Ship to the U.S.

U.S. duties most asked questions

For the full list of frequently asked questions with detailed answers, please visit our FAQ page.

• 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. Do I need to pay if I’m shipping documents only?

  You do not need to pay duty if you're shipping documents only (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: I ship CUSMA/USMCA items to the U.S. via Canada Post. Will these have duties?

  Yes, CUSMA/USMCA shipments under US$800 will be charged duties when sent via a postal carrier. According to CBP, "USMCA preference cannot be claimed for postal shipments subject to Section 3 of Executive Order 14324". CUSMA/UMCA items require additional documentation that is not currently supported in the postal environment.

• Q: Do the Annex II exemptions under Executive Order 14257 apply to postal shipments under US$800?

  According to U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP), most Annex II exemptions under Executive Order 14257 do not apply to international postal shipments valued under US$800. These exemptions mainly apply to commercial shipments and those over US$800.

  However, postal shipments under US$800 still qualify for exemptions related to informational materials, including items classified under Chapter 49 (e.g. books, newspapers, magazines, pictures, manuscripts), certain headings (3704–9705, photograph / film-related goods), and specific subheadings such as 6307.90.30 (parts of textile furnishings), 8523.80.10 (recorded media / tapes / cassettes or similar formats), and others.

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

  Zono 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 Declaration 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 with a Zonos Verified Account?

  When you use your Zonos Verified account, you can expect the following:

  • $1.99 remittance fee: A flat charge for transferring the duties and taxes you collect to CBP.
  • 10% of calculated duties (disbursement and bond fee): A service fee based on the total duties owed. This covers the cost of advancing the duties on your behalf and providing the required customs bond.

  Note: There are no fees and charges applied for shipping documents, or to items valued over US$800.

• 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.

  Note: There are no fees and charges applied for shipping documents, or to items valued over US$800.

• Q: Does this duty change apply to goods valued over US$800?

  No, the U.S. executive order does not apply to goods over US$800, duties for these items will continue to be collected upon delivery (DDU). However, a Declaration ID must still be created for each shipment over US $800. No duty will be charged or invoiced to your account – whether through your Zonos Verified Account or through the Prepay app.

  Note: There is no processing fee applied to these shipments.

• Q: Do shipping labels need to show a declaration ID?

  Shipping labels do not require a declaration ID to be visible on the label. If a U.S.-bound shipping label was generated through available Canada Post DDP solutions, then this is confirmation that a declaration ID has already been created by Zonos.  

  Canada Post will issue the shipping labels because the declaration ID confirms Zonos will connect and remit duties to CBP on your behalf.

  Note: Our DDP solution is currently not available for merchants using a Custom Developed Shipping System (CDSS) or a third-party shipping system (3PSS). If a U.S.-bound shipping label is created through one of these offline systems, it will not have a Declaration ID attached to it and is subject to rejection by Canada Post and/or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

• Q: Do I have to pay for a subscription fee to access Zonos?

  If you sign up for a Verified Account using Canada Post’s referral link or if you’re using the Zonos App, there is no subscription fee. Zonos Dashboard Lite is free for Canada Post business customers. Your Verified Account will give you access to tools that calculate the duties on your products, allowing you to build the true cost of cross-border shipping into your product or shipping price.

  Example: If your ecommerce store is integrated with Canada Post and Shopify, the same no-subscription-fee benefits applies. You can use the Dashboard to increase your product prices on your lists.

  However, if you’re shipping higher volumes and are looking to use the Zonos Duty and Tax app from the Shopify Store to pre-capture duties at checkout from your customers, an annual subscription fee applies.

• Q: What are the rules for sending items by Letter-post (Letter or Large Envelope?)

  Letter-post is limited to documents with no commercial value. Examples include brochures, flyers, personal correspondence or annual reports. You cannot send books, purchased magazines, or any goods being sold to the recipient.

  • Magazines and publications: If the magazine was purchased by the U.S. recipient, it counts as a commercial item and cannot be sent by Letter-post. If a publication is sent for information only (e.g., an annual report from a financial institution), it can go as Letter-post.
  • Weight and size limits: A Large Envelope can be up to 380 mm × 270 mm × 20 mm (14.96" × 10.62" × 0.8") and must weigh no more than 500 g (1.1 lb). Anything heavier or larger will be treated as a parcel/packet and charged parcel rates.
  • Duties and taxes: Even if your documents exceed the Letter-post limits and are charged parcel rates, they are still classified as documents and should not be subject to duties or taxes.

  If your item has any commercial value, it will need to go through Zonos to obtain a Declaration ID for proper customs clearance.

• Q: What third-party platforms are currently integrated with Canada Post and Zonos?

  The following third-party platforms are currently integrated with Canada Post and Zonos:

  • Ecommerce platforms: Shopify, Shopify (PluginHive), WooCommerce (PluginHive)
  • Marketplaces: Etsy, eBay, Whatnot
  • Shipping systems: Machool, OrderCup, netParcel, 2Ship, ShipRush, ShipWise/DesktopShipper, Think Logistics, Shippo, Easyship, ShipStation, Easypost

  Note: Shopify and netParcel have facilitated their own built-in integrations with Canada Post and Zonos, which support label creation with prepaid duties. Using your own Canada Post account for carrier-calculated shipping is not supported for U.S.-bound shipments on these platforms.

• Q: What are my options for U.S. returns with Canada Post?

  As the merchant, you have two ways to manage U.S. returns:

  1. Provide a prepaid return label to your customer and prepay any applicable duties and fees. This simplifies the return process for your customers and gives you the flexibility to decide how costs are handled. You can:
     • Cover the full cost: Pay the return shipping and any applicable duties and fees, or
     • Share or pass on the cost: Charge part or all the shipping, duties/fee costs back to the customer.
  2. Have your customer use the Zonos Prepay App to initiate their return. They’ll need to:
     • Select “Is a return” in the app
     • Specify where the item was made
     • Pay any applicable duties and fees
     • Obtain a Declaration ID, which they’ll need to present when dropping off the package at a Canada Post retail location.
• Q: How do duty refunds work for return to sender shipments?

  If a package is returned to sender by Canada Post before leaving Canada, no refund is needed, as duties were never charged.

  If a shipment left Canada but was returned at U.S. Customs, duty refunds are not currently available with Zonos.

  If a package clears U.S. Customs but is later returned after a delivery attempt was unsuccessful (for example, if it was unclaimed, refused, or the address was invalid), duties cannot be refunded, since the shipment has already been processed and cleared by U.S. authorities.