The End of the $800 De Minimis Duty Exemption: What It Means for Luxury Shoppers
As of February 4, 2025, the U.S. has officially canceled the $800 De Minimis duty exemption, which previously allowed shoppers to import goods valued under $800 into the U.S. without paying import duties.
Now, all products shipped internationally, regardless of their value, will be subject to import duties. However, this rule does not apply if you personally carry your purchases back to the U.S. while traveling.
While this change adds costs for shipped items, Italian luxury designer prices are often lower than U.S. retail prices, making overseas shopping still an attractive option.
Why Was the $800 De Minimis Duty Exemption Important?
Previously, you could shop for items under $800 from international boutiques and avoid customs duties. For example, if you purchased a pair of Gucci slides for $750, you didn’t have to pay any duties or sales tax. However, with the new regulation, you now have to pay a 10% import duty and a 0.35% merchandise processing fee on such purchases.
If you purchase Gucci slides for $750, the duties and fees would be:
- Import Duty (10%): $750 × 10% = $75
- Merchandise Processing Fee (0.35%): $750 × 0.35% = $2.63
Total Extra Cost: $75 + $2.63 = $77.63
Previously, under the De Minimis rule, this purchase would have been duty-free, but now it incurs additional costs.
Gucci
What’s Changed?
With the removal of the $800 De Minimis duty exemption:
- All international shipments, no matter their value, will incur import duties.
- Luxury designer goods are affected the most due to their high prices.
Duty Rates for Luxury Items
These are existing duty rates that now apply to all imported shipments:
- Bags: Around 10%
- Clothing: Between 10% and 17.8%, depending on fabric and design complexity.
- Sunglasses: 2.5% duty rate plus a $26 FDA clearance fee per shipment.
How to Reduce Extra Costs When Shopping Luxury Overseas
To minimize extra costs while shopping for luxury designer goods internationally, consider these strategies:
- Buy in Person When Traveling – Carrying your purchases back to the U.S. in your luggage helps you avoid import duties on shipped items.
- Take Advantage of VAT Refunds – Many countries, including Italy, offer VAT refunds for tourists. Claiming a VAT refund can help offset duty costs.
- Consolidate Shipments – Ordering multiple items together in a single shipment can lower per-item processing fees.
- Shop with Tax Free Boutique – Via Manzoni Boutique does not charge sales tax when shipping outside Michigan, providing additional savings. We also offer expert guidance on international luxury shopping, ensuring you get the best deals and strategies to minimize extra costs.
- Shop with Via Manzoni Boutique – We have a curated inventory of 20,000 luxury designer products from 60 different brands in Italy. We always guarantee a better price, even on the latest collections. Our shipments arrive weekly at our Michigan boutique, and we specialize in international shipping and duty clearance. You don’t need to worry about the complicated import process or additional duties—we handle everything for you.
Designer Outlet
Via Manzoni Boutique is committed to providing the best deals and discounts despite these cost increases. We import all our luxury designer products directly from our Italian warehouse and will not increase prices. If you have questions, feel free to reach out.
Stay stylish. Stay informed.
fashion blogs
Break-In at Via Manzoni Boutique: Four Suspects at Large
News Release: Via Manzoni Boutique Break-In Birmingham, MI – June 5, 2024 – In the early hours of June 4th, Via Manzoni Boutique, a high-end luxury store located at 239 Pierce St, was the target o...
Leer más
Bottega Veneta Sunglasses: Discover Drop Aviators
Experience the epitome of luxury with Bottega Veneta Drop Aviator Sunglasses. Crafted with precision from recycled acetate and bio nylon lenses, these sunglasses combine timeless elegance with mode...
Leer más