Executive Summary Effective October 1, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will implement inflation-adjusted increases to customs user fees across virtually every category of import transaction[reference:0]. The increases, required by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act[reference:1], affect merchandise processing fees (MPF), arrival fees for vessels, trucks, and rail cars, informal entry fees, express consignment fees, dutiable mail fees, and the customs broker permit fee[reference:2][reference:3]. While the percentage increases are modest (typically 2-3%), the cumulative effect on import budgets will be significant—particularly for high-volume importers and logistics providers operating across multiple modes of entry. This analysis examines the new fee structure, the statutory framework driving these annual adjustments, and the practical steps supply chain participants should take to prepare.

CBP User Fees Are Going Up for FY2027 – What It Means for Your Import Budget

1 · The Statutory Framework: Why Fees Increase Every Year

The FAST Act Mandate

On December 4, 2015, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act, Pub. L. 114-94) was signed into law[reference:4]. Section 32201 of the FAST Act amended Section 13031 of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) of 1985 (19 U.S.C. 58c) by requiring the Secretary of the Treasury to adjust certain customs COBRA user fees and corresponding limitations annually to reflect increases in inflation[reference:5].

The Annual Adjustment Mechanism

Under 19 CFR 24.22 and 24.23, CBP must determine each year whether the fees and limitations must be adjusted[reference:6]. The methodology is set forth in 19 CFR 24.22(k): CBP compares the average Consumer Price Index—All Urban Consumers, U.S. All items (CPI-U) for the current year with the average for the comparison year[reference:7]. If the CPI-U increase exceeds one percent, CBP must adjust the fees[reference:8].

For fiscal year 2027, CBP determined an adjustment factor of 38.322 percent[reference:9]. While this percentage reflects the cumulative adjustment since the fees were last set (rather than a year-over-year increase), it drives the new fee amounts that take effect October 1, 2026[reference:10].

The Broader Policy Context

The FAST Act’s annual adjustment mechanism means that CBP user fees will increase every year—not as a matter of policy choice, but as a statutory requirement tied to inflation. Importers and logistics providers should treat these increases as a predictable, recurring cost rather than a one-time event.

2 · The New Fee Structure – Effective October 1, 2026

The following fee increases were announced in the Federal Register on July 31, 2026, and take effect October 1, 2026[reference:11][reference:12]:

Source: Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg Trade Report, August 2026[reference:13]; Federal Register Vol. 91, No. 146[reference:14]

3 · Key Fee Categories in Detail

Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF)

The MPF is one of the most significant costs for importers. The ad valorem rate remains unchanged at 0.3464%[reference:15][reference:16]. However, the minimum MPF increases from $33.58 to $34.58, and the maximum MPF increases from $651.50 to $670.86[reference:17].

Practical Impact: For a formal entry valued at $10,000, the MPF calculation is 0.3464% × $10,000 = $34.64—which exceeds the new minimum of $34.58. The increase is marginal. However, for entries valued below $10,000, the minimum MPF applies—and the $1.00 increase represents a meaningful percentage cost increase for low-value shipments.

For high-value shipments, the maximum MPF increases by $19.36 per entry—a cost that accumulates quickly for importers with high-volume, high-value entries.

Customs Broker Permit Fee

The annual customs broker permit user fee increases from $185.38 to $190.88[reference:18]. This affects all licensed customs brokers with active permits. While the increase is modest ($5.50), it represents an additional compliance cost that brokers may pass through to their clients.

Arrival Fees – Truck, Rail, Vessel, and Barge

The arrival fee increases affect every mode of transportation entering the U.S.:

• Commercial truck: $7.60 per arrival (up from $7.35)[reference:19]
• Rail car: $11.41 per arrival (up from $11.08)[reference:20]
• Commercial vessel: $604.47 per arrival (up from $587.03)[reference:21]
• Barge/bulk carrier: $152.15 per arrival (up from $147.76)[reference:22]

For logistics providers operating high-volume truck or rail operations, these increases—while modest per arrival—add up quickly across thousands of annual crossings.

Informal Entry and Express Consignment Fees

The increases affect e-commerce and small parcel shipments:

• Informal entry (automated): $2.77 (up from $2.69)[reference:23]
• Informal entry (manual): $8.30 (up from $8.06)[reference:24]
• Express consignment (per waybill): $0.48 minimum / $1.38 maximum (up from $0.47 / $1.34)[reference:25]

For high-volume express carriers and e-commerce fulfillment providers, these per-shipment increases represent a meaningful cost escalation.

