Use cases
The customs feature is designed to make the creation of customs documentation streamlined for a variety of use cases:
- Ecommerce companies that ship internationally
- Ecommerce platforms with labeling capabilities
- Shipping software platforms, e.g. ShipStation and Shippo
- Logistics providers with shipping platforms or APIs
- Label API providers, e.g. EasyPost
- Customs brokers, e.g. Livingston or BorderBuddy
- Startups looking to add international labeling capabilities
The customs feature can also be used inside Dashboard as a standalone commercial invoice and customs documentation creator.
Capabilities
Keep reading to learn the capabilities available with the Customs documentation creation.
HS code line item consolidation
Express carriers such as UPS, FedEx and DHL will apply line-item fees for each additional classification line after a certain number of entries. The line-item fee varies by country and currency. It is also expensive, per the additional classification line into Canada, UPS charges 4.50 CAD, DHL 4 CAD and FedEx 3 CAD.
The commercial invoice produced by the Zonos Customs feature will consolidate the line items by HS code and country of origin. This will help reduce the chances of extra charges by the carrier whenever possible.
Here is an example of a cart before and after being sent through the Customs feature:
Description | Qty | Country of Origin | Unit Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Women’s Mars Attacks XL T-Shirt, | 1 | CN | 15.00 USD |
2 | Eiffel Tower M T-Shirt, | 1 | CN | 20.00 USD |
3 | Women’s Signs M T-Shirt, | 1 | CN | 13.75 USD |
4 | Zonos Cypher Hat | 1 | CN | 20.00 USD |
5 | Decode Cross Border Hat | 1 | CN | 25.00 USD |
6 | Easter Island Slippers | 1 | CN | 23.50 USD |
7 | Stonehenge Slippers | 1 | CN | 18.50 USD |
Customs-ready descriptions
To ensure items are properly classified by customs, Zonos will assign a description based on a combination of your item description and the HS code. This description can be used to fill out the commercial invoice.
Note: This is currently available only for apparel and accessories in chapters 62 and 63.
Retail Description | Harmonized Code | Customs Ready Description | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Women’s Mars Attacks XL T-Shirt | 6206.30.00 | Women’s T-shirt Knitted 100% Cotton |
2 | Zonos Cypher Hat | 6505.00.39 | Hat Knitted 100% Cotton |
3 | Easter Island Slippers | 6403.99.91 | Slippers 100% Cotton |
If you are using the Customs API, the response will return a list of items including your item identifier sent in the request with the proper description for customs clearance.
Customs object
{
"id": "cstm_1Ce6vt2eZvKYlo2CrgzPqxaz",
"items": [
{
"id": "294395",
"amount": 16.25,
"country_of_origin": "CN",
"description": "Women’s T-shirt Knitted 100% Cotton",
"hs_code": "6206.30.00"
},
{
"id": "294395",
"amount": 22.5,
"country_of_origin": "CN",
"description": "Hat Knitted 100% Cotton",
"hs_code": "6505.00.39"
},
{
"id": "294395",
"amount": 21.0,
"country_of_origin": "CN",
"description": "Slippers 100% Cotton",
"hs_code": "6403.99.91"
}
]
}
Currency conversion
Commercial invoices can be created with the item amounts in the currency of the export or import country. However, a landed cost calculation vs the final landed cost charged can be impacted by the chosen currency listed on the commercial invoice. Since currency exchange rates are always moving, any gap in time between the time of the landed cost calculation to the time of customs clearance can impact the total landed cost.
If you produce your shipping labels and customs documentation in Dashboard the commercial invoice will be produced in the currency of the destination country based on the exchange rate used at the time of the landed cost calculation.
Zonos can produce the customs documentation using the exchange rate at the time of sale. In the example below, you can see the unit price converted from USD to EUR for the commercial invoice. Only the EUR price would be the displayed price on the commercial invoice (the USD price would not be shown).
The main benefit of creating a commercial invoice in the country of import’s currency is that the landed cost calculation will better match the calculation at the time of customs clearance. This will help avoid being charged too much or too little in duties, taxes, and fees at the time of sale.
Below is the example of the unit price getting converted to EUR.
Description | Qty | HS Code | Unit Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Women’s T-shirt Knitted | 3 | 6206.30.00 | 16.25 USD ![]() |
2 | Hat Knitted | 2 | 6505.00.39 | 22.50 USD ![]() |
3 | Slippers | 2 | 6403.99.91 | 21.00 USD ![]() |
If you are using the Customs API, the response will return the currency type that correlates to all the amounts in the object. In the below example, 14.95 represents EUR.
Customs object
{
"id": "cstm_1Ce6vt2eZvKYlo2CrgzPqxaz",
"currency": "EUR",
"items": [
{
"id": "294395",
"amount": 14.59
}
]
}
Country-specific requirements
Each country of import may require different information for the broker or clearing agent to clear the shipment. If a commercial invoice is incomplete, it may cause issues with customs clearance. Alternatively, an attempt to get every commercial invoice produced with non-applicable information for the country of import, may result in conflicting information or unnecessary clutter.
Here are just a few examples of differing requirements by country:
Country requirements | Brazil | Canada | Netherlands |
---|---|---|---|
Paperless or electronic commercial invoice | NOT SUPPORTED | SUPPORTED | SUPPORTED |
Declaration statement supports trade agreements | NOT SUPPORTED | SUPPORTED | SUPPORTED |
Signed with blue ink | REQUIRED | NOT REQUIRED | NOT REQUIRED |
Unit weight and the total weight of the goods | REQUIRED | NOT REQUIRED | REQUIRED |
The official header of shipper | NOT REQUIRED | NOT REQUIRED | REQUIRED |
Shipping charges | REQUIRED | NOT REQUIRED | REQUIRED |
Zonos' commercial invoice information is created with each individual import country in mind and will contain any necessary and pertinent information to streamline the clearance process.
Certificate of origin
A certificate of origin may be required for an import if the value of goods is higher than 2,500 USD or if you are looking to receive preferential treatment from a trade agreement.
When shipping in Dashboard a certificate of origin will automatically print when required and will be available for all shipments optionally through a separate download.
The Customs API will return a list of attachments including the attachment for the certificate of origin.
Customs object
{
"id": "cstm_1Ce6vt2eZvKYlo2CrgzPqxaz",
"attachments": [
{
"file": "https://cdn.zonos.com/commercial_invoice/cstm_1Ce6vt2eZvKYlo2CrgzPqxaz.pdf",
"type": "commercial_invoice"
},
{
"file": "https://cdn.zonos.com/certificate_of_origin/cstm_rD0tKTN3t0W9136Gjqez.pdf",
"type": "certificate_of_origin"
}
]
}
Declaration statement
A declaration statement on a commercial invoice is typically optional, however in some cases it may be required. For instance, for the New Zealand low-value goods law, any registered company with a GST number will need to declare on the commercial invoice that the GST will be remitted and list their GST number.
Dashboard will produce the commercial invoice with the needed declaration statement automatically insert the required declaration statement. You can also customize and input statement of your liking when you process labels in Dashboard.
The Customs API will return the commercial invoice in a PDF format as well as return the declaration statement in the reference_information
list on the customs object.
Customs object
{
"id": "cstm_1Ce6vt2eZvKYlo2CrgzPqxaz",
"reference_information": [
{
"description": "I hereby certify that the information on this invoice is true and correct and the contents and value of this shipment are as stated.",
"label": "Declaration Statement",
"type": "declaration_statement"
}
]
}
Electronic Export Information (EEI)
For exports from the United States with goods valued over 2,500 USD, an EEI is required to be filed with the US Bureau’s Foreign Trade Division.
Zonos can file the EEI on your behalf through AESDirect. You can print the completed documents in Dashboard or retrieve the EEI documents and information through the Customs API.
Note: For Zonos to complete an EEI on your behalf, a completed Power of Attorney form is required.
Promotions or discounts
If a discount, free items, or free shipping was offered to your buyer, your product totals may need to be adjusted to account for the value of the goods to be listed on the commercial invoice. Zonos will properly distribute promotions and discounts on the commercial invoice. To learn more, see our documentation on discounts and landed cost or our guide explaining how to apply discounts on commercial invoices.
If you are shipping in Dashboard, it is likely the order level discounts and promotions are already present. Zonos will automatically adjust the commercial invoice accordingly. If you are using the Customs API the discounted amounts can be passed in the discounts array and/or the items array.
Request
{
"currency": "USD",
"discounts": [
{
"id": "sale124",
"amount": 43.0,
"detail": null
}
],
"items": [
{
"id": "294395",
"amount": 75.0,
"amount_discount": 0
}
]
}
Reference information types
Here is a list of possible types that can be returned in the reference_information
.
Type | Description |
---|---|
declaration_statement | The declaration statement pertinent to the country of import and goods imported. |
waybill_number | The carrier tracking number |
Other APIs
Below is a flowchart of other Zonos APIs and how they can interact with the Customs API, if you choose. The Classify API, Landed Cost API, and Screen API can improve the experience of a user processing an international shipment. Classify is partially integrated into the Customs API and will return the HS code for the commercial invoice.
Create customs documentation
Create proper customs documentation automatically.Use the Zonos Customs API or ship inside Dashboard to programmatically create a commercial invoice with HS codes, proper item descriptions, declaration statements, and any other required documentation.
A properly completed commercial invoice can speed up customs clearance and reduce the chance of unexpected or unnecessary customs charges or fees.