Zonos app for postal shippers

Download the app 

The Zonos app is available for iOS and Android devices. It is free to download—there are no subscription fees. The app will only prompt for duty payment (and include a clearance/processing fee) when you use it to ship an item to the U.S. To download the app, click the links below:

• Download for iOS
• Download for Android
• Alternatively, use the web app version

Create an account 

Once downloaded, set up your Zonos app account:

1. Click Create an account.
2. Create an account by signing in with your Google or Apple account, or by entering your email address and a password.
3. You then will receive an email with a 6 digit verification code. Enter this code to finalize your account set up.

The Zonos app's main purpose is to calculate and collect U.S. duties. However, you can also use it to simply calculate costs without paying them at the same time. For example, you may want to see how much duties on an item you sell online is, so that you can add the cost of duties to your item or shipping prices online. Zonos provides this calculation feature for free.

To use the Calculate feature in the Zonos app:

1. Click on the Calculate icon in the bottom left.
2. Select your ship from location.
3. Either enter your item information manually, or take a picture of the items you would like to see the duty calculation for.

You then will see the duty calculation, country of origin, and HS code associated with the items.

Using this information, you can add the duty to the item price or shipping price for your customers to pay at checkout.

All postal shipments valued at $2,500 USD or less going to the U.S. must have duties prepaid. If you use this Calculate feature, you will need to follow up with steps 2, where you pay duties, once you are ready to ship your item.

1. Prepare your shipment:
   • Open the Zonos app
   • Select if you are shipping a standard package, gift, document, or a return.
   • Optionally, select your country of origin (if the same for all items).
   • Select the post you're shipping with.
   • Click Continue.
2. Click Add items manually to enter your item information yourself, or click Take a picture to take a photo and have the app auto-populate your item information. You can include all items in one photo, or take multiple photos.
3. Review the item information.
   • Click Edit to adjust the item information.
   • Click + Add another item to add an additional item.
   • Once ready to continue, check the box at the bottom to confirm the information is correct and click Calculate duties.
4. The app will calculate the duty cost of the shipment.
   • If no duties are due, click Complete to get your declaration ID. Some items may not have duty due. In this case, Zonos guarantees that no duty is due and issues a Declaration ID.
   • If duties are due, click Pay to pay your duties. Payment is available in your local currency via your preferred payment method (credit card, Apple Pay®, etc.).
5. The app will generate a receipt with your Declaration ID and QR code. Show QR code with the Declaration ID to the postal counter (or enter it into your shipping software) to complete your shipment. More information on this step is below.
   • Click Print receipt or Share receipt to save your receipt.

What is a Declaration ID? 

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

Why it's required:

• Under U.S. regulations, every parcel entering the country by mail must have duties prepaid
• The post will scan your QR code and validate your Declaration ID at the counter
• Without a Declaration ID, your parcel won't be accepted for shipping into the United States

After paying duties, you are ready to ship your package. The Zonos app supports both:

• Label creation at the postal counter
• Label creation via an online tool like Snap Ship or Shipping Manager

You need to use the Zonos app to create a Declaration ID for any gift you are shipping into the US. You are able to select "Gift" as the package type to ensure duties are calculated correctly.

Duty charged on gifts:

• Gifts under 100 USD: No duty required
• Gifts 100 USD or more: Duty will be charged

If you are not sure what is considered a gift, see our commercial invoice guide.

You will need to use the Zonos app to create a Declaration ID for any documents you are shipping into the U.S. when using parcel services. Letterpost documents up to 500 g do not require a Declaration ID. 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.

What qualifies as a “Document”? 

The key test is commercial value assigned to the paper contents:

• Documents (no commercial value): invoices, statements, advertisements, legal papers, certificates, diplomas, etc.
• Merchandise (has commercial value): magazines, books, calendars, trading cards, etc.
• Weight is not a classifier: whether the shipment is above or below 500 g does not determine “Document” vs “Merchandise.”

