The removal of ‘de minimis’: Changes to the PS Shop for US readers

Friday, August 29th 2025
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As most of you will be aware, the current US government has been changing tariffs and duties in recent months. As some US customers will probably be aware, a new change comes in today - the end of the ‘de minimis’ rule. 

Under that rule, US consumers paid no duties on anything coming into the country that was valued under $800. If the foreign company was small enough, they also paid no sales tax. It was a pretty good deal. 

Unfortunately that is now ending from August 29, and on the PS Shop we have decided to start shipping DDP (‘delivery duty paid’) as a result, plus show prices in dollars for extra clarity.

This means that US readers will see the final price on the PS Shop when they buy, including all duties and taxes, and the purchase will go straight to them, rather than them having to pay duties to customs separately. 

We resisted DDP for a while, because it often worked out as more expensive, and because it seemed less transparent. But we’ve decided to make the change for two reasons:

  1. Customs charges will affect far more PS readers than before, because they will apply to purchases under $800 as well as those above, and
  2. There are likely to be delays as US customs gets up to speed with this huge influx of new charges; DDP minimises those delays

There are greater expenses with using this system, apart from the actual duties. Sorting them out on our end after the package has been delivered can create unknown charges. Currently it’s also impossible to recover duties when customers return items, so we will lose money on those. But then, it was hard for customers to recover duties themselves before, so it will be easier for you.

Overall, these new US taxes will make things more expensive, but hopefully the DDP changes and the dollar currency will make the process smoother. We've also made sure to spell out those duties at the checkout stage, so you can see the product price and the duties separately.  

Importantly the courier we use, UPS, is continuing to ship as normal, so while there might be some initial delays as customs adjust, there will be no interruption to shipping.

How much will the duties add? Well, purchases under $800 will now have:

  1. Regular duties on top, which have always applied above $800. These vary with the type of product (eg cotton is treated differently to wool) but range from 7% to 18%. 
  2. Plus the new 10% tariff the US government imposed on everything coming from the UK. This is less than the 15% on things coming from the EU, and much less than those coming from China or India, but still it’s another tax.
  3. Note that US readers buying things like coats have always paid number 1, as those are over $800, and 2 has already applied since April. So for those making more expensive purchases nothing changes, except that the process will be smoother and the price will be in dollars.

Since the PS Shop started, my aim has always been to offer high-quality products that I didn’t think you could get elsewhere, carefully thought through and made, and transparency about pricing, costs and value. 

This doesn’t mean ‘cutting out the middle man’ and placing no value on service or design and service, at one end of the spectrum. But it also doesn’t mean charging big-brand prices with no connection to quality and craftsmanship. PS has always tried to plough its own furrow. 

Hopefully these changes reflect that particular approach. I also hope it goes without saying that we hugely value our US readers, who have always been big supporters of the heritage manufacturing we cover as well as making use of in the shop. 

PS products have always been great value. I think they will continue to be so, but thank you in advance for paying these extra duties if you do, and so continuing to keep us going. 

Pictured: The PS navy Donegal Overcoat

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Ned

Flashback to Brexit and the agony of suddenly paying duties on online shopping from the EU. Bring back free trade!

Peter O'Connor

Dear Simon

In your text above you say originally you rejected DDP because it was more expensive and less transparent. How did you ascertain that DDP was more expensive and in which way was it less transparent?

Stephen

Personally I don’t think there really is such a thing as true free trade as there is always a cost to be borne by someone somewhere, including the underpaid workers in some countries. Tarrifs do have to some extent an equalising effect. That said there are no easy answers.

Matt Spaiser

Some tariffs indeed have an equalising effect, but many in this case do not. If I, an American, want to buy a certain style of English clothes, there are a handful of American makers that can come somewhat close, but there really is nothing comparable. And the makers here still need to import materials because none are produced in America. I was already paying a premium for tailoring and shirts made in England before tariffs.

Alexander

“We resisted DDP for a while, because it often works out as more expensive, and because it is seems transparent.“ I don’t think that’s what you meant!

SS

Hi Simon.

Thanks for the important article. I was wondering about this and impact on PS product purchases.

