Effective July 13, 2015, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) sections 123.1, 123.3, 123.6, 123.7, 222.5, 224.1, 224.2, and 922.3, and all Individual Country Listings (ICLs) for countries that accept Priority Mail Express International® service to reflect updated mail preparation requirements for Priority Mail Express International shipments.
In the article titled “IMM Revision: Preparation Requirements for Priority Mail Express International Shipments” in Postal Bulletin 22375 (10-31-13, pages 17–19), we incorporated mailing standards for PS Form 2976-B, Priority Mail Express International Shipping Label and Customs Form, and announced that Label 11-B, Express Mail Post Office to Addressee, would no longer be effective for Priority Mail Express International shipments. Continuing the work begun in that article, we are now making PS Form 2976-B mandatory for all Priority Mail Express International shipments that require a customs form, and we are revising the following IMM standards accordingly.
Also, as part of an ongoing effort to improve efficiency and the customer experience at retail, we are making PS Form 2976-B mandatory for all Priority Mail Express shipments that require a customs form to and from APO/FPO/DPO addresses. As noted in the article titled “DMM Revision: Customs Declaration Form PS Form 2976-B Mandatory for Use on APO/FPO/DPO Priority Mail Express” in this issue of the Postal Bulletin, we are simultaneously revising section 703.2.3 of Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) to incorporate these changes.
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Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM)
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1 International Mail Services
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120 Preparation for Mailing
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123 Customs Forms and Online Shipping Labels
123.1 USPS-Produced Customs Declaration Forms
123.11 General
As required under 123.6, only three customs declaration forms are used for international mail:
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[Revise item c to read as follows (adding a reference to Priority Mail Express to APO/FPO/DPO destinations):]
c. PS Form 2976-B, Priority Mail Express International Shipping Label and Customs Form. Note: For international mail, PS Form 2976-B is used only for Priority Mail Express International items. However, as noted in DMM 703.2.3, PS Form 2976-B is also used with Priority Mail Express items sent to APO/FPO/DPO destinations.
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123.3 Privately Printed Forms
123.31 Authorization
[In the introductory paragraph, revise the second sentence to read as follows (adding a reference to PS Form 2976-B):]
***If authorized, a mailer may privately print PS Forms 2976, 2976-A, and 2976-B as specified in the Customs Form Certification Checklist, which is available by clicking on the link to that checklist at the Web site noted in 123.31b.***
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[Revise the final paragraph to read as follows (adding a reference to PS Form 2976-B):]
Upon receipt of the request, the NCSC will send the mailer an application and specifications for preparing PS Forms 2976, 2976-A, and/or 2976-B.
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123.6 Required Usage
123.61 Conditions
The following conditions apply to customs forms for international mail items:
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[Revise the first sentence of item c to read as follows (adding a reference to Priority Mail Express to APO/FPO/DPO destinations):]
c. Regardless of any listing in Exhibit 123.61, items containing articles that require an export license (see 532) must always bear PS Form 2976-A or PS Form 2976-B — note that, for international mail, PS Form 2976-B is used only for Priority Mail Express International items, but as noted in DMM 703.2.3, PS Form 2976-B is also used with Priority Mail Express items sent to APO/FPO/DPO destinations.***
Exhibit 123.61 Customs Declaration Form Usage by Mail Category
[Revise the Priority Mail Express International Items section to read as follows (specifying only PS Form 2976-B for such items):]
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123.7 Completing Customs Forms
123.71 PS Form 2976, Customs Declaration CN 22 — Sender’s Declaration
123.711 Sender’s Preparation of PS Form 2976
[Revise the introductory paragraph to read as follows, and delete Exhibits 123.711a and 123.711b:]
An image of PS Form 2976, Customs Declaration CN 22 — Sender’s Declaration, is available at http://about.usps.com/forms/ps2976.pdf: A sender must complete PS Form 2976 as follows:
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123.72 PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note — CP 72
123.721 Sender’s Preparation of PS Form 2976-A
[Revise the introductory paragraph to read as follows, and delete Exhibits 123.721a, 123.721b, and 123.721c:]
An image of PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note — CP 72, is available at http://about.usps.com/forms/ps2976a.pdf. A sender must complete PS Form 2976-A as follows:
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[Redesignate current 123.73 as new 123.74, and insert new 123.73 to read as follows:]
123.73 PS Form 2976-B, Priority Mail Express International Shipping Label and Customs Form
123.731 Sender’s Preparation of PS Form 2976-B
An image of PS Form 2976-B, Priority Mail Express International Shipping Label and Customs Form, is available at http://about.usps.com/forms/ps2976b.pdf. Before mailing, the sender must fulfill any nonpostal export requirements described in Chapter 5 and do the following:
a. Enter both the sender’s and addressee’s full name and full address in the blocks provided. Provide the sender’s and addressee’s telephone/fax number or email address.
