1. ShipStation Help UK
  2. ShipStation Help Guide
  3. International Shipments

ShipStation's International Settings

An explanation of ShipStation's international settings and a reference list for default customs settings.

ShipStation's International Settings determine the default behavior for how ShipStation creates customs declarations for your shipments.

ShipStation has two types of international settings:

  • Account-level international settings: These settings apply to all orders that import with an international destination.

  • Product-level international settings: These settings apply only to orders that contain specific products. Product-level settings will override account-level international settings.

Account-Level International Settings

To access the account-level international shipping settings:

  1. Go to Account Settings.

    Closeup of Toolbar. The red box highlights the icon for Settings.

  2. Select Shipping and then choose International Settings from the left-hand sidebar.

    Settings Sidebar: Shipping dropdown. Red box highlights International Settings option.

The settings page includes a Default Customs Information section, Tax Identifiers, and a Tracking section.

International Settings page

Adjusting these settings will affect new international orders when they import into ShipStation. Changes will not affect orders that have already imported.

Add Tax ID Numbers to International Settings

To add your Tax ID numbers to your ShipStation account:

  1. Go to Account Settings.

    Closeup of Toolbar. The red box highlights the icon for Settings.

  2. Select Shipping and then choose International Settings from the left-hand sidebar.

    Settings Sidebar: Shipping dropdown. Red box highlights International Settings option.

  3. Click the Add a Tax Identifier button.

    Tax Identifiers section of International settings highlighted with Add a Tax ID button

  4. Select the Tax ID type and Issuing Authority, then enter the ID number and give it a nickname (the nickname helps you identify the ID when selecting it for your shipments).

    SET_SHP_INTL_TaxID-PU.png

    Available Tax ID Types:

    • TIN

      TIN is a generic "Tax ID Number". Use this option if your Tax ID type is otherwise not provided in the list.

    • VOEC (Norway)

    • PAN (India)

    • EIN

    • SSN

    • VAT

    • EORI

    • IOSS

    Obtain your IOSS numbers

    If you need your IOSS number, contact your selling channels to request this information. If you do not use the IOSS, your customers WILL pay the VAT upon delivery.

  5. Click Save Tax Identifier.

  6. Click + Add Another Tax Identifier to add additional Tax ID numbers.

    SET_SHP_INTL_TaxID-AddAnother_MRK.png

    Repeat until you have added all necessary Tax ID numbers to ShipStation.

ShipStation will display a list of the Tax Identifiers that have been added. The Tax ID details cannot be modified once added. If you need to make a change to an entry, you must delete the entry and add a new one.

SET_SHP_INTL_TaxIDList_MRK.png

Add Tax IDs To a Shipment

Once you've added your Tax IDs into the International Settings, they will be available to add to your international shipments.

Add Tax IDs to Orders Automatically

You can also add your Tax Identifier to orders via Automation Rules. See our Example Rules for a demonstration.

To manually add a Tax Identifier to a shipment:

  1. Select the order in the Orders tab.

  2. Open the Customs Declarations section in the Shipping Sidebar.

    ORD_ShippingSB_CustomsDeclarations_MRK.png

  3. Click the Tax Identifiers drop-down and choose the ID you wish to add.

    V3_ORD_ShippingSB_Customs_UK-TaxIDMenu_MRK.png

  4. Repeat to add another Tax ID.

Your shipment now includes the Tax ID. ShipStation will include this data when requesting the label and customs documentation from the carrier.

Default Customs Information & Tracking Settings

International Settings page

Settings

Details

Default Content Type

The content type can be one of five options:

  • Documents

  • Gift

  • Merchandise

  • Returns Goods

  • Sample

For countries that apply an import or VAT tax, this option can affect the taxes or duties charged to your customer.

Non-Delivery Option

Dictates what the carrier should do in the event a package cannot be delivered.

  • Return to sender: The carrier will return the shipment, at your cost.

  • Treat as abandoned: The carrier will destroy the package.

Customs Declarations

Controls how ShipStation will generate customs declarations line items.

  • Create declarations from order items: Will use the quantity, name, and item price imported from the marketplace (unless customs information is defined in the product defaults).

  • Use pre-defined values: Will use the information entered here for all declarations on your international orders. This means the declarations will not be adjusted based on the quantity or cost of items within an order. 

    Use only if you wish your customs declarations to be the same for all international orders.

  • Leave blank (enter manually): No customs declarations will be automatically created for your orders.

    Use this option if you wish to manually create your customs declarations on an order-by-order basis.

Sign Customs As

Allows you to define the name that will appear on customs documentation as the signer. Generally, you want this to be your actual name rather than your company's name.

Note

Stamps.com, Express 1, and FedEx can only sign customs forms with the Return Address Name listed in the Ship From Location selected for the order.

Would you like to use your ITN or USPS Exemption code for AES?

Allows you to designate a specific ITN or USPS Exemption code for all international shipments. If set, ShipStation will add the code to the customs declarations for the affected shipments.

  • ITN: Choose whether it applies to

    All international shipments.

    International shipments valued at over $2500.

    Only applies to Stamps.com, Endicia, Express 1 and UPS shipments.

  • USPS Exemption Code: Choose from a list of pre-defined USPS Exception Codes.

    Only applies to Stamps.com, Endicia, and Express 1 shipments.

Tax Identifiers

Select the Tax ID type: VAT, EORI, TIN, SSN, EIN, IOSS, or OSS and enter the number.

Enter your Tax ID number in the field. This will make it available to add to the shipment in Custom Declarations, to be applied to the appropriate place on your commercial invoices for international shipping.

