How to Import Goods for Personal Use

Importing goods for personal use means bringing items into the U.S. for yourself rather than for resale — and how much duty you owe, and whether the shipment clears at all, depends on how the goods arrive, what they are, and import rules that changed significantly in 2025. The headline change is that the long-standing duty-free treatment for low-value parcels was suspended, so the “it’s under $800, it’s free” assumption many travelers and online shoppers relied on no longer holds the way it did.

Personal use vs. commercial use

CBP treats goods differently depending on purpose. Personal-use imports are items for your own use or your household’s — not for sale. Commercial imports are goods you intend to resell, which trigger the full importer-of-record process. The line matters because personal-use goods can qualify for traveler exemptions and lighter entry handling, while commercial goods generally cannot. Quantity is a signal: bringing in one watch reads as personal; bringing in fifty reads as commercial, whatever you call it.

If you carry it in: the traveler’s personal exemption

When you return to the U.S. from a trip with goods you acquired abroad, you can usually bring a set value of articles in free of duty under your personal exemption. For most returning residents, that exemption is $800 in fair retail value, set out in 19 C.F.R. Part 148 and Chapter 98 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Some specifics to know:

• The standard exemption is $800; higher and lower figures apply for certain destinations and circumstances.
• You generally cannot use the full exemption more than once in any 30-day period.
• The goods normally must accompany you, and you must declare everything you acquired abroad.
• Above the exemption, the next band of value is dutiable at a flat rate, and amounts beyond that at regular duty rates.

This carried-baggage framework is long-standing and is the most stable part of personal-use importing.

If you ship or mail it: entry and duty

Goods you buy abroad and have shipped or mailed to you are handled differently from goods in your luggage. They go through a customs entry — typically an informal entry for lower-value parcels — and CBP assesses any duty owed based on the product’s classification and value. A carrier or the postal service usually collects duty from you on delivery. The key planning point is the one that changed in 2025, below.

The de minimis exemption was suspended in 2025

For years, parcels valued at $800 or less could enter duty-free under the “de minimis” exemption (Section 321 of the Tariff Act). That exemption was suspended in 2025 through executive action — first for specific countries early in the year, then for all countries effective August 29, 2025 under Executive Order 14324 — meaning low-value shipments that once arrived duty-free are now generally subject to applicable duties and fees. This area remains in flux and is the reason a personal-use importer should confirm the current rule for the specific goods and country before ordering, rather than relying on older guidance.

Restricted and prohibited goods

Value is only one issue; what you import is another. Many categories are restricted or prohibited regardless of value or personal-use intent — certain foods, plants, animal products, medications, and items subject to other agencies’ rules. The FDA, for example, has a narrow personal-importation policy for some medications that does not make every personal drug import lawful. Check whether your item is restricted before you buy, because “it was for personal use” does not override an import prohibition.

Frequently asked questions

Is there still a duty-free amount for things I buy abroad? For goods you carry back in your luggage, yes — the returning-resident personal exemption (commonly $800) still applies. For parcels shipped or mailed to you, the separate $800 de minimis exemption was suspended in 2025, so those can now be dutiable.

How often can I use my personal exemption? Generally not more than once every 30 days for the full amount.

Do personal-use imports have to be declared? Yes. You must declare goods acquired abroad. Failing to declare can mean penalties and seizure, regardless of personal-use intent.

Can I import medication or food for personal use? Sometimes, within narrow limits. Many foods, plants, and drugs are restricted or prohibited by agencies beyond CBP, so check the specific item before ordering.

For broader context, see our international trade law practice page.

Bringing something valuable or regulated in for personal use? Reidel Law Firm delivers a flat-fee Import/Export Compliance Memo that confirms duty treatment, restrictions, and the current rules for your specific goods — with direct attorney access. Get a flat-fee compliance memo →