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(Last updated October 1, 2025) - You can now restrict shipping to the United States. Keep reading for details and further guidance.
Significant changes have been made to global tariffs that will likely affect how packages move between countries. Starting on August 29, 2025, the de minimis exemption for packages entering the US will expire, meaning some merch items will be subject to tariffs.
We know things are not set in stone, but we hope the following information will help guide you through these changes. Of course, this information is subject to change and is not intended to be legal advice, but we will try to keep this information up to date.
What are tariffs?
Tariffs are essentially taxes imposed by a government on goods and services imported from other countries. The specific details can change based on the type of goods or services being offered and the location of the seller. Most commonly, it is a set percentage of the value of the goods being sold.
What is a de minimis exception?
This was an exemption that allowed packages or shipments under a certain value to be imported without additional duties or tariffs. These exemptions have historically been used to simplify global trade, and can vary from country to country. This is what is set to expire on August 29, 2025, for imports to the US.
What items are subject to tariffs?
Tariffs only apply to physical merchandise, not to digital sales.
Currently, there is an exception for “informational media” coming into the United States. That includes vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, books, sheet music, and other items. For personalized support, we recommend connecting with a legal professional.
As it stands now, apparel and other soft goods shipped to the United States ARE subject to tariffs (shirts, hoodies, hats, totes, etc.).
Exemptions & HS Codes
Music media (Vinyl, CD, Cassettes) and many types of printed media, such as books and magazines, are exempt from tariffs. However, soft goods like shirts and tote bags are not. Sellers should pay close attention to the HS Codes provided on their Bandcamp packing slips, which can be found under Merch Orders > Print Label > Packing Slip.
Clearly marking the accurate HS Code of the item(s) you are sending is essential to the customs process, and can mean the difference between your fans paying a tariff or not.
What does this mean for my artist or label account?
We know how critical international fans are to our community of artists and labels, and we want to create a positive experience for your fans every step of the way.
Given the complexities of global trade, legal requirements, and user experience, many postal couriers are planning to suspend or change delivery options to the US as soon as August 23, 2025.
For those countries/carriers that continue to ship to the United States, fans may be charged tariffs upon delivery of their order.
As of August 27, 2025, we have released a product feature allowing artist and label accounts to restrict shipping to the United States. To enable this feature:
Navigate to Profile>>Physical Goods
Check the box that says "Do not ship to the United States."
If you check that box, fans will see a message during the checkout process that lets them know the artist doesn't ship to their location and links to a document explaining the tariff situation. We also encourage you to update item descriptions to tell fans if you have temporarily restricted shipping to the United States.
We also encourage you to update your shipping costs to include any new costs, such as shipping fees or import duties. Your carrier may add processing fees to your shipping costs, even for exempt items such as informational media.
We highly recommend using shipping options that are Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) - a shipping option where you, the seller, cover all costs—shipping, taxes, and import duties—so your fan doesn’t get hit with extra fees when their order arrives. This will help reduce fans' confusion and create a more streamlined experience. It also removes the risk of having your buyer refuse to pay a tariff once the merch arrives at its destination. Major carriers like UPS, FedEx, and DHL offer DDP, and some regional carriers (like Royal Mail) are starting to do the same for shipments headed to the US.
When DDP works as intended, customs duty exemptions—like the one for music media—should be applied automatically. Your carrier may apply additional processing fees to your shipping costs, but if you're shipping records, CDs, or other music formats, there shouldn’t be extra customs charges included in your DDP fees. We recommend utilizing the HS codes provided on Bandcamp packing slips, which can be found under Merch Orders > Print Label > Packing Slip.
If you ship merch items Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU) or Delivered at Place (DAP), fans and buyers will be responsible for paying all taxes, import duties, and/or tariffs upon arrival, which they may not expect. This could lead fans to refuse to pay these tariffs, preventing their package from being delivered.
As of August 2025, couriers such as UPS, DHL, and FedEx offer these solutions. More postal carriers will likely roll out DDP options in the coming months, so we recommend monitoring your preferred carrier for the latest updates.
COMMUNICATING WITH FANS
It is important to note that most US buyers haven’t paid tariffs before because the previous $800 de minimis exemption had been in place for many years. These fans may not understand why they are charged extra or why their orders are restricted or canceled.
To address that confusion and the burden of artists explaining it to fans, we have added a banner on our site to set expectations for US buyers. If you've restricted shipping to the United States, fans who try to purchase merch from your page will get a message explaining the situation and linking them to an FAQ with more details.
We also encourage you, as the seller, to be extra communicative with US buyers. We recommend our Community messaging feature to let fans in the US know there may be a delay or additional costs upon delivery. You can also share any restrictions or limitations you’re putting into place and why. The more transparent we can be, the better the experience will be for everyone.
For direct communication with fans, you can pull their email address from your sales receipt or your Merch Orders page and contact them that way.
What to do about unexpected charges
As these new tariffs are settling in, it’s possible that unexpected charges may come into play with selling and shipping merch on Bandcamp.
If you’re charged customs duties on exempt music media, we recommend contacting your carrier to dispute the charge and request a refund. Just a heads-up: we can’t guarantee they’ll issue one, but it's worth asking.
For Fans and Visitors
Some buyers in the US may receive a customs invoice with their package (even after it’s been delivered) if the carrier or US Customs doesn’t apply the exemption for informational materials (vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, books, sheet music, and other items) to their order. This tends to happen when the seller uses shipping terms like Delivered at Place (DAP) or Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU), which leave import duties and taxes up to the buyer.
If you’re charged a customs fee on music media, we suggest paying the invoice to avoid delays, then contacting your local customs office to start a dispute. You may need to fill out a form with US Customs, using the order info from your Bandcamp receipt. Like above, we can’t promise a refund, but it’s the best path forward.