Is there any impact on returns policy? Specifically, if I need to return something, will I get the full refund or PS won’t be able refund duties / taxes?

Thanks in advance!

And Good luck.

Sincerely

Markus S

Hello Simon, I believe I have mentioned this before, but there is a system whereby some British companies do not refund taxes and customs duties when a product is returned from the EU.

The Rivet & Hide webpabe notices that I am ordering from Austria, which I have to confirm. A pop-up window then appears informing me that Rivet & Hide will not refund 20% VAT if I return the product to the UK, and giving a reason for this. As a consumer, I have no problem with this, as it is explained to me and I cannot overlook it due to the clear and concise pop-up window (i.e. it is not hidden somewhere in the terms and conditions on their website).

Markus S

Sorry, there might be an misunderstanding. Rivet & Hide ships DDP but makes clear that if you return a product they will refund you but for the VAT, which they themselves cannot get back. For me, that is a fair approach.

Con

Regarding VAT. Are customers from outside the UK paying VAT on products aswell as the new import duties when they order if they live in either the EU or the USA? It used to be the case for travellers to London, for example, could fill in a VAT Return Form to reclaim VAT at a customs desk at the airport; or at least get it stamped after which they could send the form off to reclaim the VAT

Markus S

I’m sorry, Simon, this may be splitting hairs, which I tend to do as a lawyer, but I pay Austrian (import) VAT on PS products, but never UK VAT.

Since you offer DDP at no extra charge and Austrian VAT is 20% like UK VAT, I don’t pay any more for PS products than a British customer (apart from the higher delivery costs). However, the situation is different for customers from Germany (German VAT is 19%, so your products are slightly cheaper for German customers) or Sweden (Swedish VAT is 25%, so your products are more expensive for Swedish customers).

Peter O'Connor

Dear Simon

When you say the duties are paid to the local (?) government, you don’t clarify if your firm or the shipper employed by your firm pays the local government.
I thought the cause of the higher expense you ascertained in DDP
was because of the shipper, which takes advantage of the situation by charging as much as possible whilst trying to conceal this by less transparency – for example, refusing to announcing the amount of fee in advance?

Steven R

I hate everything about this but it sounds like you’re doing the best you can to smooth the process under difficult circumstances. As you’ve noted, we US purchasers have had a good deal for some time and now it’s going away, but it’s still a shock.

Carl

This is a pity. Everybody benefits from free trade, at least in the long run. A question, would it be possible for PS to have a EU warehouse for items made in countries like Italy. As a way of avoiding tariffs where both the producer and the consumer are in the EU zone?

Stephen

Hi Simon, (btw I’m not in the US), Objectively I think your approach is fair and efficient. Unfortunately you have been an indirect victim of the flood of cheap products (of all types) that effectively abuse the ‘de minimis’ system. Although on a smaller scale I think the UK may follow a similar route, I’m surprised this government hasn’t already done so.
Now may be the time to include VAT in your published price.
Have a good weekend.

Stephen

Hi Simon, Good points , I meant more removing the duty free element (btw I’m not for a moment suggesting it!) on imports. Yes and it’s a bit much in UK when you order something and have to add nearly 40% : VAT+duty+ on the shipping cost as well!
What’s most annoying is when applied (I believe) to imported eBay goods as well.
Re the VAT I agree it is good practice not to make too many changes at once, which allows you to iron out any wrinkles first. I only mentioned the VAT allowance along the lines you mentioned of greater transparency.
Oh well it all disappears into the now legendary black hole anyway!
Cheers

Stephen

Just for clarity. Please see the image.
I meant the first £135 before duty is incurred when importing to UK. As I said I’m not for a moment suggesting, but I’d suggest someone in the Treasury might!

IMG_3726
Peter O'Connor

Dear Simon

When you conclude “the US has had it good for quite a while” you must mean by US not the US side of the US-UK export-import balance in general, rather you mean by US the individual customers in the US who buy from firms in the UK, correct?

Bob

The UK changed first, our de minimis for VAT was a much smaller at £20 rather than the US’ $800 but that was abolished at the same time as the Brexit changes.

