Ship 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've completed your customs declaration and paid the required duties. Under U.S. regulations, every parcel under US$800 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?

  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. What if my customer sends an ecommerce order to the U.S. as a gift?

  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?

  If a shipping label is unused and has no scans by Canada Post, you will not be billed for the Canada Post service as a result of our event-based billing system. However, you will be billed for the duties and fees by Zonos, for which you will need to request a refund.

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

  As the merchant, you have several options you can select from or combine with: 

  • Pass it to the customer at checkout. Your shopper will then pay the landed cost before placing the order. 
  • Include duties in U.S. prices – you can raise your U.S. price lists to cover expected duties and keep checkout clean and simple.  
• Q: How are CUSMA duty free eligible shipments going to be handled in the postal network?

  After August 29, 2025, CUSMA duty-free treatment is still available, however, CUSMA-originating goods from Canada and Mexico are not exempt from IEEPA tariffs for postal shipments. All postal shipments pay IEEPA rates regardless of CUSMA qualification.

• 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: How can I calculate duties for items before presale?

  If you are a merchant selling items into the US and want to know how much duty you will be charged for shipping an item to the US, you can use the Calculate feature of the Zonos Prepay app to see the HS code, duty rate, and other item information.

• 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 duty change only applies to goods valued under US$800. Goods valued above US$800 are subject to the normal U.S. tariff rates for their respective category. These items will still be processed regardless of their country of origin. The duty change does not affect them.

• Q: Should I be using Zonos for goods valued over US$800?

  Yes, although the U.S. executive order does not apply to goods over US$800 (duties for these items will continue to be collected upon delivery), a Declaration ID must still be created for each shipment. 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: What if I mark an item as a “gift” under US $100?

  If your shipment includes a business name or looks like a purchase, it will not qualify as a gift – even if marked as one.

  To qualify as a gift, the package must:

  • Be sent person-to-person
  • The label must include "Unsolicited Gift" in the item description

  If you’ve accidentally marked the item as a “gift”:

  • CBP may reclassify the package correctly and charge duties accordingly
  • The package could be delayed or held for further inspection
  • The package may be sent back to you and additional costs will be incurred
• 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: How can I reconcile invoices from Canada Post for shipping with invoices from Zonos for duties and taxes?

  Each transaction handled through Zonos includes a PIN number, which is linked to the Declaration ID. This unique identifier allows you to match your Canada Post shipping invoices with the Zonos invoices for duties and taxes.

  How to do this:

  1. Locate the PIN/Declaration ID on your Canada Post shipping invoice.
  2. Find the corresponding Declaration ID on the Zonos invoice.
  3. Match the two records - the PIN/Declaration ID should be identical on both.
  4. Verify amounts:
     1. Canada Post invoice for shipping charges
     2. Zonos invoice for duties, taxes, and applicable fees
  5. Record or file both invoices together for complete reconciliation of the shipment’s total cost.
• 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: How can I locate the Declaration ID?

  You can find the Declaration ID by reviewing your receipt generated through the Zonos Prepay app, or your invoice from your Verified Account

• Q: Why is country of origin mandatory now?

  With the suspension of the $800 exemption, all items shipped into the US - regardless of value - require Country of Origin to calculate tariffs and clear customs.

  The Country of Origin (Country/Region of Manufacture) is the country where the product was made, produced, or substantially transformed. It is not necessarily the country from which the product ships.

  Note: This identifier is mandatory and will also provide you with a more accurate calculation of duties.

• Q: What happens if I don’t provide Country of Origin for my package?

  Missing or incorrect Country of Origin information may lead to:

  • Delays and rejections at customs
  • Incorrect tariff application
  • Higher costs than expected
• 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: How are ecommerce returns to the U.S. handled?

  The Zonos App provides consumers with the option to initiate a return to you.

  It’s important for your business to clearly communicate your return policy and be transparent about the return location:

  • If returns are sent within Canada: Your current process with Canada Post and customer experience will stay the same.
  • If returns are sent to the U.S. with Canada Post: A new Declaration ID will be required to generate the return label (since the item is crossing the border again), however no additional duties or fees will be applied.

  Note: You will need to identify the reason of export as a return.

• Q: Does the suspension of the US$800 de minimis exemption impact induction?
  The suspension of the US$800 de minimis exemption does not change the induction process with Canada Post. All shipments will continue to be inducted and processed as they are today. The change only affects tariff application at the border, not the operational workflow.
• Q: Can I estimate duties calculated beforehand via Canada Post Rating API call?

  Not currently. Instead you can:

  • Use Zonos’s Classify to generate accurate HS codes and duty rates, allowing you to build duty into your shipping or product cost.
  • Use the “Calculate” feature of the Prepay app to see the HS code, duty rate and other item information.
  • Upload rate sheets into your Zonos Dashboard 

  • Refer to this Zonos document to learn how to create a custom service level with a rate sheet.  
  • You can also reach out to the Zonos Support team at support@zonos.com team for assistance
• 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: If my item was lost or undeliverable, will I have to pay duties again when I resend it to my U.S. customer?

  Unfortunately, duties and taxes paid on the original shipment are non-refundable. If you resent the item, it will be treated as a new import and it will be subject to duties again.