b. In block (1), enter, if applicable, a USPS corporate account (USPSCA) number, federal agency account number, or Postal Service account number for payment by account.
c. In block (2), check all applicable boxes to indicate whether the package contains a gift, documents, commercial samples, or other items. Check the box for “Dangerous Goods” if the shipment contains mailable dangerous goods.
d. In block (3), enter the applicable Automated Export System (AES) Internal Transaction Number (ITN), an AES Exemption, or if applicable, an AES Downtime Citation. One of these codes must appear in the “AES/ITN Exemption” block before the Postal Service will accept a package for mailing.
e. In block (4), provide a detailed description, in English, of each article. General descriptions such as “food,” “medicine,” “gifts,” or “clothing” are not acceptable. In addition to the English text, a translation in another language is permitted. If there is insufficient space on the form to list all contents, use a second form (and additional forms, if necessary) to continue listing the contents, and indicate on the first form that the contents are continued on one or more subsequent forms. When using this option, ensure that the barcodes on the subsequent forms are totally obliterated to avoid multiple barcodes being assigned to the package. Place all subsequent forms listing the contents into PS Form 2976-E, Customs Declaration Envelope — CP 91 (plastic envelope).
f. In blocks (5), (6), and (7), enter the quantity, net weight (in pounds and ounces), and value (in U.S. dollars) of each article.
g. In block (8), enter, if known, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule number, which is based on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System developed by the World Customs Organization.
h. In block (9), enter, if known, the “Country of Origin,” which is the country where the goods were produced/manufactured or assembled.
i. In block (10), enter the total weight (in pounds and ounces) of the package, including packaging (the total weight is used to calculate postage), and enter the total value in U.S. dollars.
j. In block (11), sign and date the form. Your signature certifies that all entries are correct and that the item(s) being mailed contain no undeclared dangerous, prohibited, or restricted contents per United States Postal Service, customs, or destination country regulations.
k. In blocks (12) and (13), enter the applicable number if the item requires a Sender’s Customs Reference or Importer’s Reference.
l. In blocks (14), (15), and (16), enter the License Number, Certificate Number, and/or Invoice Number, if applicable.
m. Insert the completed form and all other required documents, such as a commercial invoice or additional subsequent forms, into PS Form 2976-E (plastic envelope). Affix PS Form 2976-E to the address side of the package. Do not fold the form set or wrap it around the package.
n. Present the item for mailing and allow the Postal Service employee to complete PS Form 2976-B as described in 123.732.
123.732 Preparation by Acceptance Employee of PS Form 2976-B
The acceptance employee must do the following when accepting PS Form 2976-B from the sender:
a. Verify that the sender has entered the information on the form required in 123.731 and has signed and dated the declaration.
b. Instruct the sender to complete any incomplete portions of the forms. Remind the sender that failure to complete the form properly can delay delivery of the item or inconvenience the sender and addressee. Moreover, a false, misleading, or incomplete declaration can result in the seizure or return of the item and/or criminal or civil penalties. The Postal Service assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of information that the sender enters on PS Form 2976-B.
c. To comply with U.S. Census Bureau requirements, it is the sender’s responsibility to ensure that an appropriate AES ITN, AES Exemption, or AES Downtime Citation is displayed on PS Form 2976-B. If this information is not entered, remind the sender that he or she may be subject to civil and criminal penalties for noncompliance.
d. If the sender purchases additional insurance against loss, damage, or missing contents, the acceptance employee records the insured amount in U.S. dollars on PS Form 2976-B in the space provided.
e. If the sender did not already fill out this information in an online application, weigh the parcel, enter the weight, insured amount, and insurance fee (if applicable — see 222.71 and 222.72), originating facility ZIP Code, postage, total postage/fees, date and time received, and scheduled delivery date in the shaded area provided in the upper-right corner of the form.
f. Round stamp the form in the appropriate place on each copy (copies 1–5).
g. Remove the Post Office copy (Copy 4) and tell the sender that the Postal Service will retain this document for 30 days as a record of mailing. Remove the Sender’s copy (Copy 5) and give it to the mailer.
h. Round stamp any uncancelled stamps, and if postage is paid by meter, round stamp the front of the piece near the meter postage.
i. Review the IMM individual country listing for destination-specific mailing restrictions, prohibitions, and observations that apply to all mail classes unless otherwise noted.
j. Enter into the Customs and Border Protection Manifest (CBPMAN) application all data the sender has provided on PS Form 2976-B. The data that the sender provided on the declaration must match what is entered into CBPMAN at the Point of Sale or ACE terminal.