Duty still sits at £135 unless there is excise duty (alcohol, tobacco) in which case its ground up but is often below the 20% of UK VAT so arguably a lower consideration. The two do compound though as you have to pay VAT on the duty too.

The EU is proposing a flat rate fee of €2 for small parcels for duty to abolish their own duty de minimis rules. Can see that as a reasonable approach but will have to see if they follow the VAT rules and make the merchant liable for paying it on consignments under £135 like they have with VAT.

Tom

Simon, U.S. reader/customer here; totally understand the change and appreciate the transparency. I’m trying to think, for those U.S. readers who travel to the UK regularly (probably a decent number), if there are any options to purchase PS items while there? I joke that my response to the tariffs is to travel to the UK and Japan more and do my shopping there.
Best,
Tom

Peter O'Connor

Dear Simon

But your firm’s customers in Germany don’t have to pay UK sales tax, correct?

Tim G

I can confirm tax free shopping is available in Japan, but some of the smaller menswear shops do not offer this service, as I believe there is more paperwork involved for them. I gladly take advantage of this at Isetan when visiting. I found France the same.

For the UK, it’s much more difficult. But some (again mostly larger) shops will ship to a US address directly from the store with physical checkout. This will save you most of the UK VAT, but you’ll be charged shipping. It still domes out to a savings. The was before the de minis rule changed however.

Ben R

Technically, as a U.S. person returning to the U.S. you have to declare your foreign purchased good’s or gifts received with customs at your port of entry. And then you would pay the duties and tariffs at the customs counter. Many people do not make this declaration, and I forget the penalty if caught. But I will say when I have a considerable haul from abroad – many items, many duties categories – the officers are willing to negotiate the duties to save time. You were able to bring $800 worth of goods thru as a personal exemption. I haven’t been able to find definitive answers if this $800 exemption has also been eliminated.

Simone Oltolina

I must compliment you: you did a great job of explaining how things will be handled and why. I wish more ecomms in your same situation (no delivery center in the US) would be just as clear.

I know, from first-hand accounts, that US clients of SSENSE returned parcels en masse when they received the item they had ordered, wrapped in an extra layer of new tariffs they obviously didn’t know about (it doesn’t help that most people didn’t know SSENSE is Canada-based. Alas, RIP!).

A

What sunglasses are you wearing in these photos? They’re beautiful, very flattering, very cool.

A

thanks, appreciate the response

Markus S

I believe that some riders might be still a little unclear – despite Simon’s great explanation – about the following. Namely, that a strict distinction must be made between value added tax (VAT)/sales tax on the one hand and customs/duties on the other.

As an Austrian consumer, I have to pay 20% VAT on every item of clothing I buy in an Austrian shop here in Vienna or with an Austrian/EU online retailer. However, when I buy a PS product on this website, I do not have to pay 20% VAT because PS is a UK and not a EU company, so the product is cheaper at the checkout. However, when importing into the EU, I have to pay 20% VAT, so I have neither an advantage nor a disadvantage when buying PS products.

The problem I have had in the past with PS products and still have with Colhay’s is that if the seller does not offer DDP, the VAT issue is usually taken care of by the delivery company, such as UPS or DHL, for a high fee. So when I buy products from Colhay’s that do not offer DDP, I pay 20% VAT on import plus a fee of, for example, 10% to UPS or DHL for handling this matter with the Austrian tax authorities. In addition, without DDP there is a risk that the tax authorities also put customs on top of the VAT, which they are in many cases not supposed to do, but it is a real hussle for the consumer to get the money back so that I have always let that be. So without the seller overing DDP products can quickly become prohibitively expensive. In addition, for me as a consumer it was not clear upfront what fees UPS or DHL would charge me or how the Austrian tax authorities might qualify a product.

When – as Simon does – the UK seller offers DDP, I do not have to worry about surcharges and only pay the 20% VAT the UK seller takes care of. Of course, I am aware that this is extra work for PS, which is why some UK sellers – not PS – have a different pricing for UK customers and EU customers, often hiding them in their country specific webpages (eg Drake’s).

