PC hobbyist charged $684 in tariffs on $355 shipment of parts as low-value import exemptions vanish - de minimis exempti

https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/semiconductors/pc-hobbyist-charged-684-in-tariffs-on-355-shipment

"A PC hobbyist says he was hit with a $684 tariff bill on a $355 shipment of retro computing parts, in what appears to be a growing pattern tied to changes in federal import rules. The case, described in a blog post published November 15 by the writer behind OldVCR, involved a vintage parts order from Germany. UPS, the courier, later reduced the charge after the recipient disputed the tariff classification.
The incident is one of a growing number surfacing online as couriers and customs authorities apply tighter scrutiny to low-value imports. Under rules implemented earlier this year and finalized in late August, the United States has begun phasing out the so-called de minimis exemption that allowed shipments valued under $800 to enter duty-free, even when tariffs otherwise applied. The change was designed to close loopholes used by bulk e-commerce sellers and now affects one-off tech imports from small retailers as well.

According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website, duty-free treatment no longer applies to many low-value imports beginning August 29, 2025, and express carriers are now required to provide full 10-digit Harmonized System (HS) codes and origin data. When that information is missing or incorrect, classification defaults can trigger disproportionately high duties."