A Customs Declaration is how you declare the items you're shipping across international borders. Items crossing borders are generally subject to import/export taxes, customs duties, and fees. Certain shipments qualify to send these documents electronically instead, a process called Paperless Trade (PLT), fully supported in Shippo.
To make this easy, Shippo automatically creates Customs Declarations for orders with international addresses, using the item information already on the order.
Commercial invoices
A commercial invoice is a physical document that's created from the Customs Declaration and used to declare the items shipping in the shipment.
Generating your commercial invoice
Once you've purchased your international label with declared customs:
- Find the purchased order on the Orders page.
- Click the "More Options" ellipsis to the right of the order.
- Select Download Commercial Invoice.
How Shippo delivers your commercial invoice
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Some carriers include the commercial invoice as a separate page in your shipping label download. Others build it directly into the shipping label itself.
- Sent electronically through Paperless Trade, where you don't need a physical copy. Shippo sends the customs declaration information to the carrier electronically.
What to do with your commercial invoice
USPS
For USPS international shipments, you don't need to include a commercial invoice, so you won't see a download button for one. USPS builds all necessary customs information into the label automatically:
- USPS First Class Package International labels are a single page, with customs details right on the label.
- USPS Priority Mail International labels vary by shipment:
- Sometimes a single page, with customs details on the label.
- Sometimes two pages: the first is your label to apply as usual, the second is a copy for your records.
- Sometimes three or four pages: put the first page (the label) on the box, include the second (and third) in a pouch on the outside of the package, and keep the last page for your records.
UPS
Print the entire file you download, since the label and commercial invoice are bundled together. The first page is your label. The next three identical pages are the commercial invoice, which you'll attach to the outside of the package in a clear pouch. Keep the fourth page for your records.
UPS labels that print "EDI" are eligible for Paperless Trade.
Other carriers
FedEx, Canada Post, and DHL Express don't include the commercial invoice with the label. Click Download Invoice after downloading your label to print it separately.
Best practice: print three copies of the commercial invoice, sign them, and include them in a pouch on the package. DHL Express labels also come with an "Archive Doc," which isn't required but is sometimes requested by DHL employees, so it's worth keeping on hand during drop-off or pickup.
What are customs fees?
Customs fees cover:
- Duties and taxes. Customs agencies use the commodity, quantity, value, country of manufacture, and other factors to determine these charges for international shipments.
- Customs fees aren't included in your Shippo rate. The customs agencies of the sending and receiving countries add them on after your package ships.
Brokerage fees
A brokerage fee is what you pay an entity to clear your shipment through customs. Duties and taxes, on the other hand, are what customs and border patrol charges to bring something into a country.
- UPS and DHL Express Shippo carrier accounts: Shippo doesn't cover this amount. It's part of any customs duties and taxes charged through our carrier account.
- USPS carrier account: USPS operates through the in-country post, so there are no brokerage fees.
- Your own connected carrier account: These fees get invoiced directly by the carrier.
Customs declaration required and additional fields
Required fields
- Content Type: Describes the items in the shipment. Shippo defaults to Merchandise. Options include Documents, Gifts, Sample, Merchandise, Return Merchandise, and Humanitarian Donation.
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Incoterm: Determines who's responsible for collecting duty, tax, or VAT. Shippo defaults to DDU (bill recipient). USPS doesn't support DDP, so all USPS international shipments go out as DDU.
- DDU (bill recipient): Carrier policies can vary. Some carriers may bill the shipper if the recipient refuses delivery, can't be reached, or doesn't pay required duties and taxes.
- DDP (bill sender)
- FCA (Free Carrier): The seller fulfills their delivery obligation once they hand over the goods, cleared for export, to a carrier named by the buyer at an agreed place or point. The seller usually isn't responsible for shipping costs, and the buyer must specify the exact delivery point in the contract of sale or carriage.
- Signing Person: The person responsible for the customs details, generally whoever fills out the declaration. For USPS, this defaults to the Sender Address name and can't be changed.
Additional fields
- Exporter Reference: For certified exporters only.
- Importer Reference: For certified importers only.
- Invoice: Your merchant invoice number, printed on the declaration.
- Non-delivery handling: How to treat the package if it can't be delivered. Shippo defaults to Return. Options are Return or Abandon.
- License: Required for certain shipments containing restricted items.
- Certificate: Required for certain shipments containing restricted items.
- EEI, Proof of Filing Code (PFC), and AES exemptions: When exporting goods from the US, certain shipments require filing Electronic Export Information (EEI) with the US Census Bureau's Automated Export System (AES). Once filed, you receive an Internal Transaction Number (ITN), which serves as your Proof of Filing Code (PFC) and needs to be included in your customs documentation.