On the other hand, there are genuine customs duties that are levied to the detriment of foreign products, which is, after all, the intention of customs duties. For me as a consumer, this applies to every product I buy from non-EU countries except the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway or Iceland. 

Bob

Isnt the courier’s fee lower on DDP than what the consumer would pay were it not sent DDP? It’s certainly not free but thought it was notably lower given they deal with one firm rather than hundreds of customers plus less follow up questions, credit control issues etc.

SS (different from above!)

Hi Simon,
I have a question about not just the PS shop, but retailers in the industry as a whole. Have you heard of any non-US retailers with significant customer bases in the US deciding it is worth mitigating some of those price increases for their important US customers by increasing the actual item price for everyone (else)? What I mean is that the price rises from US tariff policy could lead to a material decline in purchases from US customers, so the retailer may try to reduce the full pass-through impact to the US customer (and thus reduce loss of sales) and offset it with global price increases (on the assumption that these price increases would lead to fewer lost sales than those gained in the US on the other side of this offset). I wonder if the importance of Americans’ spending in this niche industry could lead to this outcome.
Thanks!

Matt

Not a menswear example but it was widely speculated that Sony did just that earlier this year when they announced that the price of a PS5 would be going up in Europe and Australia but – crucially – not the US. Unsurprisingly, there was a lot of noise about it online as European consumers weren’t took keen on the idea of effectively being asked to subsidise their American counterparts. I haven’t followed the story since then to know whether this translated into a meangingful drop in EU sales.

Calvin

Believe this is essentially what rubato did to us customers by increasing prices and stating it was just implementation of DPP, which caused price increases across the board as a result.

A pair of jeans went from aground 300 before the change to 400 (33% increase) , no matter if you bought just the jeans (cart below 800) or had a cart above 800. My $200 woven belt went to $300 as well (50% increase).

Although, even if your cart was above 800, a 30-50% increase seems to overtake just paying the customs %’s that I’m reading in this comment section.

I’m proud of Simon for his transparency during this transition and listing DPP costs separately, as it lays bare the costs to astute readers. Makes me trust buying from PS compared to others I’ve mentioned. I would encourage Simon to only eat half the cost (or none!) of DPP on returns though, there has to be a limit…

OP

De Minimis is a good name for a menswear brand, and I was sad to read it was closing down. Otherwise, thank you for the clarity.

OP

I was actually thinking of small accessories: tie pins, cufflinks, etc..

Bob

I note that you say PS will be giving full refunds including the irrecoverable taxes. I’ve no idea your return rate, would hope it’s notably less than fast fashion brands but imagine it’s not zero either.

Obviously extra costs have to be funded somehow, will there be transparency on that? Will UK customers ultimately pay more because of US taxes or will you have differential pricing to reflect the overall greater costs US customers are generating?

RTK

It is ironic that the man who has unilaterally imposed these tariffs is the first American president in my lifetime who does not wear suits made in the USA. Trump has worn Brioni suits for decades. The line of clothing and accessories that also bears his name were all made in low cost Asian factories. Please don’t blame all Americans for this insanity!

FS

Thanks for the transparency and explanation. As someone who owns numerous PS shop items, and has a few more I’d like to add in the future, I appreciate it. Not the best moment to be an American for any number of reasons.

Scott

What about pre-ordered PS items which have already been paid in full but not yet dispatched – eg donegal coats and cashmere sweaters?

Subject the the duty I presume, but will you send additional invoices?

Scott

Thanks for the clarity. Looking forward to the pre-ordered items this fall.

Paul H

Chiming in from the US. Frankly I find all the US-led tariff movement across countries dizzying and look forward to it settling down, hopefully soon. Thank you for painting it as cleanly as you have Simon. While I’m not excited about paying more for items under $800, looking back it was a pretty good deal for we Yanks, so as with many good things, they come to an end. Even with the added tax, I think the PS quality-price ratio remains through the roof (compare to Drakes pricing!) plus the added benefits of supporting an entrepreneur I think highly of, indirectly the PS community, etc., so I don’t think this will affect my future purchase habits. I’m glad to hear you expect the impact of non-recoverable taxes in the context of returns to be minimal as that seems rather unfair to you and I’d support the returning customer bearing some of that burden. Just my 2 cents…or 7-18%!

