Customs Forms
Filling Out Customs Forms Online
When you ship items from the U.S. to another country, you must fill out customs forms (except for First-Class Mail International® letters and large envelopes under 15.994 oz):
- The form you need depends on the USPS® mail service you use (and the total value of what you send).
- You can print just a customs form and save time at the Post Office™ with Customs Form Online, or use Click-N-Ship® service to pay for postage and print an international shipping label and customs form.
New EU Requirement for Packages Up to €150: Starting July 1, 2026, when you send a package with merchandise valued up to €150 to a country that follows European Union (EU) customs rules, new import duties and requirements may apply. Learn More.
New Requirement: Detailed Content Descriptions for All International Packages
If you're sending packages from the U.S. to any other country, you must now put more detailed item descriptions on your customs forms.
If you don't follow customs forms requirements, the customs officials in the receiving country may reject, return, or potentially even destroy your package.
Note: If you're mailing First-Class Mail International® service envelopes containing only documents that don't require customs forms, these new rules don't apply to you.
These rules apply to all international packages, here's what you need to know:
- All outbound international packages, including small personal gifts, ecommerce orders, and military and diplomatic mail (APO/DPO/FPO) must follow these rules.
- Every item in your package needs an appropriately detailed description on the customs form.
- Each description must be specific: Detailed descriptions should make it clear what the item is, what it's made of, and what its purpose is. For example, instead of a general category like "electronics," you must be specific about the type of electronics, like "laptop computer," "mobile phone," or "television."
Guidance for Acceptable Descriptions
| Unacceptable | Acceptable |
|---|---|
| Clothes | Men's cotton shirts, girls' denim vest, artificial fur coat |
| Appliances | 18 cubic feet refrigerator and freezer, microwave oven |
| Artwork | Original oil painting, pencil sketch, bronze statue |
| Battery | Lithium batteries |
| Gifts | One scented candle, remote-controlled toy car, cashmere scarf |
| Medicine | Painkillers (ibuprofen), antiviral spray medication |
| Health & Beauty Products | Laundry detergent, toothbrush, cotton towels |
| Vegetables | Fresh eggplant, sun-dried tomatoes, frozen broccoli |
| Nuts | Container of mixed nuts |
| Tools | Screwdriver, power drill, rubber mallet |
USPS tools may also ask for other types of information (like the Universal Product Code, known as "UPC code," the brand name, etc.) to help identify the right Harmonized System (HS) code for an item.
Customers do not need to look up these numerical codes themselves; if you use USPS tools (like Click-N-Ship, Customs Forms Online, the International Retail Postage Price Calculator, or Global Shipping Software) and give acceptable descriptions, USPS will be able to assign the correct HS Codes on your customs declaration form.
Why do item descriptions need more detail?
Customs authorities worldwide require HS Codes to screen incoming goods. By writing an acceptable item description on your customs form, you help to:
- Streamline customs processing
- Prevent delays
- Improve the efficiency of cross-border ecommerce
- Meet safety and security requirements
Harmonized System Tariff Codes are very complex. You can learn more about HS Tariff Codes here. (You can also Look Up HS Codes yourself.)
What to Include on Your Customs Form
Sender Information
Do not use any abbreviations.
- Name: Complete First Name and Last Name
- Address: Road Name, Number, ZIP Code™, City, State
- Contact Information: Phone, Email