An Post to keep US parcels flowing with a tariff payment solution for businesses

27 August 2025

Following a directive from the US government, all parcels originating in Europe and containing goods, must have taxes paid on those goods before they can the US.    The long-standing ‘de minimus’ allowance for contents (goods) less than $800 in value will no longer apply from 29th August. 

The only exceptions to this new ruling are traditional letters, documents and parcels containing gifts valued at less than €85/$100.

In response to this directive, many european postal carriers are planning to cease all parcel services to the US, at least temporarily, and to avoid a chaotic situation in which the US administration is not providing any systems or support to assist european carriers in the collection of taxes.   
Conscious of the importance of keeping trade links with the US open for Irish businesses, and the strong family connections between Ireland and the US, An Post has developed a solution which will enable receiving customers in the US to be advised of taxes owing on goods in transit to them, and to pay those taxes securely and speedily so that that the goods can be shipped to the US and delivered to them.  An Post will be working with a trusted partner in the US to provide this service.

Garrett Bridgeman, Managing Director of An Post Mails & Parcels: “Strong personal and business links between Ireland and the US have been built over generations, and it is a important market for many Irish firms who use the postal system to sell into America.  This situation is not of our making, but rather than simply switch off services and leave customers high and dry, we’ve put a solution in place.  We in An Post have built up considerable expertise in supporting customers deal with the complexities of EU customs and Brexit.   We’ll do all we can to support customers deal with these US tariffs and get their parcels through to customers, families and friends.” 

What does this US directive mean for An Post customers from Friday 29th August? 

• For customers sending letters / documents only, there is no change.  These will continue to be delivered as normal.
• For customers sending gifts of $100 dollars or less (€85) – there is no change.  These will continue to be delivered as normal provided the necessary documentation is completed at the Post Office or at anpost.com/USA
• For customers sending gifts with a value over $100 – taxes will be determined by the value and origin of the goods being posted, and must be paid by the receiving customer before the item leaves Ireland.  Details of next steps at anpost.com/USA  
• For businesses posting  ecommerce goods of any value, taxes will be determined by the value and origin of the goods being posted, and must be paid by the receiving customer before the item leaves Ireland. They will continue to use An Post’s existing data capture systems, and will provide additional contact details for their receiving customers in the US More details and support are available at an post.com/USA
• There will be no Registered Post service available for items containing goods from Ireland to the US after 29th August.

    
Business customers posting ecommerce items to the US, or personal customers posting a gift with a value more than €85 ($100) will have to capture the email/phone number of the US recipient / buyer and advise those customers of their requirement to pay taxes on the item.   An Post’s US partner will contact the customer to collect the payment securely.   Once those payments have been received, An Post will forward payments and data to the US administration so that items can be shipped from Ireland to the US. 
Business customers should continue to complete all necessary electronic data capture for the USA as they have been doing for some years now.   Should receiving US customers choose not to pay the taxes due, the item(s) will be returned by An Post to the Irish sender.
Customers can find at more at anpost.com/USA