Effective September 24, 2020, the Postal Service™ is revising various sections of Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) to indicate that the Postal Service accepts only electronically generated versions of the following customs forms:
a. PS Form 2976, Customs Declaration CN 22 — Sender’s Declaration.
b. PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note — CP 72.
c. PS Form 2976-B, Priority Mail Express International Shipping Label and Customs Form.
As published in the article entitled “Forms: PS Form 2976-R Acceptance Policies (Including Military Mail)” in Postal Bulletin 22541 (3-12-20, page 18), USPS-supplied hard copy versions of PS Form 2976, PS Form 2976-A, and PS Form 2976-B customs forms are obsolete. For items requiring a customs declaration, the mailer must do one of the following:
a. Provide a fully completed computer-generated customs form using an approved USPS® system capable of electronically transmitting the customs data.
b. Complete a USPS-supplied hard copy PS Form 2976-R, USPS Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note, and provide it along with the mailpiece to a USPS retail associate, who generates the customs form and electronically transmits the associated customs data.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM)
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1 International Mail Services
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123 Customs Forms and Online Shipping Labels
[Revise the title of 123.1 to read as follows:]
123.1 Types of Customs Forms
123.11 General
[Revise the text of 123.11 to read as follows:]
As required under 123.6, a fully completed electronically generated customs form is required for international mail. A mailer may obtain an electronically generated customs form by using Click-N-Ship service, the Customs Form Online application, or USPS-approved vendor software, as described in 123.3. Alternatively, a mailer may obtain an electronically generated customs form by presenting a fully completed PS Form 2976-R at a USPS retail service counter.
The following forms are available for international mail:
a. Electronically Generated Customs Forms:
(1) PS Form 2976, Customs Declaration CN 22 — Sender’s Declaration.
(2) PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note — CP 72.
(3) 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.
b. Handwritten Customs Worksheets:
(1) PS Form 2976-R, USPS Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note. This form is available only as a hard copy that customers use as a worksheet that they must present with their mail item at a USPS retail service counter. The retail associate enters the information into the retail system or Customs Form Online application (see 123.722), and then generates and prints the applicable customs form to affix to the mail item. Customers cannot use PS Form 2976-R as a stand-alone customs form.
Note: All USPS-supplied hard copies of PS Form 2976, PS Form 2976-A, and PS Form 2976-B that were preprinted with a barcode and designed for mailers to complete by hand are obsolete and prohibited from use.
(2) PS Form 6182, Commercial Invoice, is used only for Global Express Guaranteed items and is required for certain commodities and destinations. To determine if a specific mailing requires PS Form 6182, refer to the “Documentation Requirement” section of the specific destination country in Publication 141.
c. Customs Declaration Envelopes:
(1) PS Form 2976-E, Customs Declaration Envelope — CP 91, is a plastic envelope that is used to carry and protect customs declaration form sets and other documentation needed for customs clearance (see 123.73).
(2) PS Form 2976-ES, Small Customs Declaration Envelope, is a small plastic envelope that is used to carry and protect customs declaration form sets and other documentation needed for customs clearance used with Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes or Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes, and other small parcels that require a customs form (see 123.73).
123.12 Authorized Editions
[Revise the text of 123.12 to read as follows:]
The following are the authorized customs forms:
a. Electronically generated customs forms PS Form 2976, PS Form 2976-A, and PS Form 2976-B produced through an approved USPS system capable of electronically transmitting the associated customs data. Current authorized editions are available in the Guidelines for Privately Printed Customs Declaration Forms at postalpro.usps.com/node/2713.
b. Customs forms generated through the online service using Click-N-Ship service.
c. Customs forms generated through the process of using the Customs Form Online application.
d. The USPS-supplied hard copy edition PS Form 2976-R (dated April 2016), which a mailer uses to provide handwritten customs information when presenting a mailpiece at a USPS retail service counter. The retail associate uses this form to generate and print the appropriate customs form and to electronically transmit the associated customs data. A mailer may not use PS Form 2976-R as a stand-alone customs form. See 123.11b.
Note: All USPS-supplied hard copies of PS Form 2976, PS Form 2976-A, and PS Form 2976-B containing a preprinted barcode and designed for mailers to complete by hand are obsolete and prohibited.
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123.6 Required Usage
123.61 Conditions
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Exhibit 123.61
Customs Declaration Form Usage by Mail Category
[Revise the exhibit to read as follows (in the first column under Priority Mail International, revising the text; in the third column, adding new footnotes 1 and 2; renumbering current footnotes 1–3 as 3–5; adding parenthetical text to the end of the last column of the Priority Mail International section; and in the footnotes, adding text for new footnotes 1 and 2, and renumbering current footnotes 1–3 as 3–5):]
Exhibit 123.61
Customs Declaration Form Usage by Mail Category
Type of Item
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Declared Value, Weight, or Physical Characteristic
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Required PS Form
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Global Express Guaranteed Items
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All items.
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All values
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61821
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PS Form 6182, Commercial Invoice, is required for certain commodities and destinations. For determination, see Publication 141, Global Express Guaranteed Service Guide.
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Priority Mail Express International Items
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All items.
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All values
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2976-B2
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Endorsements vary by country and are specified in the Individual Country Listings.
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Priority Mail International
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All items.
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All values
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2976-A2
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All items mailed in USPS-produced Priority Mail International packaging (including Flat Rate Envelopes and Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes) or any other container bearing a Priority Mail sticker or marked with the words “Priority Mail” are considered to be within the scope of this requirement (other than those marked “Priority Mail Express” or “Priority Mail Express International”).
