00 |
| An $80 basket | about $10.00 |
These are my estimates, not a shop’s quote. Carriers may add a brokerage fee, state sales tax may apply, and sunscreens are regulated as OTC drugs in the US, so don’t assume they’re treated exactly like a serum.
Math giving you a headache? Plug your cart into my door-charge calculator and pick “United States.”
“Made in Korea” vs “shipped from Korea”
This is where US shoppers can actually save money.
If a product is already in the US (Amazon US warehouses, iHerb’s US stock, a brand’s US store), the import has usually been handled before you order. You pay the listed price plus sales tax. If it ships from Korea to your door, you or the shop deal with the import. For one bottle, US stock often wins now. My Torriden serum price comparison shows a real example.
- Torriden DIVE-IN Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum (50ml) (also sold from US stock): Amazon · iHerb (10% off with code PNF305) · Stylevana (10% off with SV15SEOULBD, or 15% off $59+ when logged in) · Sephora
- COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence (100ml): Amazon · iHerb (10% off with code PNF305) · Stylevana (10% off with SV15SEOULBD, or 15% off $59+ when logged in)
Discounts depend on your cart and each store’s current terms. On Amazon, check “Sold by” and “Ships from.”
My checklist before a US K-beauty order
- Where does it ship from? US stock or Korea changes everything.
- Are duties included? Look for “duties and taxes included” or DDP. If not stated, assume you may pay on delivery.
- Is there a carrier fee on top?
- Is the saving still real? A few dollars cheaper overseas can vanish after 12.5% plus a fee.
- Screenshot the final total before you pay.
Quick questions
What is the US de minimis threshold now? The $800 figure is still in the law, but duty-free treatment is suspended, so low-value parcels are dutiable in practice.
Using Olive Young? Olive Young Global no longer ships to the US; there’s a separate US store.
Sources: Zonos US tariff updates · Korea JoongAng Daily (24 Jul 2026) · Global Trade Alert · CBP Bulletin, 8 July 2026. Not legal advice, no test order. US trade rules are still being challenged in court, so check again before big orders. Sources reviewed 30 September 2026; rewritten 7 November 2026.
