Prepay U.S. duties with Zonos via SnapShip and Shipping Manager

If you're shipping packages from Canada to the United States using Canada Post, you must now prepay duties before your parcel crosses the border.

We currently offer two methods of U.S. duty payments:

  1. Automatic billing with a Zonos Account (preferred): With this option there is no change when it comes to creating a shipping label with Canada Post SnapShip™ or Shipping Manager.
  2. Manually pay duties with the Zonos App: Before creating a shipping label using SnapShip or Shipping Manager you need to pay duties via the Zonos app and receive a Declaration ID. Get the Zonos App.

What is a declaration ID?

A Declaration ID is a 13-character code that proves you've completed your customs declaration and paid the required duties.

Why a Declaration ID is required:

  • Under U.S. regulations, every parcel entering the country by mail must have duties prepaid.
  • Canada Post requires a Declaration ID before it can generate a shipping label for a U.S. parcel.
  • The Declaration ID tells Canada Post your shipment is tied to a Verified Account, with Zonos responsible for invoicing you and paying duties to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
  • Without a Declaration ID, you cannot create a Canada Post shipping label for U.S. shipments.

Getting started with a Zonos Verified account for automatic billing

With a Verified Account you can:

  • Enable automatic billing from Zonos U.S. for duties and taxes
  • Enable Zonos to collect duties from your business and remit them directly to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on your behalf
  • Access your U.S.-bound shipping labels in Snap Ship and Shipping manager immediately
  • Access Zonos’s classify tool to generate accurate HS codes and duty rates (so you can build duty into your shipping or product costs), or integrate with Zonos’s ecommerce apps to enable Zonos to manage that for you at checkout (at an additional cost).

How it works:

  1. You create a shipment in a Canada Post shipping tool (Snap Ship or Shipping Manager).
  2. Canada Post generates a Declaration ID.
  3. Canada Post links the Declaration ID to your shipment's tracking number.
  4. Canada Post issues a shipping label (the Declaration ID confirms Zonos will collect and remit duties to CBP on your behalf).
  5. Using the tracking number and data shared from Canada Post, Zonos pays CBP directly for the shipment.
  6. Zonos invoices you for the duties associated with the tracking number.

How to set up a Verified Account

  1. Sign up for a Zonos Account
    • Use this link to sign up for a Zonos account through Canada Post and obtain a Zonos agreement.
  2. Create a Verified Account
    • Click  Create an account  from the sign-up page.
    • You can sign up quickly with Google or Apple or enter your email address and Zonos will send you a 6-digit verification code. Enter this code to finalize set up.

    • Manual sign up – Enter your details:

      • Name
      • Email
      • Phone (optional)
      • Password
      • Accept the Terms of Service
    • Once complete, click  Create Account  to continue.
  3. Verify your email

    • To keep your account secure, Zonos will send a verification code to your email inbox.

      • Enter the code in the verification field.

    Didn’t get it? Click Resend to request another code.

  4. Add your business information

    • Enter your business details.

      • Business name – The name of your company
      • Website URL – Your store or company website
      • Country – Where your business is base
      • Integration type – Choose the integration method that best fits your set up
    • Click  Save  when finished.
  5. Add a payment method
    • Keep a valid payment method on file so Zonos can invoice you directly for duties.
    • To connect a payment method:
      • Navigate to dashboard.zonos.com
      • Click on Settings
      • Select Billing
      • Click Add payment method
      • Enter your credit card details and click Save

      • Add the rest of your details:

        • Name
        • Email
        • Phone
        • Country
        • Address
      • Click  Save  to confirm your billing information.

    Reminder: Access to the Zonos Dashboard and its tools is free - no subscription fees. You’ll only be charged for duties (remitted to CBP by Zonos on your behalf) and the postal clearance/processing fee.

  6. Connect your Account Key
    • Once you have added a payment method and your account is approved, you'll receive a Zonos Account Key that you will need to add to your Canada Post account preferences.
    • To locate your Zonos Account Key:
      • Navigate to dashboard.zonos.com
      • Click on Settings
      • Under Settings, you will see your Zonos Account Key.

      • Copy the key and add it to your Canada Post account preferences. This can be found in your business account, within Snap Ship and Shipping Manager.

      • Log into your Canada Post account, in the navigation, select Shipping, choose Shipping Tool, Select Account preferences, Enter your Account key.
  7. Create a shipment
  8. Complete Customs declaration
    • Complete the customs declaration form for shipments to the U.S. as you normally would (description(s), quantity and value).
  9. Proceed with Zonos Automatic billing
    • The system automatically processes payments from your stored method.
  10. Submit shipping label transaction
    • A Declaration ID is created and attached to your shipments tracking number. The declaration ID is your payment of duties validation – ensuring Canada Post knows duties are covered, so your label can be issued without delay.
  11. Receive shipping label
    • Canada Post will issue the shipping label because the declaration ID confirms Zonos will connect and remit duties to CBP on your behalf.

How billing works with a Verified Account

  • Zonos collects duties for each shipment tied to your Verified Account.
  • You are invoiced directly by Zonos.
  • Zonos remits the duties to CBP on your behalf.

Duty calculation tools included with your Verified Account

Your Verified Account gives you access to Zonos Dashboard, which includes tools to help you calculate the duties on your products. With these calculations, you can build the true cost of cross-border shipping into your product or shipping price – so there are no surprises for you or your customers.

With your Verified Account, you can access the following tools:

  • AI-powered product classification
  • Real-time duty and tax calculators

By using these tools, you'll know precisely what duties will be charged on your packages. This transparency allows you to set accurate pricing, protect your margins and avoid surprise fees for your customers.

Tip: Zonos also offers a suite of ecommerce solutions that integrate directly at checkout. These solutions let you calculate and guarantee duties in real time for your shoppers – ensuring they see the full cost upfront, with no unexpected charges at delivery.

Tools and resources available to you:

  • Direct invoicing – All duty and tax charges are billed straight to you.
  • Full visibility – View a breakdown of duties per shipment in your Zonos Dashboard.
  • Useful reports – Download invoices, review payment history and export data for accounting.
  • Helpful tools – Access AI-powered product classification and real-time duty and tax calculators to know precisely what duties will be charged on your shipments.

Manually pay duties with the Zonos App

Another option for your business is to pre-pay duties with the Zonos App. You will receive a Declaration ID and you can manually add the code to SnapShip and/or Shipping Manager.

  1. Download the Zonos Prepay app

    Aavailable for iOS and Android devices.

  2. Once downloaded, set up your Prepay Account:
    1. Click Create an account.
    2. Create an account by signing in with your Google or Apple Account.
    3. Alternatively, you can just enter your email address and a password. You will then receive an email with a 6-digit verification code. Enter this code to finalize your account set up.
  3. Start your shipment
    1. Open the app and select the Ship icon in the bottom middle of the screen.
    2. Indicate if the items are used, a gift or a document.
    3. Select the country where these items are made. If you do not know, select "I'm not sure".
    4. Select Canada Post and click Continue.
  4. Add your items
    1. To add an item to a shipment, select Take a picture. If you cannot provide a picture, click Add items manually to enter this information. If you need to add additional items, click the + icon in the top right of the app. The app then uses AI to detect the following information and calculate an accurate duty for your shipment:
      • Item descriptions
      • Quantity
      • Estimated value
      • Country of origin
      • HS code
  5. Review your shipment
    1. Confirm or adjust values and item details.
    2. Click Proceed to checkout.
  6. Get duties estimate
    • Use the Calculate feature in the Prepay app to see how much duty you will be charged for shipping an item to the U.S.
  7. Pay duties
    1. Select your preferred payment method (credit card, Apple Pay®, etc.).
    2. Click Pay.
  8. Get your receipt
    • The app will generate a receipt with your Declaration ID and QR code.
    • Click Print receipt or Share receipt to save your receipt.
  9. Sign in to SnapShip or Shipping Manager
  10. Create a shipment
    • Enter your shipment details as you normally would (destination, origin, package and service details).
  11. Complete Customs declaration
    • Complete the customs declaration form for shipments to the U.S. as you normally would (description(s), quantity and value).
  12. Enter your declaration ID
    • Copy your declaration ID from your Zonos Prepay app and enter it into the field in your Canada Post tool.
  13. Submit a shipping label transaction
    • Access your shipping label
  14. Get your package(s) to Canada Post
    • Visit a Canada Post outlet. Present your package with the shipping label attached. Present the QR code (on your phone or printed) at the outlet to complete your shipment.
    • Use your regular induction method with Canada Post. If you already have business induction setup, you can continue using:
      • Counter service
      • Quick drop
      • Parcel Pickup

Frequently asked questions