Sending packages
to the U.S.

U.S. duties FAQs

• Q: What is a tariff vs a duty

  A tariff is a policy or schedule set by a government that specifies the taxes to be applied on imports (and sometimes exports). Tariffs are often designed to regulate trade, protect domestic industries, or generate government revenue.

  A duty is the actual tax or fee charged on a specific shipment or good, based on the tariff. It is the amount of money paid by the importer when the goods enter the country.

  For example, if the tariff rate on leather shoes is 10%, the duty on a shipment worth $5,000 would be $500.

• Q: What is a declaration ID and why is it required?

  A Declaration ID is a 13-character code that proves you have completed your customs declaration and paid the required duties. Under U.S. regulations, every parcel entering the country by mail must have duties prepaid. Without a Declaration ID, Canada Post will be unable to ship your item to the U.S.

• Q. What if my parcel was shipped from Canada to the U.S. before August 29, 2025, and is already in the shipping network?

  If your item already entered the postal system prior to August 29, 2025, and reaches U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), one of two things could occur:

  • CBP may choose not to process the parcel and return it.
  • CBP may assess the parcel, apply duties and taxes, and bill Canada Post through Zonos. In this case, Canada Post will cover the cost on your behalf.
• Q. Do I need to pay if I’m shipping documents only?

  A Declaration ID is still required, but you do not need to pay duty if you're only shipping documents (e.g., legal papers, certificates, diplomas). However, if you include goods or merchandise (even in a document envelope), the shipment will be treated like a regular parcel and duties will apply. 

• Q. What if I’m sending it to the U.S. as a gift?

  Consumer-sent gifts less than US$100 will not be subject to duties. However, the Declaration ID is still required and the Zonos app must be used to create the required paperwork.

  Under U.S. Customs rules, a shipment will not qualify as a gift if it includes a business name or if it otherwise appears to be a purchase, even if marked as one.

• Q. I created a label but it was never used, can I get a refund?

  Yes, if a label is unused and has no scans and the refund request has been made within 90 days of the label creation.

• Q: What are my options for handling U.S. duties?

  Unfortunately, there are limited options to avoid these new requirements. It is still required that customs data is also transmitted at the time of creating the shipping label (sender and recipient information and description of contents of the package).

• Q: Will Canadians still be able to send Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU) shipments to the U.S after August 29, 2025?

  Yes, but all shipments will now require formal or informal customs entry – there are no more automatic exemptions. Whether DDU is accepted depends on the shipping provider. Some carriers may refuse DDU if full clearance documents are missing. For Canadian-origin goods, duty exemptions under CUSMA may still apply, but only when the correct paperwork (e.g., Certificate of Origin) is provided.

• Q: Can I use a provider other than Zonos to create my declaration ID?

  Zonos has a direct integration with Canada Post for providing cross-border shipping capabilities including cost calculations, duty/tax collection and customers documentation. Our system expects duties and taxes to be billed to Zonos and requires the Zonos tax ID or documentation to appear on paperwork. With Canada Post, you must use Zonos-generated documentation and declaration processes.

• Q: What costs and fees can I expect to pay using the Zonos app?

  The Zonos app is free to download. In addition to paying duties, there are fees for remittance and processing: 

  • $3.99 remittance (converted): This is the amount is transferred after currency conversion, shown in Canadian dollars.
  • 10% processing fee: A 10% service fee is charged for handling the payment and conversion.

  Tip: If you use the “Take a Picture” option while setting up your shipment, you’ll get a $1 CAD discount. If you skip the photo and enter the details manually, you won’t receive the discount.

• Q: Do shipments to U.S. Territories require prepaid duties and taxes?

  Yes, shipments to U.S. Territories (American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) require prepaid duties and taxes, which means a Declaration ID must be included.

• Q . Can I order from Canada Post online and ship to the U.S.?

  No, currently online and phone in orders are not available for U.S-based customers. We are working to address this issue.