Will I Have to Pay Customs Duties on My RetroBoxed Order? [August 2025]
Here’s What You Need to Know in 2025 — August 2025 UPDATE
[UPDATE, August 2025]
Since August 29, 2025, the United States has ended the $800 de minimis exemption for international parcels.
This means all shipments, regardless of value, are now subject to customs duties and taxes.But don’t worry — we have partnered with UPS to make this process smooth for you:
- All duties and taxes are prepaid by us
- No surprise fees at delivery
- Faster, more reliable shipping with UPSYou can read more about this change in our new article here:
https://retroboxed.medium.com/retroboxed-orders-to-the-usa-faster-delivery-no-customs-surprises-af1660fdddb6
Lately, I’ve been getting more and more messages from U.S. customers asking the same thing:
“Will I have to pay customs duties if I place an order now?”
With all the headlines about tariffs, trade wars, and global uncertainty, it’s easy to assume that ordering something from Europe could suddenly cost more than expected.
So in this article, I want to explain:
- what’s actually happening with U.S. trade policy,
- what’s changed (and what hasn’t),
- and what it all means for you as a RetroBoxed customer.
If you’ve also read my recent article about international shipping times, you’ll know I like to keep things transparent and easy to understand. This one’s no different — so let’s dive in.
How It’s Been Working Until Now: EU → USA Shipping
For years, it’s been surprisingly easy to ship goods from Europe to the U.S. — especially small orders from small shops like mine.
Here’s why:
- The U.S. has a “de minimis” threshold of $800 USD (disabled for China).
- That means anything you import below $800 in value is exempt from customs duties and taxes.
- There’s no VAT from Poland, no import tax, and usually no delays — especially for tracked airmail.
As someone who ships Acrylic Display Cases to the U.S. every week, I can confirm:
99% of orders arrive without any extra cost to the customer.
Trump and Trade: What He Promised Before the Elections
During his election campaigns — both in 2016 and again in 2024 — Donald Trump made it clear that he didn’t like how international trade was structured.
He talked about:
- unfair deals with China and Europe,
- the U.S. “losing” money through imports,
- and imposing a universal tariff on all imports (even from allies).
This “universal tariff” was sometimes mentioned as 10% across the board, and yes — that caused a lot of uncertainty in global markets. Understandably, people began asking: Will this affect me as a buyer?
What Actually Happened — and What Didn’t
Here’s the good news: those tariffs never targeted small, individual buyers.
During Trump’s first term, most tariffs applied to:
- high-volume shipments from China,
- industrial materials and electronics,
- and large-scale commercial importers.
The EU was mostly unaffected — and the $800 de minimis rule for individuals in the U.S. remained untouched.
As of today (July 2025), that rule still applies.
Even with new campaign talk about more tariffs, there has been no change to import laws for small individual shipments from Poland or other EU countries.
Does This Affect RetroBoxed Customers?
In short: No, it doesn’t.
RetroBoxed orders:
- Are handmade one at a time.
- Are shipped from Poland, a U.S. ally.
- Are priced far below the $800 USD threshold.
That means your package enters the United States:
- Without import taxes
- Without customs duties
- Without surprise charges
So unless you’re planning to bulk order a whole crate of acrylic boxes (which would be awesome, by the way!), you’re totally in the clear.
What If Something Changes? Here’s How Etsy Has Your Back
If you ordered your RetroBoxed case via Etsy, you have another layer of protection.
According to Etsy’s official policy, the platform is:
- Tracking global tax and customs changes, country by country.
- Prepared to collect any future duties at checkout (if required by law).
- Committed to showing all fees up front, so you’re never surprised after payment.
In short, if the rules ever do change in the future — you’ll know before you buy, not after.
And of course, I’ll be here to help if anything ever seems unclear.
I’ll Keep You Posted (Literally)
I regularly keep an eye on global shipping and trade news — not just because it impacts my business, but because I want your experience to be as smooth as possible. If anything changes that might affect delivery times, customs, or costs, I’ll make sure to update my blog, share the news on social media, and include a note in the store.
If you ever receive a customs notice or simply feel unsure about something, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m always happy to help. Thanks again for supporting a small business like mine!
About RetroBoxed
I design and build Custom Acrylic Display Cases for collectors around the world. Each piece is made to order and shipped from Poland with care.
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