A Type 86 entry is a CBP electronic customs filing used to clear low-value shipments — those valued at $800 or less — duty-free under the Section 321 de minimis provision. For importers processing high volumes of small-value e-commerce packages, understanding Type 86 is not optional: it is the mechanism CBP uses to maintain visibility into millions of daily shipments that would otherwise arrive with almost no documentation.
What Is a Type 86 Entry?
Type 86 Entry: A formal CBP electronic filing category introduced in February 2019 that allows eligible shipments valued at $800 or less to enter the United States duty-free and tax-free under 19 USC 1321 (Section 321 de minimis), while still requiring advance data submission through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Portal.
Before Type 86 existed, low-value de minimis shipments largely entered the U.S. with minimal CBP scrutiny — a brief manifest entry and no HTS classification. As cross-border e-commerce exploded (U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported processing over 1 billion de minimis shipments in fiscal year 2023, up from roughly 140 million in 2015), that lack of visibility became a serious enforcement gap. CBP could not effectively screen for prohibited goods, antidumping/countervailing duty (AD/CVD) evasion, or intellectual property violations.
Type 86 closes that gap. It requires a full electronic filing — including a 10-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code — for every qualifying low-value shipment, giving CBP the data it needs to make targeted release or hold decisions at scale.
Type 86 entries are distinct from two other entry types importers sometimes confuse them with:
| Entry Type | Value Threshold | Duty/Tax | HTS Required | Filing Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 86 (Section 321) | $800 or less | Duty-free, tax-free | Yes (10-digit) | ACE electronic filing |
| Informal Entry (Type 11) | $801 – $2,499 | Duties assessed | Yes (10-digit) | ACE or paper |
| Formal Consumption Entry (Type 01) | $2,500+ | Duties assessed | Yes (10-digit) | ACE electronic filing |
| Section 321 Manifest Release | $800 or less | Duty-free, tax-free | No (pre-Type 86 legacy method) | Carrier manifest only |
The key distinction: Type 86 is the current CBP-preferred method for de minimis clearance through express consignment operators (ECOs) and participating carriers. The old manifest-release method is still technically available in some circumstances but offers far less certainty of smooth clearance.
How Type 86 Entry Works: Step-by-Step
Type 86 clearance happens fast — but only when every step is executed correctly. Here is how a compliant Type 86 filing flows from origin to delivery.
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Before filing, verify the shipment meets all three de minimis criteria under 19 USC 1321:
- The fair retail value in the country of shipment is $800 or less
- It is one shipment per person per day — multiple shipments from the same foreign seller to the same U.S. recipient on the same day are aggregated and may exceed the limit
- The goods are not subject to restrictions that override de minimis eligibility (see the exclusions section below)
Step 2: Obtain Complete Shipment Data
The filer — either a licensed customs broker, an express consignment operator, or a self-filing importer — needs the following data elements to complete the filing:
- Seller name and address (foreign)
- Buyer/consignee name and address (U.S.)
- Description of goods
- Country of origin
- Declared value (in USD)
- 10-digit HTS classification code (use hts.usitc.gov to confirm)
- Carrier and tracking information
Step 3: Submit the Type 86 Filing in ACE
The filing is submitted electronically through CBP’s ACE Portal — either directly by a licensed broker or through an ECO’s integrated system. Timing matters: Type 86 filings should be submitted prior to or at the time of arrival at the port. Late filings can result in holds or formal entry requirements.
Step 4: Receive CBP Disposition
CBP processes the filing and returns one of three dispositions, typically within 1 to 4 hours:
- Release (1C) — CBP approves the shipment for delivery. No duties are assessed.
- Intensive Examination (1E) — CBP flags the shipment for a physical or document exam before release.
- Refuse / Reject — The filing has a data error or the shipment is ineligible. A corrected or formal entry must be filed.
Step 5: Deliver or Resolve
On a Release disposition, the carrier can deliver the package immediately. On a hold, the importer or broker must respond to CBP’s exam request, provide additional documentation, or file a formal entry if the goods are found to exceed $800 in value or are otherwise ineligible.
Regulatory Framework: What the Law Says
Type 86 entry sits at the intersection of two legal pillars:
19 USC 1321 (Section 321) is the statutory authority for de minimis entry. It authorizes CBP to admit, free of duty and tax, any article imported by one person on one day whose fair retail value does not exceed $800. This threshold was raised from $200 to $800 by the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (TFTEA), Public Law 114-125.
19 CFR Part 128 governs express consignment operations and sets the operational rules for how ECOs must submit advance data on low-value shipments. Type 86 was implemented as a formal entry type under the ACE system to satisfy these regulatory data requirements at scale.
Several categories of goods are excluded from de minimis eligibility regardless of value, including:
- Merchandise subject to antidumping or countervailing duties (check enforcement.trade.gov/adcvd)
- Goods subject to quota or tariff-rate quota
- Certain goods from countries subject to trade remedies (notably, as of 2025, many shipments from China and Hong Kong face additional scrutiny or exclusions under executive actions targeting the de minimis loophole)
- Tobacco products and alcohol
- Items requiring other government agency (OGA) permits or licenses at entry
CBP’s binding rulings database at rulings.cbp.gov is the authoritative source for how CBP has classified and treated specific commodities under de minimis provisions.
