Sending physical shop items to the US: a guide to new customs & tariff rules (August 2025)

Changes to US customs rules mean it’s more important than ever to plan ahead before shipping physical items to US supporters. This guide explains what’s changed, how it affects Ko-fi creators, and how you can help your buyers have a smooth experience.

What’s new?

From August 29, 2025, all parcels sent to the United States from outside the US will face import tariffs and will need to clear customs. There is no longer a duty-free amount for low-value goods. Most US buyers will now need to pay customs duty (and sometimes a handling fee) before they receive their items. Learn more here.

Who is affected?

If you use Shop, Commissions, or Membership tiers to send physical items (like stickers, pins, posters, and more) to US buyers, this guide is for you. Digital items and rewards aren’t affected by these changes.

What does this mean for Ko-fi creators?

• US buyers now pay customs duty on most physical items sent from outside the US. Buyers are usually asked to pay fees when their parcel arrives.
• Creators must include full customs documents with every US order:
  • A commercial invoice listing for each item, its value, country of origin, and HS/HTS code. Most couriers will guide you through this step when you ship.
  • The buyer’s phone number and email. US customs won’t deliver without these. Ko-fi collects these for Shop, Commissions, and Membership rewards (see guide below).
• Make it clear to US buyers. Add a note to your shop, commissions, and membership tiers so buyers know about possible fees and the need for contact details.
• Be ready for returns and delays. Parcels with missing paperwork, or where buyers refuse to pay duty, may be delayed or sent back to you. Updating your terms to specify who is responsible for customs fees can help avoid confusion if there are any issues. (see guide below).

Checklist for sending physical items to the US

1. Update your shop item listings, commission descriptions, membership tier descriptions and your terms to warn buyers about possible customs charges and delays.
2. Always collect buyers’ phone numbers and emails for customs forms (see guide below).
3. Fill out commercial invoices for all US parcels. Your courier or postal service will help with this.
4. Double check product details, use the right HS/HTS codes and list each item’s value and country of origin. Learn more here.

Collecting phone numbers and emails from buyers

The good news is, Ko-fi always collects your buyer’s email address when a payment is made.

Collecting phone numbers for physical items works a little differently depending on the feature:

Commissions:

• If you’re sending a physical commission, Ko-fi automatically collects the buyer’s shipping address and telephone number.
• Find these details by going to Payments and Orders, selecting your order, and clicking “View details.” Learn more here.

Membership tiers:

• When setting up a membership tier, select “Request Supporter’s Address” to collect a shipping address and phone number when a member joins.
• If you start collecting details later, you can add a shipping address or your member can add their details at anytime.

Shop:

• To collect phone numbers for physical shop orders, turn on “Require supporter telephone number for physical shipping” in your shop settings.
• If you prefer not to require this for all physical orders, you can leave instructions for buyers to share their number via DM instead. Just note, this may result in fewer buyers providing their phone number.

Still have questions? Contact us anytime, we’re always here to help. 💌

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