Send non-trackable Tracking Numbers to Marketplaces

If enabled, ShipStation will include the non-trackable USPS First Class Mail International tracking numbers when pushing shipment updates to the marketplace.

This setting will also trigger ShipStation to send non-trackable tracking numbers for non-tracked domestic shipping services like USPS First Class Mail using envelope package types. 

This setting only applies to USPS shipments.

Value-Added Tax - also known as a goods and services tax (GST) - is a consumption tax based on the value of goods and implemented as a destination-based tax. VAT usually comes into play when shipping internationally to countries that charge customs fees and taxes to recipients on imported goods. VAT may be recovered for commercial shipments only by a VAT registered recipient; VAT ranges from 5% to 25% depending upon country. VAT is generally charged only in the European Union, China, Mexico, and Thailand.

Shipments to certain countries are often subject to customs fees/taxes, like VAT. ShipStation does provide the option to have the fees charged to the shipper, instead of the recipient, if the carrier supports that option.

How to Provide Valid IOSS Data

The Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) is the "electronic portal businesses can use since 1 July 2021 to comply with their VAT ecommerce obligations on distance sales of imported goods.” The European Union (EU) IOSS system will only recognize IOSS numbers with the correct format and length. The EU IT system checks that the field matches IOSS format IMXXXXXXXXXX and uses this to process VAT.

  • Tax Identifier Field (IOSS registration number):

  • Character length: 12 alpha-numeric characters

  • IOSS format: 2 letters (IM) followed by 10 numbers, for example: IM1234567891

ShipStation does not validate or verify Tax Identifier Numbers!

Please check with your carrier as they may validate the character limit, format, or something similar for tax identifiers. Regardless, please make sure your information is accurate and correct before adding it into ShipStation.

See the Getting Help section of our Tax Identifier Number article to learn more.

To add your tax identifiers (VAT, EORI, IOSS, etc.) to ShipStation:

  1. Go to Account Settings.

    Closeup of Toolbar. The red box highlights the icon for Settings.

  2. Select Shipping and then choose International Settings from the left-hand sidebar.

    Settings Sidebar: Shipping dropdown. Red box highlights International Settings option.

  3. Click Add a Tax Identifier

    SET_SHP_INTL-ADDTAXID.png

  4. Enter your information and click Add Tax Identifier.

    SET_SHP_INTL_Enter_Tax_ID_info.png

Which Carriers Support IOSS?

The following carriers currently support Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS), the electronic portal businesses can use since 1 July 2021 to comply with their VAT ecommerce obligations on distance sales of imported goods. Check back as other carriers are still developing IOSS/EU VAT Compliance.

ShipStation does not validate or verify Tax Identifier Numbers!

Please check with your carrier as they may validate the character limit, format, or something similar for tax identifiers. Regardless, please make sure your information is accurate and correct before adding it into ShipStation.

See the Getting Help section of our Tax Identifier Number article to learn more.

Product Default Customs Settings

The Product Default Customs settings override certain account level customs details on orders that contain that product. This is useful if you want to shorten and simplify your product descriptions and have ShipStation automatically add product-specific harmonization codes.

To set your product Customs defaults:

  1. Go to the Products tab.

    Closeup of Toolbar. Red box highlights Products tab.

  2. Open the Product Details screen for a product you'd like to edit (click the SKU or double-click the product line in the grid).

  3. Click the Customs tab.

    Product Details Customs tab.

  4. Enter the values you want ShipStation to use for the customs declarations.

    • The Description should be less than 50 characters. Avoid special characters like #, $, ?, %, @, !.

    • Enter a Declared Value if the declared value will be different than the unit price imported from your selling channel.

    • The Harmonization Code (also referred to as Tariff Code, Customs Tariffs, Harmonized Tariff Codes, and Harmonized System Code) is a standardized code used for tax assessment purposes.

      Once an order reaches an international border, these codes will help the customs office to identify what it is that you are shipping.

      Find a full list of harmonization codes on the Trade Tariff website. .

    • The Origin Country refers to the country where the goods were produced, manufactured, or assembled.

  5. Click Save Changes.

    To apply these changes to Awaiting Shipment orders that have already imported into ShipStation, be sure to also check the Apply changes to open orders checkbox as well.

Now, ShipStation will use the information in your Product's Customs tab to fill in the customs declarations for shipments containing this product.

Bulk Update Products

If you have many products you wish to update in this way, use the Product CSV Import method to update multiple products at once. Review the Update Products in Bulk section of the Update Products article in this help guide.

Harmonization Codes

The purpose of a Harmonization Code (also referred to as Tariff Code, Customs Tariffs, Harmonized Tariff Codes, and Harmonized System Code) is to expedite the shipping process for international orders. This universal economic language and code system for trade covers most internationally sent goods and merchandise.

Red box highlights field for Harmonization Code at bottom-right.

Once an order reaches an international border, a country's customs office uses these codes to identify and to assess tax for what you are shipping. ShipStation recommends that you properly identify, establish, and list your harmonization codes well before you create labels.

For a full list of Harmonization Codes, go to the Trade Tariff Service page from Gov.UK.

Adding Harmonization Codes to Orders

ShipStation offers three ways to add the harmonization code to your international orders:

  1. Manually: Open the Order Detail window, or use the sidebar, and manually add or remove harmonization codes to your international orders.

  2. Pre-defined customs values: Set your International Settings to use pre-defined customs values, and designate which harmonization code will appear for all international orders.

  3. Product defaults: Configure your international settings set to create customs declarations based on order items, then you can store harmonization code just like any other product default. The harmonization codes can also be set as product defaults in bulk.  See our article Add Products In Bulk via CSV Import for information on importing products via CSV files.

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