International Shipping and Customs Policy

3. Customs Declaration Fields

Customs declaration form appears after shipment details, before rates page for International

Shipments.
 

Purpose of Shipment: This mandatory field describes the overall intent of the shipment items. Users

must select the appropriate category from the provided dropdown menu. If the nature of the

shipment does not fit the standard categories and "Other" is selected, an explicit description must be

typed into the accompanying "Content Explanation" text field.

Name of Authorized Person: This mandatory field requires the full legal name of the individual sending

the package who is ultimately responsible for its contents. This can be the sender themselves or an

authorized agent such as, an employee of an organization or a broker completing the paperwork and

customs declaration on the sender’s behalf. The full name must be typed manually into the blank text

field.

Tax ID Type

To ensure your shipment complies with international customs regulations, you may be required to

provide a Tax ID.

Please select the appropriate Tax ID type from the dropdown menu and enter Id Details based on the

requirements of the origin and destination customs authorities.

• Commercial Shipments: If you are shipping goods for business or commercial purposes, you

are responsible for identifying and providing the correct Tax ID (such as an EIN, VAT, or IOSS

number) as required by the Origin and destination country's regulations.

• Personal Shipments: For non-commercial shipments (such as personal gifts), you might be

eligible to select "No tax ID." Please verify the specific requirements based on your package's

origin and destination.

EORI Number: Enter your Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number if you are

shipping commercially to or from the EU or UK. If not applicable, please leave this field blank.

US Export Controls (EEL / PFC)

For outbound shipments originating from the United States, federal tracking documentation must be

completed before a rate lookup can occur:

• Provide your AES / ITN number: Enter your unique internal shipment filing number here if your

package has a formal export declaration on file.

• Or select an exemption type: Select an applicable exclusion code from the dropdown list if

your package does not require a formal filing number.

• Exemption Certification Checkbox: Check this box to certify that the shipment qualifies for the

NOEEI 30.36 exemption code.

Advanced Options

You may expand this section for specialized international shipping requirements.

• Non-delivery handling: Select your preferred action if the package cannot be delivered. We

recommend "Return to sender" to ensure your items are recovered.

• Documentation Fields (Invoice number, License, Certificate, Exporter Reference, Notes): Use

these fields only if your shipment requires specific commercial or regulatory documentation

as mandated by origin or destination customs authorities.
 

• Customs Exemption: If you believe your shipment qualifies for an exemption, you may select

this option.

Note: Selecting this may limit the shipping rates available and requires that your package

meets all legal exemption criteria for the origin or destination country.

Item Details

To clear customs, every item in your shipment must be accurately identified. Please provide the

following details for each item:

• Item Description: Be specific (e.g., "Men's cotton t-shirts" instead of "clothes").

• Quantity & Weight: Enter the total quantity and the weight of each individual unit.

• Unit Type: Select the appropriate unit of measurement (e.g., kilograms, grams, lbs) for the

items being shipped.

• Value & Currency: Declare the fair market value per item and select the corresponding

currency for that value.

• Country of Origin: The country where the item was manufactured.

• HS Code, SKU, & ECCN/EAR99: These are additional fields used for specialized commercial or

regulated shipments.

HS Code Resources:

• USITC Lookup – United States

• WCO HS Database

Adding Items to Your Shipment

• The "Add Item" Function: If your shipment contains more than one type of item (e.g., you are

sending both "cotton t-shirts" and "hardcover books"), you must use the "Add Item" button

to declare each item type separately.

• Why this is required: Customs authorities require an itemized breakdown for accurate

clearance. Failing to list all items contained in your package can lead to inspection delays or

the refusal of your shipment by customs.

• Accuracy: Please ensure that the Quantity, Weight, and Value for each added item reflect the

specific contents of that line item only.

Agreement and Declaration

By finalizing your shipment request, you are required to acknowledge and agree to the following

terms:

• Incoterms (DDU): All shipments are processed under DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid) terms. This

indicates that the recipient is solely responsible for the payment of all import duties, taxes,

and customs clearance fees upon the arrival of the shipment in the destination country.

• Certification of Accuracy: By checking the declaration box, you certify that all information

provided including item descriptions, values, quantities, Tax Identification numbers (such as

EORI, VAT, or EIN), and all other required customs documentation is true, accurate, and

complete. You acknowledge that you are responsible for the legality of the shipment and its

full compliance with all applicable international export and customs regulations.

• Digital Signature: The provided Signer Name serves as your formal electronic signature for this

declaration. This signature confirms your legal authorization of the shipment and your

agreement to these terms.

Important: If the "Get Rates" function does not proceed, please review the form for any missing

mandatory information or validation errors. Ensure that all fields (particularly those highlighted or

prompted in red) are completed accurately. Shipments cannot be processed or quoted if required

customs declarations, including tax or identification information, are incomplete or contain

discrepancies.

4.Commercial Invoices

• International Requirement: Always look out for and review the commercial invoice

requirements for all international shipments, as documentation rules vary based on the

nature of your items, the origin, and the destination.

• Printing Requirements: For most international shipments, print 3 signed physical copies of

the invoice and place them in a clear pouch attached to the outside of the package.

• USPS Exception: For USPS shipments, customs details are typically embedded directly into the

shipping label itself. However, you must still print physical copies for select destination

corridors depending on specific country rules.

• Digital Access: A digital copy of your commercial invoice is sent by email and is always

accessible under your ShipVia Couriers order history.

5.Carrier Restrictions & Compliance

• Pre-Booking Verification: Always review carrier-specific international bans, prohibited or

restricted items, special handling requirements, and sanctioned regions before booking a

shipment.

• Rejection Risks: Generating a shipping label does not guarantee delivery. Carriers or

destination customs authorities may still reject, hold, or destroy packages that violate

import/export rules.

• Coverage Voidance: ShipVia Package Protection is automatically voided for shipments

containing prohibited items or for losses resulting from government and customs seizures.

• User Liability: System acceptance of a shipment booking and label generation is based entirely

on the information provided by the user. Label creation does not constitute compliance

verification, and ShipVia Couriers assumes no liability for carrier or customs rejections.