Interestingly, I currently have some PS fabric out with Simone Abbarchi for shirt making. So I’ve paid the tax (UK to EU) and now the value-added process of making the shirts is taking place in EU. Order was placed prior to ‘de minimis’ end date, but will be delivered and charged after. Look forward to seeing how that shakes out!

David Spelman

Suitable all-black ensemble for mourning

Pascal

Is DDP only for US customers or does this apply worlwide going forward (I’m in Canada)? Also, what does it means for preorders that were already placed?

Pascal

Personnally, I prefer DDP. It’s simples and there is no surprise at checkout so you know exactly how much it’s going to cost. It also makes return more convenient considering the store refunds those costs so you don’t have to claim them back on your own which is somewhat long and tedious. But I guess this just transfer the chore to PS.

Georgios

Simon, did you change something about your beard ? How do you trim it ? In what lengths ?

Jay

Thanks for this, Simon. I’m sure I speak for everyone here in the States when I say we immensely appreciate the PS Shop taking on more headache on the backend so that we can have less headache when we buy amid all these changing rules.

Ray

Much appreciated update Simon. I really appreciate your connection with the readers and customers. I am in the States and have been particularly infuriated by the on/off policy regarding De Minimis and tariffs as a whole. Unfortunately, it makes everything more expensive for the consumer but I will continue to patronise lovely shops like yours and those you highlight, but budget a little extra for the tariffs!

GH

An appeals court, backing up the Court of International Trade, has just ruled the majority of Trump’s tariffs illegal. The court didn’t say that tariffs per se are illegal. It said that the procedure Trump used to impose tariffs — declaring an economic emergency, then setting tariff rates without so much as consulting Congress, let alone passing legislation — is illegal.’

Henry

Wish other online shops were as transparent as this. I have the impression that some shops dont bother to remove the local VAT and just add the external VAT on top of the original price + local VAT. E.g. Drakes products are significantly better priced if I shop in the Savile Row store vs ordering from overseas (about 20% or so). That being said I must admit that I feel a slight schadenfreude – as US consumers finally will feel the impacts of VAT and duties! No more “tax free” shopping for them!

Joel C.

I tried to get my latest order through in time but it seems UPS dropped the ball and held it in the UK 3 extra days. Now I owe duties 😭 !! At least PS products are the best!

Brian

As a US citizen, I greatly apologize for the plight that our country is inflicting on others. Thank you for trying to make things as easy as possible for those of us on this side of the pond. Your first issue of the magazine is fantastic by the way.

koen

just a clarification on your point 2 – my understanding of the EU-US trade deal is that the 15% is all in (so also includes the regular duties, your point 1), so the EU has a better deal (or rather a less bad deal). And all of this may change again from one day to the other…

John Oliver

Dear PS,
Yours is the most concise and clearheaded explanation on the bizarro world duties between the US and UK of all the shops I patronise. Well done you.
Please accept my sincere thanks.
Cheers.
John Oliver

Magnus

Hello PS team,
You might want to update your terms and conditions page since it still says no taxes are charged on US orders below $800. Could be confusing for some US buyers
https://shop.permanentstyle.com/pages/terms-conditions

Paul K

Some nice comments here on the duties. What a shame about the changes. As a U.S.-based reader/customer, I was excited to see the announcement about the new button-down denim shirt. At checkout, the $100+ duty charges caught me off guard; it’s just something I couldn’t swallow, so sorry. Just don’t have the stomach/courage/accounts today to pay closer to $500 for delivery of a shirt, as lovely as it truly is. The cost of living increases we’ve been seeing across the board just make us all the more careful about discretionary purchases. The “K-shaped economy” will probably only exacerbate this while upholding strong brands, but not all of us are in the upper right economic quadrant of that metaphorical letter. Cheers.

Brett Trafford

Pressure Al Bazar to open an on-line store

Anonymous

Hi Simon, thank you for the great products on PS. One question: will there still be a foreign transaction fee for US buyers? Since they are now shown as USD for American readers like me. Thanks.

Anonymous

Sorry, I meant as a credit card foreign transaction fee.