Service & Declaration ID requirements (Canada Post → U.S.)

• Letterpost (Documents ≤ 500 g): You may ship Documents via Letterpost, and no Declaration ID is required for Letterpost.
• Parcel services: All paper-based shipments sent via Small Packet–USA, Tracked Packet–USA, Expedited Parcel–USA, or Xpresspost–USA—whether “Documents” or “Merchandise”—require a Declaration ID.

If any paper item in your shipment has assigned commercial value, treat it as Merchandise and follow the Zonos app steps for parcel services.

U.S. returns are not duty-free. If you are returning a package to the U.S., you must pay duties using the Zonos app and obtain a new shipping label before shipping.

There are two exceptions where a new label and duty payment are not required:

• Undeliverable items — the package was never successfully delivered and the original U.S. S-10 barcode and packaging are intact.
• Refused items — the recipient refused delivery and the original U.S. S-10 barcode and packaging are intact.

In both cases, the postal system returns these automatically.

1. Click on the Account icon in the bottom right of the app
2. Select the color theme of your app. You can select Light or Dark mode

The app supports 18 languages. By default, the app will display in the language that you have your phone settings configured to.

To adjust your preferred language:

1. Click on the Account icon in the bottom right of the app
2. Tap the dropdown box showing your current language
3. Scroll through the list of available languages
4. Tap your preferred language to select it

To view these documents, click on Privacy or Terms of Service at the bottom of the account page.

After entering your item information (or using the photo feature to auto-fill your item information), you'll be able to review and edit the details before confirming and getting get a duty calculation.

When you take a photo of your items, the app uses image recognition to automatically identify them, estimate their value, and predict the country of origin. You'll always be able to review and edit the details before confirming payment.

You are not required to add a photo of your items, but it can increase efficiency by auto-filling your item information. You always have the option to manually enter your item information instead.

Your payment is only finalized once your shipment is linked to a postal tracking number. If you do not link your Declaration ID to a shipment within 5 days, the card authorization expires and you will not be charged. If you don't want to wait 5 days for it to expire, you can also manually cancel the payment from the confirmation page.

If you have already linked your Declaration ID to a tracking number, you can still cancel the payment, but you must void your associated shipping label with Canada Post first. After doing so, visit your confirmation page and click Cancel order. We will automatically validate if the associated label is voided; if it is, we will refund the payment.

Each Declaration ID is only in a pending state when it is created. Your payment is only finalized once your shipment is linked to a postal tracking number. If you have not connected it to a tracking number, it will expire after 5 days, and your card won't be charged.

If you have already linked your Declaration ID to a tracking number, you can still cancel the payment, but you must void your associated shipping label first. Visit your confirmation page and click Cancel order. We will automatically validate if the associated label is voided; if it is, we will refund the payment.

If your Declaration ID doesn't work, try it again. A re-try may be all that is needed, without taking up additional time contacting support. If it still does not work, please contact our support team at support@zonos.com. In the meantime, remember that each Declaration ID is only in a pending state when it is created. Your payment is only finalized once your shipment is linked to a postal tracking number. If you have not connected it to a tracking number, it will expire after 5 days, and your card won't be charged.

If you have already linked your Declaration ID to a tracking number, you can still get a refund, but you must void your associated shipping label with Canada Post first. After doing so, visit your confirmation page and click Cancel order. We will automatically validate if the associated label is voided; if it is, we will refund the payment.

If your gift is valued at 100 USD or more, duties are required—even for personal gifts.

Duties can include MFN (standard duty) rates, Section 301 tariffs, and other product-specific tariffs like Section 232. Before July 24, postal shipments were subject only to the Section 122 surcharge. As of July 24, normal duties (MFN, Section 232, Section 301, etc.) apply to postal shipments for the first time — they've already applied to commercial shipments. The Section 122 surcharge itself expired for all postal shipments regardless of origin, but for most countries (the 60 economies covered by the new Section 301 forced-labor tariff, 10% or 12.5% depending on country of origin), that tariff has effectively replaced it.

