Zonos Prepay web version for postal shippers

Go to the Zonos Prepay web version

1. Visit https://dashboard.zonosprepay.com/.
2. Log in using your email, Apple, or Google account. If you prefer, you can also set up a passkey for password-free sign-in.
3. Don’t have an account? Click Sign up and follow the prompts to create one. You then will receive an email with a 6 digit verification code. Enter this code to finalize your account setup.

1. Select your postal carrier you’re shipping with, then click Continue.
2. Select your package type.
3. Add item details by filling out the required fields (Description, Value, Country of origin/Made in, and Quantity).
4. Fill out the optional fields if you choose (image upload or Harmonized System code if you have it).
5. If you want Zonos to classify your item automatically, toggle Auto-classify item based on image to on.
6. Click Save item when finished, or click Save and add another to continue adding more items.
7. Confirm your information by checking the box confirming the details are correct.

Customs descriptions in English

Starting November 25, 2025, the web version of Zonos Prepay shows both:

• Your own item description in your selected language.
• A customs description in English just below it.

The English customs description is what the postal clerk will use when entering information for CBP, who require customs descriptions in English. There is nothing you need to enable—this appears automatically for all Zonos Prepay users on the web.

1. Click Calculate duties to generate an estimate.
2. To view a detailed breakdown, click Duty breakdown.
3. When ready, click Continue.

1. Enter your payment information to prepay duties and taxes.
2. You can click Duty breakdown again on the right to review the calculation details.
3. After payment, you’ll receive a Declaration ID — this proves you’ve prepaid your duties.

Important: You have 48 hours to take your package to a postal counter and present your declaration ID. After 48 hours, your declaration will expire.

After paying duties, you are ready to ship your package. Here's how:

1. Simply show your QR code with the Declaration ID to the postal counter.
2. The postal clerk will scan the QR code or manually enter the Declaration ID when generating your label.

Gifts over $100 USD are subject to U.S. duties and must have a Declaration ID. When using Prepay, you can select "Gift" as the shipment type to ensure duties are calculated correctly.

Depending on your post, you may need to have a Declaration ID even for gifts under $100 USD (although no duties will apply).

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

Zonos Prepay supports 15+ languages. By default, Prepay 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 top right of the webpage.
2. Click Change language.
3. Scroll through the list of available languages in the dropdown.
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, Zonos Prepay 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.

It is possible to cancel a Declaration ID that has already been tied to a tracking number and receive a refund of the duties, but you must void the shipping label with your post first. After doing so, 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 to refund the payment. (Some posts, like Canada Post, allow us to electronically verify that the shipment has been voided, so we are able to allow in-app refunds. Other posts may not provide this functionality, so you may need to contact Zonos support with proof that your shipment has been voided to refund the payment. See post-specific guides for more information.)

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

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.

It is possible to cancel a Declaration ID that has already been tied to a tracking number and receive a refund of the duties, but you must void the shipping label with your post first. After doing so, 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 to refund the payment. (Some posts, like Canada Post, allow us to electronically verify that the shipment has been voided, so we are able to allow in-app refunds. Other posts may not provide this functionality, so you may need to contact Zonos support with proof that your shipment has been voided to refund the payment. See post-specific guides for more information.)

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.

It is possible to cancel a Declaration ID that has already been tied to a tracking number and receive a refund of the duties, but you must void the shipping label with your post first. After doing so, 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 to refund the payment. (Some posts, like Canada Post, allow us to electronically verify that the shipment has been voided, so we are able to allow in-app refunds. Other posts may not provide this functionality, so you may need to contact Zonos support with proof that your shipment has been voided to refund the payment. See post-specific guides for more information.)

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. Prepay 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 Prepay 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.

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.

This varies by post. While shipments over $800 USD do not require duties to be prepaid, some posts may still require a Declaration ID for shipments over $800 USD.

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), postal shipments 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.

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

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.

It is possible to cancel a Declaration ID that has already been tied to a tracking number and receive a refund of the duties, but you must void the shipping label with your post first. After doing so, 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 to refund the payment. (Some posts, like Canada Post, allow us to electronically verify that the shipment has been voided, so we are able to allow in-app refunds. Other posts may not provide this functionality, so you may need to contact Zonos support with proof that your shipment has been voided to refund the payment. See post-specific guides for more information.)

After you update to the latest version of Zonos Prepay (or use the latest web version), each item shows both your description in your own language and a customs description in English. CBP requires an English customs description for each package, so we display it in English to help the postal clerk enter it accurately.