IMPORTANT TARIFF DUTY TAX UPDATE FOR OUR U.S. CUSTOMERS

We’re committed to keeping you informed about changes that affect your orders — and to showing you why CHARISMATICO remains your best choice for show-stopping costumes. Our goal is to enable you to understand the new tariff rules applied by the US government and communicate this to you with maximum transparency so you have a good understanding of what changes are coming.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• • U.S. rule change (Aug 29, 2025): The de minimis exemption is gone — all imports are now subject to the country-specific reciprocal tariff rate, with no exemptions for low-value shipments. Previously, orders under $800 were not subject to import tariffs under the de minimis exemption.
  • Tariff rate for goods shipped from Thailand to the US: Fixed at 19% + product specific duty (HS category). Bright side, most of our costumes are justifiably categorized as stage wear (aka disposable novelty wear) which currently has a duty specific (HS) tax of 0%, meaning you only pay the tariff of 19%.
  • Delivery process: U.S. Customs will require duties to be paid before delivery, so expect contact from the shipping courier or USPS. Respond promptly to avoid delays or returns.
  • Sales tax advantage: You still don’t pay U.S. sales tax on international orders from CHARISMATICO.
  • Why we produce in Thailand: Local material sourcing and lower labor costs mean we can still deliver high-quality costumes at a much better value than producing in the U.S.

We really appreciate your cooperation—it helps us make sure your items arrive to you as smoothly and quickly as possible.  If you would like to learn more about how the tariffs are going to work, please continue reading below to learn more.  We have tried our best to distill the very complicated topic down into key points that will help you understand the process, the costs, and know what to expect until further changes.  We are always here to help, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have any further questions or concerns.  We will do everything we can to assist you!

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1. WHAT IS CHANGING IN U.S. IMPORT DUTY TAX REQUIREMENTS

• • As of August 29, 2025, the U.S. officially eliminates the “de minimis” exemption for all countries, meaning that previously duty-free small shipments (those under $800) are now subject to import duties.
  • Going forward, every shipment to the U.S. — regardless of order size or origin — must go through full customs processing and duty assessment and assessed duties based on the country of origin’s specific “reciprocal” tax rate.
  • This change may lead to processing and delivery delays, as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP) will now require full documentation for every order imported into the U.S.
  • Once processing is complete, customs duties will need to be paid before delivery. This means U.S. customers will likely be contacted by the shipping company or USPS to arrange payment before the package can be released. It’s now very important to watch for and promptly respond to any contact from your delivery company — if duties remain unpaid, your package could be delayed or even returned to us. To prevent potential fraud, always ask the agent for the tracking number and make sure it matches the one provided by CHARISMATICO before making a duty payment.
  • While this is a standard process in much of the world — including the EU, Canada, and even here in Thailand — it will be a new adjustment for many U.S. buyers.

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2. WHERE THAILAND STANDS

• • Thanks to successful U.S.–Thailand trade negotiations, Thailand secured a comparatively competitive 19% rate on the declared value of imports— almost half the originally proposed level.
  • In fact, that 19% tariff is among the more favorable in the world right now. Some countries are lower, such as the EU for example, but not by much. Our understanding is that the lowest general rate at present is around 15% — just 4 percentage points lower than Thailand’s negotiated rate. Many countries still have rate much higher than Thailand.

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3. ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

• • No U.S. Sales Tax — As of now, the U.S. has not required sales tax to be levied on international shipments, so you will continue to save on domestic sales tax when ordering from CHARISMATICO.
  • Most our costumes are justifiably categorized under HS code: 9505906000 - Festive, Carnival Or Other Entertainment Articles, Others. These articles of clothing and costumes do not require additional product specific import duties. As result you will only pay the 19% reciprocal tariff.
  • Exclusive Designs — Our outfits are handmade in Thailand and can’t be found in U.S. stores.
  • Material Costs Affect Everyone — Even if our costumes were produced in the United States, many of the specialized fabrics, feathers, sequins, and trims we use would still need to be imported as the US does not make these materials domestically. As a result, these materials would be subject to the reciprocal tariff rates of their countries of origin, raising production costs before a single stitch is sewn. Adding the substantially higher labor costs in the U.S. would increase prices even further — making each costume significantly more expensive for our customers.
  • By continuing to produce our costumes here in Thailand, we can source our materials locally, manage production efficiently, and offer the same premium quality at a much more cost-effective rate. This ensures you receive the best possible value without compromising on the artistry, quality, and detail that define CHARISMATICO.
  • Better Value for Your Money — You’re getting premium craftsmanship, full customization, and a unique stage presence that’s hard to replicate locally, even with the 19% duty.

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4. BEFORE VS NOW COMPARISON CHART (THAILAND SPECIFIC)

SCENARIO	BEFORE AUG 29, 2025	AFTER AUG 29, 2025
Orders Under $800	No import duties at all.	19% import tariff now applies to all orders, no matter the value.
Orders Over $800 – Stage/Performance Costumes & Accessories	Small or no duties depending on the item.	19% import tariff applies, but most items in this category have no extra product-specific duty.
Orders Over $800 – Apparel-Type Costumes (similar to regular clothing)	Higher duties (often 14–32%) depending on the material.	19% import tariff plus those higher clothing duties — making this the most expensive category.

Numbers Example - Orders Under $800

COST BREAKDOWN STAGE/PERFORMANCE COSTUME	BEFORE AUG 29, 2025	AFTER AUG 29, 2025
Declared Value	$100	$100
U.S. Sales Tax	$0	$0
Import Tariff	$0	$19 (19%)
Example - Extra Product Duty (HS) Where applicable / Rates Vary	$0 (No Duty)	$10 (10%)
Total	$100	$129

Numbers Example - Orders Over $800

COST BREAKDOWN APPAREL-TYPE COSTUME	BEFORE AUG 09, 2025	AFTER AUG 09, 2025
Declared Value	$1,000	$1,000
U.S. Sales Tax	$0	$0
Import Tariff (MFN vs Reciprocal)	$50* (~5%)	$190 (19%)
Example - Extra Product Duty (HS) Where applicable / Rates Vary	$100 (10%)	$100 (10%)
Total	$1,150	$1,290

*Previously Most Favored Nation Rate

Summary:

With the end of the de minimis exemption, all imports to the U.S. — no matter the value — from Thailand now face the universal reciprocal negotiated tariff rate. The old “Most Favored Nation” rate has been replaced by the new reciprocal tariff, meaning that all shipments will now have the same tax rate across the board. Product specific duties still apply as they always have. Still, CHARISMATICO continues to offer exceptional value, premium quality, and distinctive designs not found elsewhere. Please note that this change is global and not specific to Thailand.

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5. OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU

We’re closely monitoring global trade and shipping developments and are doing everything possible to keep your costs fair and competitive. We will adapt swiftly as needed to ensure you receive the best value with minimal hassle.

If you have any questions or concerns about how these changes affect your order or to find out more about how we work to keep your costs as low as possible, please reach out to us at support@charismatico.com — we’re always happy to help.