Note: When using the CBPMAN Bypass option, enter the data from PS Form 2976-B into CBPMAN using POS ONE or an ACE computer by close of business that same day, which is considered to be 2 a.m. Eastern time (11 p.m. Pacific time).
k. After acceptance, place each item in the appropriate working pouch for forwarding to the international exchange office authorized to dispatch Priority Mail Express International shipments to that destination. (See Handbook T-5, International Mail Operations.)
Note: Consistent with 225.12, the sender must present any item bearing a handwritten PS Form 2976-B to an employee at a Post Office retail service counter.
123.74 PS Form 2976-E, Customs Declaration Envelope — CP 91
[In this new section 123.74, insert the text from the section previously numbered 123.73 — only the section number has changed, while the heading and text remain the same.]
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2 Conditions for Mailing
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220 Priority Mail Express International
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222 Eligibility
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222.5 Customs Forms Required
[Revise the first paragraph to read as follows (noting that PS Form 2976-B is the only applicable customs form):]
The mailer must complete PS Form 2976-B if specified in the Individual Country Listing and, if applicable, fulfill any other nonpostal export requirements described in Chapter 5. See 224 for additional information.
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224 Mail Preparation
224.1 Preparation by Sender
224.11 Using PS Form 2976-B
[Revise the text in its entirety to read as follows:]
Before mailing, the sender must fulfill any nonpostal export requirements described in Chapter 5 and fill out PS Form 2976-B as described in 123.731.
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224.2 Preparation by Acceptance Employee
224.21 Using PS Form 2976-B
[Revise the text in its entirety to read as follows:]
Employees must follow the instructions in 123.732 to verify and prepare PS Form 2976-B.
Note: Consistent with 225.12, the sender must present any item bearing a handwritten PS Form 2976-B to an employee at a Post Office retail service counter.
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9 Inquiries, Indemnities, and Refunds
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920 Inquiries and Claims
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922 Claims
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922.3 Claims Process
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922.32 Evidence of Indemnity Coverage
Indemnity claims for GXG, Priority Mail Express International, Registered Mail, and insured and ordinary parcels must be supported as follows:
a. If mailed in the United States:
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[Revise item 2 to read as follows (noting that PS Form 2976-B is the required supporting documentation):]
(2) For Priority Mail Express International items, the sender’s copy of PS Form 2976-B, Priority Mail Express International Shipping Label and Customs Form.
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Individual Country Listings
Albania
[Editor’s Note: We are using Albania as an example for countries that accept Priority Mail Express International service and require a customs form for various articles.]
Country Conditions for Mailing
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Priority Mail Express International
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Customs Forms Required (123)
[In each country that accepts Priority Mail Express International service and that mentions PS Form 2976 and/or PS Form 2976-A, replace “PS Form 2976” and “PS Form 2976-A” with “PS Form 2976-B placed inside PS Form 2976-E (plastic envelope).” For example, revise Albania’s customs form table to read as follows:]
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Argentina
[Editor’s Note: We are using Argentina as an example for countries that accept Priority Mail Express International service but do not require a customs form for correspondence, business papers, and/or documents.]
Country Conditions for Mailing
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Priority Mail Express International
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Customs Forms Required (123)
[In each country that accepts Priority Mail Express International service but that does not require a customs form for correspondence, business papers, and/or documents, the customs form table currently says “No form required” — that text will remain the same, but as noted in the example with Albania, replace “PS Form 2976” and “PS Form 2976-A” with “PS Form 2976-B placed inside PS Form 2976-E (plastic envelope).” For example, revise Argentina’s customs form table to read as follows:]
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[For all countries that accept Priority Mail Express International service, revise the note directly under each customs form table to read as follows:]
Note: For mailers completing PS Form 2976-B or an online combined shipping label and customs form that electronically transmits customs-related data, no additional customs form is required because customs information is incorporated into the form that the mailer must complete.
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next update of the online IMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Pricing, 6-25-15
