Customs Declarations in Shippo

Shippo Supports International Shipping Globally

Please check out Carriers Supported by Shippo to see which carriers Shippo supports that ship internationally from your country.

 

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All International Shipments Require Customs Declaration

For orders with international addresses, Shippo will automatically create a Customs Declaration, using the item information for the order. 

 

 

Exceptions to Customs Declaration Requirements

In some cases, the Customs Declaration is not required, and that box may be unchecked. It is the shipper's responsibility to include customs documentation when required. Two examples are:

  • Shipping between certain European Union countries
  • Shipping from the United States to U.S. Territories with some carriers

 

What is Customs Declaration?

Custom Declaration is the process of declaring the items that you are shipping cross-border. Items shipped cross-border are generally subject to import and export taxes, customs duties, and fees.

 

What is a Commercial Invoice?

A Commercial Invoice is the physical document used to declare your items for customs purposes. It is provided through Shippo in several ways:

  • Included as part of the actual shipping label
  • Included on a separate page(s) as part of the shipping label download
  • Available to print by clicking Download Commercial Invoice on the purchase confirmation screen or Shipments Page
  • Sent electronically through a process called Paperless Trade and a physical copy is not required

 

What are customs fees?

Customs agencies use the commodity, quantity, value, country of manufacture, and other factors to determine duties and taxes charges for international shipments.

Customs fees (duties and taxes) are not included in the Shippo rate and will be added on after the package has been sent by the customs agencies of the sending and receiving countries.

 

Should I select DDU, DDP, or FCA?

The customs fees must be paid either by the sender or the recipient. This is determined by the incoterm that you select when you do your customs declaration. Shippo supports three options:

DDU

DDU is the default option in Shippo and means that your customer, the recipient, will be responsible for paying the customs charges before receiving the package.

  • The carrier will contact the customer for payment instructions once the charges are calculated and the package is ready for final delivery.

 

DDP

Choose DDP if you would like to pay all customs fees on behalf of your customer. This is common when sending a gift internationally.

  • USPS does not enable DDP for their shipments. All USPS international shipments will be sent DDU.
  • Customs charges will be calculated and charged to you, the sender, approximately three weeks after shipment. Charges will be billed through your carrier account or through Shippo if a Shippo carrier account was used.

  • DHL Express charges an additional processing fee for DDP.

FCA

Free Carrier (FCA) shipments are supported only FedEx and DHL Express. With FCA, you deliver the goods, cleared for export, at a named place and the shipment can be delivered to a carrier nominated by the buyer. Your buyer must nominate a carrier.

 

Shipping to the European Union

As part of the ICS2 (Import Control System 2) for the European Union, merchants shipping into or between EU Member States are asked to provide item descriptions in plain language that is precise enough for customs authorities to be able to identify the goods. For example, you should choose ‘Men’s Shirt’ as your description instead of ‘Apparel’. This information will be displayed on the label for all shipments that include customs documentation. You can find a list of generic, unacceptable terms along with the suggested alternatives provided by the European Commission here.

 

What do I do with the Commercial Invoice?

USPS

For USPS international shipments, you do not need to include a Commercial Invoice with your shipment so you will not see a button to download one.

All necessary customs information is included with the USPS label automatically.

  • USPS First Class Package International labels will be a single page with the customs details are included right on the label.
  • USPS Priority Mail International labels come have a few variations depending on the shipment's specifications:
    • The label file may be a single page with the customs details included right on the label.
    • The label file may be two pages — the first is the label, which you should apply to the box as normal, and the second is a copy for your records.
    • The label file may be three or four pages — the first is the label and should be put on the box, the second (and third) should be included in a pouch on the outside of the package, and the final page is for your records. 

UPS

Please print the entirety of the file that is created—the label and commercial invoice should be included in that file. UPS labels that print "EVS" on the label, are eligible for Paperless Trade

Other Carriers

For FedEx, Canada Post, and DHL Express, the Commercial Invoice is not included with the labels, and you will need to click Download Invoice to print the Commercial Invoice after downloading your label.  You can find this option by clicking the dropdown arrow next to the order/shipment on the Orders or Shipments pages. 

 

You need to print three copies of the commercial invoice, sign them, and include them in a pouch on the package. DHL Express labels will also include an "Archive Doc," which is sometimes requested by DHL employees but is not required. Just keep it on hand during drop-off/pick-up in case it's needed.

 

 

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