Modification of the Test of the New Electronic Informal Entry Process for Mail

Issuing agencies

Abstract

This document announces that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is modifying the test of the new electronic informal entry type for merchandise entering the United States through the international mail process to permit transmission of the entry with or without electronic Partner Government Agency (PGA) data.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 203 (Thursday, October 22, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 203 (Thursday, October 22, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 66707]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21570]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection


Modification of the Test of the New Electronic Informal Entry 
Process for Mail

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland 
Security.

ACTION: General notice.

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SUMMARY: This document announces that U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) is modifying the test of the new electronic informal 
entry type for merchandise entering the United States through the 
international mail process to permit transmission of the entry with or 
without electronic Partner Government Agency (PGA) data.

DATES: The modification is effective on October 22, 2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Mabelitini, Director, 
Intellectual Property Rights & E-Commerce Division, Office of Trade, 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 202-325-6915, 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fb9e989496969e89989ebb98998bd59f9388d59c948d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e98c8a8684848c9b8a8ca98a8b99c78d819ac78e869f">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 24, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) published a notice in the Federal Register (91 FR 
38007), announcing a test for a new electronic informal entry process 
for international mail in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), 
the entry type 13 (Informal Mail Entry). The test commenced on 
September 22, 2026. The new informal entry type 13 is available for 
international mail shipments valued at $2,500 or less, including those 
shipments that would previously have been eligible for the de minimis 
duty exemption, that are sent to the United States through the 
international postal network (``international mail''). The Entry Type 
13 Test provides an alternative to the interim process for informal 
mail entries, as set forth in section 145.12(b) of title 19 of the Code 
of Federal Regulations (19 CFR 145.12(b)), and allows filers to file 
informal entry for qualified international mail shipments 
electronically in ACE. This test temporarily creates an informal entry 
pathway for low-value international mail shipments subject to PGA data 
requirements or duties other than those set forth in Chapters 1-97 of 
the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS),\1\ which 
are ineligible for the interim process for informal mail entries, 
pursuant to 19 CFR 145.12(a)(2)(v)-(vi).
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    \1\ For example, goods subject to trade remedies, such as 
Section 232 duties (Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, 
as amended; 19 U.S.C. 1862, Public Law 87-794, 76 Stat. 872), 
Section 201 duties (Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974; 19 U.S.C. 
2251 et seq., Public Law 93-618, 88 Stat.1978), or Section 301 
duties (Title III of the Trade Act of 1974; 19 U.S.C. 2411-2420, 
Public Law 93-618, 88 Stat.1978 (as amended)).
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    To participate in the test, the importer of record (IOR), who is 
the owner, purchaser of the merchandise being mailed to the United 
States, or the licensed broker properly appointed by the owner, 
purchaser, or consignee, who is acting as an IOR, must file the entry 
type 13 data required by CBP electronically in ACE. In addition to the 
above Entry Type 13 Test data elements, merchandise subject to duties 
under Chapter 98 or Chapter 99 of the HTSUS, or for which duty-free 
treatment is claimed under Chapter 98 of the HTSUS or pursuant to a 
Free Trade Agreement, must transmit the additional data mandated by 
those requirements, as applicable. Participants with shipments subject 
to PGA data requirements may also transmit PGA data electronically in 
ACE with their entry type 13 filing. However, CBP is modifying this 
test to also temporarily accept transmission of an entry type 13 that 
is not accompanied by complete electronic PGA data, to allow filers to 
begin using the entry type 13 while they work to ensure that they can 
electronically submit all of the data required for complete PGA 
submissions. CBP will announce the conclusion of this temporary 
acceptance in a future notice published in the Federal Register. For 
more information on the test procedures and requirements, please refer 
to the notice announcing the test (91 FR 38007) and the CBP and Trade 
Automated Interface Requirements (CATAIR) guidelines for ACE, which may 
be found at <a href="https://www.cbp.gov/trade/ace/catair">https://www.cbp.gov/trade/ace/catair</a>.

Susan S. Thomas,
Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Trade.
[FR Doc. 2026-21570 Filed 10-21-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P


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