U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced upcoming adjustments to select customs user fees, including changes to the Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) for formal entries, effective October 1, 2025. These changes are being implemented in accordance with the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), which authorizes annual inflation-based fee updates.

What’s Changing?

While the MPF ad valorem rate of 0.3464% will remain unchanged, the minimum and maximum MPF amounts for formal customs entries will be updated:

• Minimum MPF:
  Increases from $32.71 to $33.58

• Maximum MPF:
  Increases from $634.62 to $651.50

These adjustments may appear minor, but they will affect thousands of import transactions daily, particularly for high-volume or high-value importers.

Why It Matters

The MPF is a critical component of import cost calculations for U.S. businesses. Even small increases in fees can influence overall landed costs, pricing strategies, and margin forecasts—especially for companies that process large numbers of formal entries each month.

For logistics professionals, importers, and customs brokers, it’s essential to:

• Update cost estimates for Q4 2025 and beyond

• Review contracts and landed cost models with clients and partners

• Ensure compliance with the updated fee schedule to avoid entry delays or miscalculations

Staying Ahead of the Change

Now is the time for importers to audit their current customs processes and prepare for this adjustment. While the fee update is routine and expected under the FAST Act, being proactive ensures there are no surprises in your October shipments.

Customs compliance is not just about documentation, it’s about cost control and strategic forecasting. As October 1 approaches, businesses should consult with their customs broker or logistics provider to confirm all systems are aligned with the new MPF thresholds.