# 'Held by customs' or 'held in customs': what tracking messages mean, and when a letter follows

**URL:** <https://superreps.net/t/held-by-customs-or-held-in-customs-what-tracking-messages-mean-and-when-a-letter-follows/31783>\
**Category:** Shipping & Customs\
**Tags:** guide\
**Created:** [November 10, 2026, 10:21am UTC](https://superreps.net/t/held-by-customs-or-held-in-customs-what-tracking-messages-mean-and-when-a-letter-follows/31783 "2026-11-10T10:21:23Z")\
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**Author:** ![cobalttachy](https://superreps.net/user_avatar/superreps.net/cobalttachy/32/308_2.png) [@cobalttachy](https://superreps.net/u/cobalttachy)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2026, 10:23am UTC](https://superreps.net/t/held-by-customs-or-held-in-customs-what-tracking-messages-mean-and-when-a-letter-follows/31783/8 "2026-11-10T10:23:43Z")

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Summary (updated as of 10 November 2026):

1. **“Held in customs” / “held by customs”** is carrier tracking wording. It says the parcel is in the customs process, not what the outcome is.
2. **US (USPS FAQ)**: customs is CBP’s job, not USPS’s. CBP has 45 business days to process an item and to notify the recipient if it is seized or detained; if CBP detains it, a letter explains the reason. CBP can only investigate a package’s status after 45 business days from the arrival scan; the FAQ lists the details to give CBP.
3. **UK (government guidance)**: Royal Mail, Parcelforce or the courier contacts you with a bill listing VAT, duty or delivery charges; the parcel is normally held for about 3 weeks and returned to the sender if the bill is not settled.
4. **Messages** : HMRC never asks for personal or financial information by text; suspicious texts can be forwarded to 60599.
5. Counterfeits are prohibited goods; in the US they are covered in [the CBP thread](https://superreps.net/t/us-customs-de-minimis-suspended-small-parcels-cbp-counterfeits/434), and for the EU side see [Counterfeits and customs in France and Belgium](https://superreps.net/t/counterfeits-customs-france-belgium-buying-for-yourself/436).

Replies on how to word a declaration or route a parcel to avoid a check are removed. Questions for the moderators: [About](https://superreps.net/about).

**Official sources (checked on 10 November 2026):**

- US Postal Service, FAQ “Customs Forms – The Basics”: [faq.usps.com](https://faq.usps.com/articles/FAQ/Customs-Forms-The-Basics)
- UK government, Tax and customs for goods sent from abroad: Tax and duty: [gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty)
- HMRC, Report suspicious HMRC emails, texts, social media accounts and phone calls: [gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/reporting-fraudulent-emails)

Updated as of 10 November 2026. General information, not legal advice.

_Editorial summary, not independently verified._

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