Real-World Scenarios: Who Uses Type 86 and How
Understanding how Type 86 works in practice is easier with concrete examples.
Scenario 1: E-Commerce Importer, Apparel from China A U.S. consumer orders a $65 dress from a Chinese online marketplace. The shipment routes through FedEx Express (an ECO). FedEx, as the filer, submits a Type 86 entry for the package through ACE before the flight lands in Memphis. CBP releases it within 2 hours. The consumer pays no import duty. Total clearance cost to FedEx: roughly $8 in filing overhead, built into their express service fees.
Scenario 2: Amazon FBA Importer, Electronics Accessories A small U.S. seller sources phone cases from a Shenzhen factory — 50 units per box, each unit valued at $6, total shipment value $300. The importer uses a licensed broker to file a Type 86 entry. The broker pulls the correct HTS code (8517.79.0000) and confirms the goods are not subject to any Section 301 AD/CVD orders. The shipment releases within 3 hours. Because the total value is under $800 and no duties apply, the importer’s only cost is the broker’s $15 filing fee.
Scenario 3: Type 86 Rejected — Antidumping Hit An importer ships $450 worth of steel wire mesh from China. The filer submits a Type 86 entry. CBP’s ACE system runs the HTS code against the AD/CVD database and flags an active antidumping order on the product. CBP rejects the Type 86 and requires a formal consumption entry with AD/CVD deposit. What seemed like a duty-free shipment now triggers an antidumping duty rate of over 100%, plus a Merchandise Processing Fee. The importer was not aware the product was covered — a costly oversight.
Scenario 4: Multiple Shipments, De Minimis Limit Exceeded An importer arranges for a Chinese supplier to split a $1,200 order into three separate $400 shipments, all addressed to the same U.S. consignee, all arriving on the same day. CBP aggregates the shipments as required under 19 USC 1321 and determines the total value exceeds $800. All three shipments are held and reclassified under informal entry, with duties assessed on the full $1,200. Deliberate splitting to circumvent the de minimis threshold can also trigger fraud investigations under 19 USC 1592.
Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
Mistake 1: Assuming de minimis means no filing required Type 86 is a formal electronic filing. It is not the old “no paperwork needed” de minimis release. Skipping the ACE submission — or letting a carrier attempt manifest release on shipments that should be filed as Type 86 — creates compliance exposure.
Mistake 2: Using a 6-digit instead of 10-digit HTS code Type 86 requires the full 10-digit Schedule B/HTS code. A 6-digit code (the international HS level) is insufficient. Wrong or incomplete HTS classification is the single most common cause of Type 86 holds and rejections.
Mistake 3: Ignoring AD/CVD exclusions Importers who assume “it’s under $800, so there are no duties” are often blindsided when a product falls under an active antidumping or countervailing duty order. Check enforcement.trade.gov/adcvd before assuming any shipment qualifies.
Mistake 4: Misunderstanding the per-person, per-day rule The $800 threshold applies to one person, one day, not one shipment. Coordinating multiple shipments from the same seller to the same buyer arriving on the same calendar day aggregates the value and can void de minimis eligibility for the entire batch.
Mistake 5: Believing all countries qualify equally Ongoing legislative and executive actions have proposed and implemented restrictions on de minimis eligibility for goods from specific countries. Importers sourcing from China and Hong Kong in particular should verify current eligibility rules with a licensed broker, as the regulatory landscape has shifted materially since 2024. See CBP.gov for the latest guidance.
Mistake 6: Treating Type 86 as a substitute for a full compliance program Type 86 is a clearance mechanism, not a compliance framework. Importers processing significant volumes of low-value shipments still need HTS classification discipline, country-of-origin documentation, and AD/CVD screening — the same fundamentals that govern formal entries. A broker experienced in e-commerce imports can build that infrastructure. You can search all CBP-licensed customs brokers or browse by specialty to find brokers with direct e-commerce and Type 86 experience.
Tools and Resources for Type 86 Compliance
Getting Type 86 right depends on using the right tools. Here are the primary resources:
CBP ACE Portal (cbp.gov) — The central system for all Type 86 electronic filings. Licensed customs brokers and approved filers access ACE directly. Individual importers without ACE access file through a broker or ECO.
Harmonized Tariff Schedule (hts.usitc.gov) — The authoritative source for 10-digit HTS classification codes. Essential for every Type 86 filing. Use the search function to find the correct code for your product, then verify the duty rate column to confirm de minimis eligibility.
CBP Binding Rulings (rulings.cbp.gov) — If you are unsure how to classify a product, prior CBP rulings offer guidance. You can also submit a ruling request to get a binding classification determination before your shipment arrives.
AD/CVD Orders Database (enforcement.trade.gov/adcvd) — Maintained by the Department of Commerce. Search by HTS code or product description to identify active antidumping and countervailing duty orders that would block de minimis eligibility.
NCBFAA Broker Directory (ncbfaa.org) — The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America maintains member resources and