4 · What These Increases Mean for Logistics Providers

Impact on Landed Cost Calculations

Every import transaction now carries a slightly higher fee burden. For logistics providers that offer landed cost estimates to clients, the new fee structure must be incorporated into all cost models effective October 1, 2026. Failure to do so will result in under-quoting and margin erosion.

Impact on High-Volume Operations

The arrival fee increases—particularly for trucks ($7.60 per arrival) and rail cars ($11.41 per arrival)—are modest on a per-unit basis. However, for logistics providers operating fleets or managing rail shipments at scale, the cumulative impact is significant:

• 1,000 truck arrivals per year: $7,600 in arrival fees (up from $7,350) – an additional $250 annually
• 10,000 truck arrivals per year: $76,000 in arrival fees (up from $73,500) – an additional $2,500 annually
• 100,000 truck arrivals per year: $760,000 in arrival fees (up from $735,000) – an additional $25,000 annually

While these are relatively small percentage increases, they represent real costs that must be managed.

Impact on Customs Brokers

The customs broker permit fee increase from $185.38 to $190.88—combined with the 2026 increase from $180.57 to $185.38[reference:26]—represents a cumulative increase of over $10 in two years. Brokers with multiple permits face proportionally higher costs. Many brokers will pass these costs through to clients.

Impact on E-Commerce and Small Parcel

The informal entry and express consignment fee increases affect the fastest-growing segment of international trade. For e-commerce fulfillment providers processing thousands of small parcels daily, these per-shipment increases add up quickly. Combined with the de minimis suspension and the new low-value entry procedures[reference:27], the cost of processing small parcels continues to rise.

5 · What Importers Must Do Now

1. Update Landed Cost Models

Effective October 1, 2026, all landed cost calculations must incorporate the new fee structure. Importers should:

• Update MPF minimum and maximum values in all cost models
• Update arrival fees for each mode of transportation
• Update informal entry and express consignment fees
• Update customs broker fee projections

2. Communicate with Customs Brokers

Confirm that your customs brokers are aware of the new fee structure and have updated their systems accordingly. Discuss whether broker fee increases will be passed through to your account.

3. Review Contracts with Logistics Providers

If your logistics contracts include pass-through provisions for CBP user fees, ensure that the new rates are reflected in invoicing. If contracts are fixed-fee, assess whether the fee increases will erode margins and whether renegotiation is appropriate.

4. Factor Annual Increases into Budgeting

Because the FAST Act requires annual inflation adjustments, CBP user fees will increase every year[reference:28]. Importers and logistics providers should treat these increases as predictable, recurring costs and build them into annual budgeting and forecasting processes.

5. Monitor for Additional Fee Changes

Beyond the annual COBRA fee adjustments, Congress and CBP periodically propose additional fee changes. For example, H.R. 4336 (the “CBP SPACE Act”) would expand authorities for adjusting MPF rates[reference:29]. Importers should monitor legislative and regulatory developments that could affect user fees beyond the annual inflation adjustments.

6 · Conclusion: Small Increases, Big Cumulative Impact

The CBP user fee increases effective October 1, 2026, are modest on a per-transaction basis—typically 2-3%. However, the cumulative impact across thousands of transactions, multiple modes of entry, and multiple fee categories is significant.

Key Takeaways

• Effective Date: October 1, 2026[reference:30]
• Legal Authority: FAST Act annual inflation adjustment[reference:31]
• Adjustment Factor: 38.322% cumulative[reference:32]
• MPF Minimum: $34.58 (up from $33.58)[reference:33]
• MPF Maximum: $670.86 (up from $651.50)[reference:34]
• Customs Broker Permit: $190.88 (up from $185.38)[reference:35]
• Truck Arrival: $7.60 per arrival (up from $7.35)[reference:36]
• All modes affected: Vessel, barge, truck, rail, mail, express[reference:37]

The Bottom Line

These are not one-time increases—they are annual events driven by statutory inflation adjustments. Importers and logistics providers that build these increases into their planning, budgeting, and pricing models will be better positioned than those that treat each year’s adjustment as a surprise.

The message is clear: CBP user fees go up every year. Plan accordingly.

This analysis reflects the CBP user fee adjustments for fiscal year 2027, as published in the Federal Register on July 31, 2026 (91 FR 48398), effective October 1, 2026[reference:38][reference:39]. Specific fee rates and effective dates are subject to the official Federal Register notice. Importers and logistics providers should consult with customs brokers and trade compliance professionals for guidance tailored to their specific operations and fee exposure.