Effective January 11, 2019, Retail Systems Software (RSS) will now print the Intelligent Mail® package barcode (IMpb®) on customs forms to Army Post Offices (APO), Fleet Post Offices (FPO), Diplomatic Post Offices (DPO), and U.S. Possessions, Territories, and Freely Associated States (PTFAS).
Due to this new capability, employees in retail units must do the following:
n Require customers with international or domestic mailpieces that require a customs form, including mailpieces destined for APO/FPO/DPO and PTFAS, to fill out the customs information worksheet PS Form 2976-R, USPS Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note. PS Form 2976-R is a multi-ply, non-barcoded worksheet that customers complete, sign, and hand over to retail personnel, who then use it as a reference to prepare the appropriate customs documentation for each mailpiece. PS Form 2976-R provides the following benefits:
n Enables customs data collection using Customs Border Protection Manifest (CBPMAN) in RSS offices and Customs Form Online in manual offices.
n Reduces customer confusion about which customs forms to use for international and domestic mailpieces that require a customs form. Customers will give each package with a handwritten PS Form 2976-R to a USPS® employee at a Post Office™ retail service counter.
n Enter the data into the relevant system, print out the correct customs form and postage, apply them to the customer’s mailpiece, and present the mailpiece to the customer for signature on the electronically generated customs form.
n Phase out use of hard copy versions of PS Form 2976, Customs Declaration CN 22, PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note CP 72, and PS Form 2976-B, Priority Mail Express International Shipping Label and Customs Form, at retail service counters and replace them with PS Form 2976-R.
n Keep a sufficient supply of PS Form 2976-R on hand to replenish supplies in the retail lobby. Retail unit employees may order PS Form 2976-R from the Material Distribution Center using Postal Service Identification Number (PSIN) 7530-17-000-7992.
n Keep a small supply of hard copy customs forms PS Form 2976, 2976-A, and 2976-B behind the counter to use in an emergency situation, such as RSS connectivity issues.
The transition to PS Form 2976-R is effective immediately; there will be no designated grace period. All retail units must make PS Form 2976-R available in the lobby and advise customers to use PS Form 2976-R for any items that require a customs form.
The retail associate should still allow the customer to use those forms instead of PS Form 2976-R. USPS employees must advise the customer to fill out PS Form 2976-R for future shipments or go online to fill out and print the appropriate customs form at usps.com/international/customs-forms.htm.
A mailpiece with an incorrect form will not be eligible for tracking, and may be delayed in processing or returned to sender. If a mailpiece has incomplete or inaccurate customs data, the Postal Service™ may not be able to detect and prevent potential violations of federal export laws.
— Global Trade Compliance,
Network Operations, 1-17-19
