Required Fields
Customs Content Type
Specifies what you are shipping. Common options:- Merchandise – Items sold to a customer
- Documents – Letters, contracts, or paperwork only
- Gift – Non-commercial shipment sent without payment
- Sample – Item sent for testing or review
- Returned Goods – Goods being sent back to the country of origin
Non-Delivery Option
Tells customs what to do if your package cannot be delivered:- Return to Sender – Package is shipped back (sender may incur return costs)
- Abandon – Package is disposed of at destination customs
If you select Abandon, you will not receive the package back or be refunded.
Incoterms
International Commercial Terms (Incoterms) define who is responsible for shipping costs, duties, and taxes:- DAP (Delivered at Place) – Recipient pays duties/taxes on delivery (default)
- DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) – Shipper prepays duties/taxes so the recipient does not pay at delivery
If you want to give customers a smoother experience, use DDP to pay duties upfront.
Duties Payer
Identifies who is responsible for duties and taxes:- Sender (Shipper) – Duties are prepaid
- Recipient – Duties are collected on delivery
Additional Information
Depending on the shipment, customs may also require:- Declared value – Replacement value of the goods
- HS Tariff Codes – Harmonized System codes for each product type
- Country of origin – Where the items were manufactured
Best Practices
- Always declare the full and accurate value of goods
- Use correct HS codes to prevent clearance delays
- Choose Return to Sender unless you are okay with packages being discarded
- For higher-value shipments, consider DDP to avoid customer frustration
SimpliSent automatically includes your customs data in the label file sent to carriers. Double-check all values before purchase — errors can result in rejected shipments, fines, or additional fees at delivery.