U.S. Customs User Fee Adjustment for Inflation in FY 2026: Key Changes and Compliance Tips for Import-Export Businesses

On July 23, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced inflation-based adjustments to customs user fees for Fiscal Year 2026 (effective October 1, 2025), as required by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. The changes affect core fees for transportation, cargo processing, and licensing—directly impacting business costs. Below is a streamlined breakdown of critical updates and actionable steps.

I. Why the Adjustment? Legal & Data Triggers

1. Mandate Under Federal Law

The FAST Act (2015) requires CBP to adjust fees tied to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) when the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) rises by over 1% year-over-year.

2. 2026 Trigger Met

CBP’s analysis confirmed a 2.59% CPI-U increase (June 2024–May 2025 vs. June 2023–May 2024), exceeding the 1% threshold. A total adjustment factor of 34.331% (vs. FY 2014 baseline) applies to all eligible fees.

II. Key Fee Adjustments: 15 Changes Import-Export Businesses Need to Know

The adjustment covers two major categories: 19 CFR § 24.22 (Basic Transportation and License Fees) and 19 CFR § 24.23 (Merchandise Processing and Expedited Transportation Fees). Below is a summary of high-frequency fees for import-export businesses to facilitate cost accounting:

Table 1: 19 CFR § 24.22 – Transportation Vehicle & License Fees (FY 2026 New Rates)

Fee Type	FY 2026 New Rate	Key Notes
Commercial Vessel Entry Fee	$587.03 per entry	Includes an annual fee cap of $7,999.40 (no further fees charged once a single vessel’s annual entry fees exceed this amount)
Barge & Bulk Carrier Entry Fee	$147.76 per entry	Annual fee cap of $2,014.96
Commercial Truck Entry Fee	$7.35 per entry	Must be combined with the USDA-APHIS inspection fee of 13.45 (total per entry: 20.80); only the inspection fee applies starting from the 19th entry in a year
Railroad Entry Fee	$11.08 per entry	Annual prepaid fee cap of $134.33
Private Vessel/Aircraft First Entry Fee	$36.94 per entry	Includes annual prepaid fees, applicable to non-commercial private transportation
Dutiable Mail Processing Fee	$7.39 per item	For international mail subject to customs duties
0Commercial Vessel/Aircraft Passenger Entry Fee	$7.39 per passenger	$2.59 per passenger for travel originating from U.S. territories
Customs Broker License Fee	$185.38 per license	Mandatory fee for customs brokers to obtain or renew licenses

Table 2: 19 CFR § 24.23 – Merchandise Processing & Expedited Transportation Fees (FY 2026 New Rates)

Fee Type	FY 2026 New Rate	Key Notes
Express Carrier/Hub Processing Fee	$1.34 per shipment	Calculated per waybill/bill of lading; minimum 0.47, maximum 1.34 per shipment
Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) Minimum	$33.58 per entry	Ad valorem rate remains 0.3464%; only the minimum is increased (previous minimum, estimated by the 34.331% factor, was approximately $25)
Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) Maximum	$651.50 per entry	Ad valorem rate also maintained; maximum significantly higher than the previous rate (approximately $485)
Manual Entry/Release Surcharge	$4.03 per entry	Applicable to non-automated merchandise declaration processes
Informal Entry (Automated, Non-CBP Prepared)	$2.69 per entry	For low-value goods not requiring formal customs clearance (e.g., personal items)
Informal Entry (Manual, Non-CBP Prepared)	$8.06 per entry	Manual submissions not prepared with CBP staff assistance
Informal Entry (Manual, CBP Prepared)	$12.09 per entry	Manual submissions requiring preparation assistance from CBP staff

III.3 Steps for Businesses to Prepare

Recalibrate Costs: Account for fee 叠加 (e.g., truck entries + USDA fees) and higher MPF caps for high-value cargo.
Optimize Processes: Use automated systems (e.g., ACE) to avoid manual surcharges; consolidate low-value shipments.
Track Updates: CBP will issue technical corrections to 19 CFR Part 24—monitor CBP.gov or contact Kari Deppe (317-294-2144 / UserFeeNotices@cbp.dhs.gov) for clarifications.

IV. Conclusion: Trends Behind the Adjustment and Long-Term Business Strategies

This customs fee adjustment is essentially a response by U.S. federal agencies to inflationary pressures and a necessary measure for CBP to maintain border management and service capabilities. For businesses, short-term actions should focus on cost calculation and process optimization, while long-term strategies may include:

Renegotiating contract terms with logistics providers to incorporate fee adjustments into price fluctuation mechanisms.
Enhancing supply chain digitalization (e.g., automated declarations, electronic bills of lading) to offset fee increases through improved efficiency.
Monitoring future CBP policy developments (e.g., quarterly CPI-U changes) to anticipate potential fee adjustment trends.

Starting October 1, 2025, all import-export operations must comply with the new fee structure. Businesses are advised to update internal processes and notify partners by the end of September 2025 to ensure compliant operations.

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