Yes. CUSMA/USMCA preference currently can't be claimed for shipments sent to the U.S. via a postal carrier, so these items are charged duties. CBP's e-commerce FAQ states that "USMCA preference cannot be claimed for postal shipments subject to Section 3 of Executive Order 14324," and there's not yet a supported process for claiming a free trade agreement in the postal environment. Zonos is working on a way to support this, and we'll update these docs once it's available. The postal DDP threshold is now $2,500 (up from $800).

Yes, some items are duty-free. The Zonos app will calculate the duty for you, and let you know when your shipment is duty-free, giving you peace of mind. You should still complete the shipment via the Zonos app so that you receive a Declaration ID that you can use to show to the postal counter. This Declaration ID communicates to the postal counter that you have paid duties (even if they are 0), and they can accept your shipment.

Canada Post does not support multiple boxes in the same shipment. When using the Zonos app, enter the contents for each box one box at a time. If your shipment has 3 boxes, you'll need to enter the contents for box 1, pay for its duties, and get its declaration ID before repeating the process for boxes 2 and 3.

As of July 24, 2026, the duty prepayment threshold has risen from $800 to $2,500 USD. All shipments from Canada Post going to the U.S. need a Declaration ID regardless of value.

For shipments valued at $2,500 USD or less, duties must be prepaid via the Zonos app. For shipments over $2,500 USD, the Zonos app will not prompt for payment — you will see the calculated duty cost as an estimate you can share with your U.S. customer, but the shipment will be sent DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid). The U.S. customer will be asked to pay the duty cost during delivery. You still need to complete the shipment in the Zonos app to get a Declaration ID.

Our team is here to help. You can reach out to us at support@zonos.com.

Before July 24, 2026, U.S.-bound postal shipments were only subject to Section 122 tariff rates—they had a temporary advantage where other normal duties (MFN, Section 301, Section 232, etc.) did not apply. As of July 24, 2026, that advantage is gone, and Section 122 tariffs have expired. Postal shipments are now subject to normal duties (MFN, Section 301, Section 232, etc.), for the first time. In addition, a new Section 301 forced-labor tariff (10% or 12.5% by country of origin; some origins are capped net of the MFN rate — see the U.S. tariff tracker) now applies to postal shipments as of July 24, 2026, with a clean cutover from the expired Section 122 tariff rate to the new Section 301 rate.

The Zonos app only supports postal carriers. If you process a shipment in the Zonos app and select Canada Post, it’s treated as a postal shipment for duty purposes and a Declaration ID is issued for postal clearance.

According to CBP, U.S. returns are not duty-free and require duties to be paid.

There are a couple of exceptions where returns are exempt from duty:

• Un-deliverable items with the original U.S. S-10 Bar code and the package intact
• Refused items with the original U.S. S-10 Bar code and the package intact

You need a Declaration ID any time a U.S.-bound shipping label is created at the postal counter. Be ready to provide it when asking the clerk to print your label.

If you already printed your label (for example, through Snap Ship or another system), you’ve already entered a Declaration ID (or it was auto-generated if your Zonos Verified Account is connected). In this case (where you already have a label), Canada Post will accept your package without needing to see a Declaration ID.

Without a Declaration ID, the clerk can’t accept your U.S.-bound package. Don’t worry—you can quickly download and use the Zonos app right at the post office to get one, then drop off your package.

A Declaration ID may not work if it has expired (IDs expire after 5 days if not linked to a tracking number), was already used, or was canceled. You won’t be charged duties or fees for expired or canceled Declaration IDs. Use the Zonos app to create a new one.

That’s okay, show the Declaration ID to the postal clerk and they can manually key in the number for your Declaration ID.

If you have already linked your Declaration ID to a tracking number, you can still cancel the payment, but you must void your associated shipping label with Canada Post first. After doing so, visit your confirmation page and click Cancel order. We will automatically validate if the associated label is voided; if it is, we will refund the payment.