Keep shipping to the U.S. with ZimPost + Zonos

Yes. The Zonos app is available for shipments sent via ZimPost.

No, letters and documents are not subject to duties and therefore do not require you to use the Zonos app. Use the app for standard shipments, gifts, and returns valued at $2,500 USD or less. Shipments valued over $2,500 USD to the U.S. do not require duties to be prepaid via the app.

When you use a photo to have the app pre-fill your item information, you will be able to review and edit the details before confirming and getting a duty calculation.

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.
• Check when you created it. Declaration IDs start in a pending state and expire if not used (linked to a tracking number) within 5 days. This way, you are not charged duties on shipments that you do not ship. If your Declaration ID has expired, you won't be charged for it. Simply use the app to get a new Declaration ID to ship your item(s).
• If it still does not work, please contact our support team at support@zonos.com.

If your gift is valued at 100 USD or more, duties are required—even for personal gifts.

Duties can include MFN (standard duty) rates, Section 301 tariffs, and other product-specific tariffs like Section 232. Before July 24, 2026, postal shipments were subject only to the Section 122 surcharge. As of July 24, 2026, 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. See our U.S. tariff changes tracker for the full breakdown.

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, giving you peace of mind. You should still complete the shipment via the Zonos 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.

When using the Zonos app, 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.

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 as of July 24, 2026, with a clean cutover from the expired Section 122 tariff rate to the new Section 301 rate.

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 app right at the post office to get one, then drop off your package.

Not on your own. As of July 24, 2026, U.S.-bound postal shipments valued at $2,500 USD or less must be entered by the owner or purchaser of the goods, or by a licensed U.S. customs broker acting on their behalf—postal shipments previously cleared through an interim qualified-party process that didn't require a broker. Zonos has acquired Evolve Trade Services, a licensed U.S. customs brokerage, so these entries are filed on your behalf when you use the Zonos app.

Yes, postage will still need to be paid to ship out your package. The app only covers the prepayment of duties for your shipment.