NZ Post’s New US Shipping Policy Explained: Duties, Fees, and What Online Sellers Need to Know
2025-10-16
NZ Post’s New US Shipping Policy Explained: Duties, Fees, and What Online Sellers Need to Know
For New Zealand online sellers, there’s an important update to the rules for sending parcels to the United States. NZ Post has adjusted its US shipping policy across all Economy, Economy Tracked, Economy Plus, and Courier services. All shipments to the US now operate under the Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) model. This means that duties and taxes must be paid upfront by the sender, with NZ Post handling the customs clearance and payment to US Customs and Border Protection on your behalf.
This change allows faster clearance and smoother delivery for buyers, eliminating surprise tax bills or hold-ups at customs. In this article, we’ll walk you through the key policy changes, their impact on cross-border businesses, and how to manage them easily through the iShipping platform.
1. Duties and Taxes Now Paid by the Sender: Understanding the DDP Model
The biggest change in NZ Post’s US policy is the shift in who pays import duties and taxes.
All parcels sent to the United States must now have these charges prepaid by the sender — not by the recipient.
The total cost will appear on your NZ Post invoice, including:
- The actual duties and taxes
- A NZD 5 admin fee per parcel
- A 5% disbursement fee based on the total duties + taxes amount
This means all shipping costs, including customs duties, are settled upfront. Your buyers in the US receive their parcels without being asked to pay additional fees or face customs delays, improving both delivery speed and customer satisfaction.
2. New US Customs Requirements: Documentation and Restrictions
In addition to the duty change, NZ Post has tightened its compliance rules for US-bound shipments. The updates focus on accurate product data, restricted categories, and clearer declarations.
a. More Detailed Product Information
To ensure smooth clearance, senders must now provide more detailed product information, including:
- A 10-digit Harmonised Tariff Code
- The country of origin
- Accurate products descriptions
b. No “Gift” Shipments from Businesses
US Customs applies a strict definition of what qualifies as a gift. NZ Post can no longer accept shipments declared as gifts from commercial senders. Incorrectly declaring goods as gifts may lead to re-taxation or delayed clearance.
c. Documents Remain Duty-Free
Letters and documents are still exempt from duties and taxes, provided they meet the Universal Postal Union (UPU) definition of “documents.” Parcels mis-declared as documents will still be subject to customs charges.
3. Courier Select_US: A Faster, Commercial Shipping Option
To help businesses adapt to the new DDP model, NZ Post has introduced Courier Select_US. It is a dedicated commercial service for cross-border sellers.This option offers:
- Full tracking from dispatch to delivery
- Up to 22 kg per parcel
- Target delivery time of 4–9 working days within the continental US, and 5–12 days for Hawaii and Alaska
Courier Select_US operates under the same DDP model but provides faster clearance and greater delivery reliability, ideal for higher-value or time-sensitive shipments.You can request activation for Courier Select_US directly through iShipping by contacting service@ishipping.co.nz.
4. Practical Tips for Cross-Border Sellers
These changes require more attention to detail, but with a few adjustments, shipping to the US can remain smooth and efficient.
- Review your checkout settings
If you use Shopify, WooCommerce or other platforms, ensure your checkout process accurately captures duties and taxes. Add a separate tax field or include tax costs in your product prices so customers see the final “delivered” price at checkout. This prevents confusion and improves conversion rates.
- Inform US customers in advance
On your product pages, FAQ, or shipping information, note that “US duties and taxes are prepaid by the sender (Delivered Duty Paid)”. Clear communication reduces post-purchase queries and improves buyer confidence.
- Keep product classification accurate
Double-check your HS Codes, country of origin, and product descriptions. Incorrect or incomplete data is a common cause of customs delays. iShipping’s integrated system helps you standardize these details during booking.
- Use Courier Select_US for high-value or urgent orders
If your products are time-sensitive or high-value, choose Courier Select_US. It offers end-to-end tracking and faster clearance, helping you maintain reliable delivery timelines for your US customers.
5. Before You Ship to the US: A Quick Checklist
✔ Duties and taxes must be prepaid by the sender (NZD 5 admin fee + 5% disbursement fee applies)
✔ Provide accurate HS Codes, origin country, and product descriptions
✔ No gift shipments from businesses; documents remain duty-free
✔ Use Courier Select_US for tracked, faster delivery
Ready to start shipping to the US again?
Book your next shipment directly on iShipping, which is the easier way to send NZ Post parcels to the United States with all duties and taxes prepaid. Ensure faster customs clearance and a smoother delivery experience for your US buyers.