Many shipments qualify for an exemption from AES filing instead. In that case, provide an Exemption Exclusion Legend (EEL) code, commonly called a NOEEI (No Electronic Export Information) code, which shows the shipment is legally exempt and cites the specific regulation granting the exemption.
You need to file EEI and get an AES/ITN number if your shipment:
- Contains goods valued at more than $2,500 per Schedule B number (excluding shipments to Canada).
- Requires an export license under US regulations.
- EEL/PFC (NOEEI codes): If your shipment qualifies for an exemption, provide the matching NOEEI code. Shippo lets you select from the most common exemptions:
- NOEEI § 30.37a: Each type of goods in the shipment (classified by Schedule B Export Codes, available at the US Census Bureau) is valued at $2,500 or less, and no export license is required.
- NOEEI § 30.36: The shipment is going to Canada, regardless of value, and doesn't require an export license.
- NOEEI § 30.37h: The shipment is an authorized gift parcel or humanitarian donation to Cuba that doesn't require a BIS export license.
- NOEEI § 30.37f: Exports of technology and software (as defined in 15 CFR part 772 of the Export Administration Regulations) that don't require an export license.
- AES/ITN: Automated Export System or Internal Transaction Number, a unique identifier assigned to shipments for export compliance. If selected, provide this in a separate field. If you don't have one, you can get one by following these steps.
- EORI: European Union only. The EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification number) is needed to properly assess customs duties when moving goods into or out of the EU. It's unique across the EU and assigned by a Customs authority in a Member State. Once registered in one Member State, a company gets a single EORI number valid across the entire EU, used in all communications with any EU customs authority that requires a customs identifier.
- Harmonization Code (HS/HTS): Required for imports to EU countries by air. For all air imports to the EU, a full description of the good, ideally 50 to 100 characters (about 10 to 15 words), works best.
- Tax ID/VAT: Codes that determine how a merchant gets assessed for tax purposes. You may have multiple numbers depending on the countries you ship from and to.
- Tax ID/EIN: The Employer Identification Number. CBP guidelines require import/export filings to include the shipper's EIN.
- VAT: Value Added Tax, used widely in place of the EIN across Europe and elsewhere.
- VOEC: A specific type of VAT (VAT on Ecommerce) used in Norway. Merchants in Norway's VOEC program must provide their VOEC for shipments to Norway valued under roughly NOK 3,000 ($350).
- Notes: Space for any additional details you feel are necessary for customs processing.
Customs declaration requirement exceptions
Sometimes a Customs Declaration isn't required, and you can opt out of including one:
- Shipping between certain European Union countries
- Shipping from the United States to US territories with some carriers (for example, US to Puerto Rico through USPS)
Item-level customs information
Shippo lets you add the following details at the item level:
- Description (required)
- Quantity (required)
- Unit weight (required): number plus unit (g/kg/oz/lb)
- Unit value (required): number plus currency
- Country of origin (required)
- SKU code: your own inventory tracking code
- Harmonization Code (HS/HTS): The Harmonized System (HS) code is a 6-digit code managed by the World Customs Organization. Many governments add extra digits to further classify products under their Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS). For US imports, the HTS code runs 10 digits. See current HTS details.
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ECCN/EAR99: ECCN codes are five-character alphanumeric designations on the Commerce Control List (CCL), used to identify dual-use items for export control purposes. An ECCN categorizes items by the nature of the product, whether it's a commodity, software, or technology, along with its technical parameters. If your item falls under BIS jurisdiction but isn't on the CCL, it's designated Ear99 instead.
- ECCN is commonly described as a 5-digit code, though it can run up to 12 characters, in the format #A###.a.##.a. See the full Commerce Control List.
- Effective June 29, 2020, ECCN is required for all shipments to Russia, China, and Venezuela.
Paperless trade with Shippo
Every international shipment requires a customs declaration, no exceptions. Certain shipments can send those documents electronically instead, a process called Paperless Trade (PLT). PLT helps your package arrive faster, thanks to reduced inspection time at customs.
| Tip: For general background on Paperless Trade, we recommend reading this Wikipedia article. |
Shippo supports Paperless Trade for FedEx, UPS, and DHL Express. When you create a shipment eligible for PLT, Shippo automatically submits the signed commercial invoice electronically, so you don't need to print one.
Shippo collects all the information required for your customs declaration, including the signee for document submission. See "Customs Declarations" for details.
If a submission is unsuccessful, you'll see a message and need to attach a commercial invoice as usual.
Something worth knowing:
- If you're using a personal UPS account set up for PLT, and "EDI" (Electronic Data Interface) prints on the label, that confirms the information was sent successfully.
| Warning: If a shipment isn't eligible for PLT, it's essential to print the commercial invoice and attach it to your package. Skipping this can result in a returned or discarded package. |
Countries eligible for PLT
For a list of countries eligible for Paperless Trade, check the list for your carrier: