Zonos Prepay for postal shippers

Download the app

The Prepay 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 Prepay 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 Prepay 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 Prepay 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 under $800 USD 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 Prepay 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

You need to use the Prepay 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.

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 15+ 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

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 charge will expire and the funds will never be taken from your bank account. 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 include both MFN (what you think of as your standard duty rates) and IEEPA rates (these are many of the tariffs that have been added via executive orders—a breakdown is available in our 2025 tariff guide). According to the Executive Order where US de minimis was removed, postal services actually don't have to collect MFN rates (at least for 6 months starting August 29th, 2025), but they do have to collect IEEPA rates.

Yes, CUSMA/USMCA shipments under $800 USD will be charged duties when sent via a postal carrier. In this FAQ from CBP, CBP states that "USMCA preference cannot be claimed for postal shipments subject to Section 3 of Executive Order 14324". CUSMA/UMCA items require additional documentation that is not currently supported in the postal environment.

Yes, some items are duty-free. The Prepay 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 Prepay 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 Prepay, 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.

Yes, all shipments from Canada Post going to the U.S. need a Declaration ID. Even though only postal shipments under $800 USD require prepaid duties, Canada Post systems now require a Declaration ID no matter the value of the shipment.

Since shipments over $800 USD do not require prepaid duties, the Prepay app will not prompt for payment if the shipment value is over $800 USD. You will see the calculated duty cost, but this is simply an estimate that you can share with your U.S. customer to prepare them. You still need to complete the shipment via Prepay to get a Declaration ID, but this shipment will be sent DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid, meaning duties have not been paid yet) to the U.S. customer. The U.S. customer will be asked to pay the duty cost during delivery.

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

For the first six months (effective August 29, 2025), shipments created with Prepay for Canada Post are charged IEEPA duty rates only; MFN rates do not apply to postal clearance. Private carriers, by contrast, are subject to both MFN and IEEPA duties.

The Zonos Prepay app only supports postal carriers. If you process a shipment in Prepay 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 SnapShip 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 Prepay 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 Prepay 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.