A Declaration ID is a code that proves you've completed your customs declaration and paid the required duties.
Why it's required:
Yes. Each package requires its own Declaration ID—you cannot use a single Declaration ID for multiple boxes.
Example: If you are shipping 3 boxes, you must create a separate Declaration ID for each box before visiting the post office.
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.
Try entering the ID again—a retry may be all that's needed. If it still doesn't work, contact our support team at support@zonos.com. You can use the Zonos app to create a new 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.
That's okay—show the Declaration ID to the postal clerk and they can manually key in the number.
After entering your item information (or using the photo feature to auto-fill), you'll be able to review and edit the details before confirming and getting a duty calculation.
When declaring multiple quantities of the same item, enter the price per unit, not the combined total.
Example: If you are declaring 3 pins that each cost $1, enter $1 as the unit price. Do not enter $3—this will be interpreted as $3 per unit, and the total declared value will be calculated as $9 instead of $3.
No. Refunds will not be issued if incorrect information was provided at the time of shipment. We report exactly what was submitted and verified with CBP.
Example: If sunglasses appeared in the item photo and were paid for, but were not actually included in the shipment, a refund will not be granted if requested after the fact.
You have 5 days to tie a tracking number to your Declaration ID. Your payment is authorized but not captured until the tracking number is added. If no tracking number is added within 5 days, the declaration will expire and you will not be charged.
Yes. If you have not yet tied a tracking number to your Declaration ID, you can cancel the declaration from the confirmation page at any time. Alternatively, you can wait for it to expire after 5 days. Either way, you will not be charged.
After a tracking number has been tied, you must void the shipping label with your post before requesting a refund. Support will require proof that the shipment will not be sent before issuing a refund.
After voiding, depending on your post, you may be able to cancel the payment from your confirmation page, or you may need to contact Zonos support at support@zonos.com. Some posts (like Canada Post) allow us to electronically verify that the shipment has been voided, enabling in-app refunds. Other posts may not provide this functionality, so you may need to contact Zonos support with proof of voiding. See post-specific guides for more information.
As of July 24, 2026, the duty prepayment threshold has risen from $800 to $2,500 USD. Shipments valued under $2,500 USD can be processed through the Zonos app. Shipments at or above $2,500 USD will display a message directing the customer to the postal counter. No Declaration ID is generated for those shipments.
Yes. Each box requires its own Declaration ID. 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.
If your gift is valued at $100 USD or more, duties are required—even for personal gifts.
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:
Yes. Although these territories are part of the United States, they are outside the U.S. customs territory, so goods mailed from them to the 50 states, D.C., or Puerto Rico are subject to duties. USPS requires duties to be prepaid on goods valued up to $2,500 USD before your item is presented at a Post Office retail counter—a requirement in effect since September 2025 and formalized in the Domestic Mail Manual on July 30, 2026.
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. You should still complete the shipment in the Zonos app so that you receive a Declaration ID to show to the postal counter. This communicates that you have paid duties (even if they are $0), and the post can accept your shipment.
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.
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, with a clean cutover from the expired Section 122 tariff rate to the new Section 301 rate.
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).
HS codes are determined by your item description and may be updated as Zonos improves classification accuracy. If your HS code changed, it's likely because Zonos classified your item on the fly—an AI-powered process that automatically determines the most accurate HS code based on your item description. You can always review and edit the HS code manually in the app before confirming payment.
When you take a photo of your items, the app uses Zonos Vision—our AI-powered item detection tool—to quickly 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. You can always enter your item information manually instead.
Our team is here to help. You can reach out to us at support@zonos.com.
Zonos app FAQs
Answers to common questions about the Zonos app and web version.
Some answers vary by post. To view post-specific FAQs, see post-specific guides: