US Kart Track Owners: What the Removal of the De Minimis Rule Means for You
- simo
- Aug 8
- 2 min read
If you run a kart track in the USA, there’s an important rule change coming that could hit your wallet, hard. It’s called the de minimis rule, and it’s going away soon.
Let’s break down what it is, how it’s helped you in the past, and what’s going to happen when it’s removed.
What is the De Minimis Rule?
The de minimis rule is a US import law.
It says that if you buy goods from overseas and the total shipment value is under $800 USD, you don’t have to pay import duty (tax) on it.
This rule has been great for small, regular orders, especially if you get parts that are made in the UK or Europe.
How Have You Benefited From It?
If you’ve been buying karting parts from Fastline Group, you’ve probably saved a lot of money without even knowing it.
That’s because we have kept orders under this threshold and they have been duty-free.
For example:
You order $500 worth of parts made in the UK → No duty
You order $750 worth of seat inserts made in Europe → No duty
This meant lower costs, no surprise taxes, and quicker delivery because your shipment cleared customs faster.
When Will the Rule Be Removed?
For goods from China, the de minimis benefit was removed earlier this year and customers have been paying 30% extra plus an admin charge ever since.
Now, President Trump has announced the de minimis rule will end for all countries on 30 August 2025.
From that date forward, every shipment to the USA will face duty, if the goods are made outside of the USA, no matter how small.
What Will This Mean for You?
If you’re a US kart track owner buying parts made overseas, here’s what you’ll pay after 30 August 2025:
UK-made goods +10% duty
European-made goods +15% duty
Chinese goods +30% duty (already in place)
plus an admin fee of around $34
Even a small $200 order from the UK will cost $54 more in duty.
A $5,000 order from Europe will cost $738 more.
These are not price increases from Fastline, this is a US government tax that we can’t remove.
What Should You Do Now?
You still have time to avoid the new duties — but only until 27 August 2025.
Here’s your action plan:
Check your most-used parts and supplies
Work out what you’ll need for the next 3–6 months
Place your order before the 27 August deadline so it ships under the old duty-free rules, if it's a large order sooner that that is better as we will have to send it out in batches under $800
Act Now – Keep Your Costs Down
Don’t let these new rules eat into your profits.
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