If you ship to the USA with Royal Mail, big changes are coming from 29 August 2025 — and UK sellers need to act fast.
The US is removing its $800 duty-free allowance, meaning nearly all parcels sent from the UK to the USA will now be subject to customs duties and taxes.
To manage this, Royal Mail is retiring older service codes and introducing new Delivered Duties Paid (PDDP) services for US shipments.
What’s changing for Royal Mail USA services
Royal Mail’s new PDDP options ensure duties and taxes are paid upfront, avoiding surprise charges for your US customers.
These new service codes include: MTV, MPR, DE6, and BYD.
At the same time, dozens of older service codes — including BPI, ETB, MP4, MTK, DEJ and others — are being retired for US shipments. If you continue using them, parcels may be delayed or refused by US customs.
Why this matters for UK ecommerce businesses
If you sell to the USA, you can’t rely on the old “under $800 = no duty” rule anymore. Every US order now needs:
- Complete customs data (value, origin, HS code, etc.)
- To be shipped on the correct PDDP service code
Failure to get this right can lead to rejected parcels, unexpected charges, and unhappy customers.
How Zenstores helps you stay compliant
Zenstores automatically supports both automated customs forms and the new Royal Mail USA PDDP services, helping you stay compliant without extra admin.
With Zenstores, you can:
- Connect all your sales channels and Royal Mail account in one place.
- Streamline customs data submission with automated customs forms.
- Automatically apply the correct Royal Mail USA service codes.
- Generate customs-ready shipping labels with all required data fields.
If you’re shipping to the US at scale, Zenstores makes these changes simple to manage — so you can focus on selling, not paperwork.
What UK sellers should do now
- Review your Royal Mail service codes for US shipments — update to the new PDDP options.
- Ensure your shipping system captures full customs data for every order.
- Switch to Zenstores to automate compliance, save time, and ship confidently to the USA.
Stay ahead of Royal Mail USA changes with Zenstores
These Royal Mail USA updates don’t have to cause disruption. Zenstores keeps your shipping smooth, accurate, and compliant — ready for whatever 2026 brings.
Start your free Zenstores trial today and make shipping to the USA simple
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Royal Mail's PDDP service for US shipments?
Postal Delivered Duties Paid is Royal Mail's service that collects customs duties and taxes upfront, so US customers don't face surprise charges on delivery.
Why did Royal Mail introduce new service codes for the USA?
The US removed its $800 duty-free import threshold from 29 August 2025, meaning nearly all parcels now attract duty. Royal Mail introduced PDDP codes (MTV, MPR, DE6, BYD) to handle this, retiring older codes that don't support upfront duty collection.
What happens if I keep using an old Royal Mail USA service code?
Parcels shipped on retired codes risk being delayed or refused by US customs, since they no longer meet the current requirements for upfront duty payment.
What customs data do I need for every US order now?
Full and accurate details including item value, country of origin, and HS code are required for every parcel, regardless of value.
How does Zenstores handle the Royal Mail USA changes automatically?
Zenstores applies the correct PDDP service codes and generates customs-ready labels with the required data fields built in, so you don't need to manually track which codes are current.
