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.
The settings page includes a Default Customs Information section, Tax Identifiers, and a Tracking section.
Adjusting these settings will affect new international orders when they import into ShipStation. Changes will not affect orders that have already imported.
To add your Tax ID numbers to your ShipStation account:
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Click the Add a Tax Identifier button.
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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).
Available Tax ID Types:
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TIN
TIN is a generic "Tax ID Number". Use this option if your Tax ID type is otherwise not provided in the list.
EIN
SSN
VAT
EORI
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Click Save Tax Identifier.
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Click + Add Another Tax Identifier to add additional Tax ID numbers.
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.
Once you've added your Tax IDs into the International Settings, they will be available to add to your international shipments.
To add a Tax Identifier to a shipment:
Select the order in the Orders tab.
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Open the Customs Declarations section in the Shipping Sidebar.
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Click the Tax Identifiers drop-down and choose the ID you wish to add.
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.
Settings |
Details |
|---|---|
Default Content Type |
The content type can be one of five options:
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.
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Customs Declarations |
Controls how ShipStation will generate customs declarations line items.
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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. NoteStamps.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/TaxID* or USPS Exemption code for AES? |
Allows you to designate a specific ITN/Tax ID or USPS Exemption code for all international shipments.
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Tax Identifiers |
Select the Tax ID type: VAT, EORI, TIN, SSN, EIN and enter the number. VAT number: Enter your VAT 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. |
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:
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Open the Product Details screen for a product you'd like to edit.
To open the Product Details screen, either double-click on the product's line in the grid or click once on the product's SKU.
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Click the Customs tab.
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Enter the values you want ShipStation to use for the customs declarations.
The Description should be less than 50 characters. Avoid special characters like #, $, ?, %, @, !.
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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. We recommended to have your Harmonization Codes listed and properly-identified at time of label creation.
Find a full list of harmonization codes on the Harmonized Tariff Schedule website. Trade Tariff website.Current Tariff Classification page. Customs Tariff page.
The Origin Country refers to the country where the goods originated, i.e., where they were produced, manufactured, or assembled.
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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.
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.
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 Harmonized Tarriff Schedule page from the U.S. International Trade Commission.
For a full list of Harmonization Codes, go to the Customs Tariff page from the Canada Border Services Agency.
For a full list of Harmonization Codes, go to the Trade Tariff Service page from Gov.UK.
For a full list of Harmonization Codes, go to the Current Tariff Classification page from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Australia uses an eight-digit code to classify goods for export. The first six digits align with the international classification and the last two digits are specific to Australian exports. The classifications are subject to change so you need to keep up-to-date. The Australian Harmonized Export Commodity Classification (AHECC) is usually updated every January and July and classifications can be found at the ABS Website.
Include Harmonization Code on All Export Shipments
Failure to properly classify your product could lead to incorrect taxation on your exports and the potential loss of the product.
ShipStation offers three ways to add the harmonization code to your international orders:
Manually: Open the Order Detail window, or use the sidebar, and manually add or remove harmonization codes to your international orders.
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.
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.