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First-Class Mail International Letters and Large Envelopes (Flats), as well as International Priority Airmail (IPA) Letters and Large Envelopes (Flats), and International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) Letters and Large Envelopes (Flats)
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All First-Class Mail International letter-size and flat-size items, as defined in 241.2, containing only nondutiable documents.
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Under 16 ounces3
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None4
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See 123.63 for additional information concerning “documents.” Items containing merchandise are prohibited in First-Class Mail International.5
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All IPA and ISAL letter-size and flat-size items, as defined in 241.2, containing only nondutiable documents.
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Under 16 ounces3
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None4
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See 123.63 for additional information concerning “documents.” Items containing merchandise are prohibited in IPA/ISAL letters and large envelopes (flats).5
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16 ounces to 17.6 ounces
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29762
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All items containing any goods, regardless of weight.
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Prohibited
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Prohibited
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See 123.63 for additional information concerning “documents” and merchandise. Items containing merchandise are prohibited in First-Class Mail International and in IPA/ISAL letters and large envelopes (flats).5
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First-Class Package International Service Packages (Small Packets), as well as IPA Packages (Small Packets) and ISAL Packages (Small Packets)
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All First-Class Package International Service packages (small packets), as defined in 251.2, regardless of contents, and for commercial mailers, IPA packages (small packets) and ISAL packages (small packets), regardless of contents.
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$400 or less
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29762
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Merchandise is permitted unless prohibited by the destination country.
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Over $400
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Prohibited
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Items over $400 must be mailed using Global Express Guaranteed service, Priority Mail Express International service, or Priority Mail International service.
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All package-size items, as defined in 251.2, that are entered by a known mailer as defined in 123.62 and items that qualify under 123.63.
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$400 or less
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None
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Not applicable.
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Free Matter for the Blind
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All items.
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Follow above requirements for relevant mail category, as appropriate.
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Follow above requirements for relevant mail category, as appropriate.
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See 270 for authorized mail classes and eligibility.
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M-bags (Airmail, IPA Service, and ISAL Service)
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All M-bags.
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$400 or less
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29762
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A fully completed PS Form 2976 must be affixed to PS Tag 158, M-bag Addressee Tag.
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Over $400
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Prohibited
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1 PS Form 6182, Commercial Invoice, is a handwritten form that a customer uses for Global Express Guaranteed shipments. For more details, see 123.42.
2 All customs forms must be electronically generated. All USPS-supplied hard copies of PS Form 2976, 2976-A, and 2976-B with a preprinted barcode and designed to be completed by hand are obsolete and prohibited from use.
3 The actual weight limit is 15.994 ounces, to accommodate Postal Service systems that round to three decimal places and thus round items that weigh 15.995–15.999 ounces up to 16 ounces.
4 Certain nonnegotiable documents controlled by export regulatory agencies may require customs documentation. See 510–540 and Publication 699 for additional information.
5 Items containing merchandise are mailable using Global Express Guaranteed service, Priority Mail Express International service, Priority Mail International service, or First-Class Package International Service; commercial mailers may also use IPA packages (small packets) and ISAL packages (small packets).
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123.7 Completing Customs Forms
[Delete sections 123.71 through 123.73; add new 123.71 to read as follows; renumber and retitle current section 123.74 as 123.72, and in newly renumbered 123.722, add new items d. and e. (redesignating items d–l as f–n); and renumber current section 123.75 as 123.73 and revise it to read as follows:]
123.71 Preparation and Acceptance of Electronically Generated Customs Forms
123.711 Sender’s Preparation of Electronically Generated Customs Forms
Before mailing, the sender must fulfill any nonpostal export requirements described in Chapter 5 and must ensure that the electronically generated customs form is complete. Certain types of goods may be subject to restrictions. It is the mailer’s responsibility to comply with import and export regulations and restrictions (e.g., quarantine, pharmaceutical, etc.) and to determine what documents (e.g., commercial invoice, certificate of origin, health certificate, license, authorization for goods subject to quarantine such as plant, animal, or food products, etc.), if any, are required in the destination country. Additional information is available in the individual country listings.
All information on the customs forms must appear in Roman letters and Arabic numerals. The mailer may supplement the information by adding a translation in a language accepted in the destination country, and the translation may include non-Roman characters (e.g., Cyrillic, Arabic, Mandarin).
a. Mandatory Data Elements
The following data elements are mandatory for all customs forms regardless of mail class:
1. Sender’s full name and address.
2. Recipient’s full name and address.
3. Category of items (e.g., document, gift, merchandise, etc.).
4. A detailed description of contents, including the quantity, net weight, and value for each item in the package.
5. Sender’s signature and date.
b. Conditional Data Elements
The following data elements may be required based on the contents of the package and other nonpostal rules and regulations:
1. Sender’s phone number.
2. Sender’s email address.
3. Recipient’s phone number.
4. Recipient’s email address.
5. License/Permit number.
6. AES ITN or exemption citation (NOEEI) (see 520–527).
7. Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code.
8. Country of origin of goods.
123.712 Postal Service Employee’s Acceptance of Electronically Generated Customs Declaration Forms
The acceptance employee must do the following when accepting an electronically generated customs form from the sender:
a. Verify that the sender has entered on the customs form the information required in 123.711, and verify that the form is signed and dated. Failure to complete the customs 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 in criminal or civil penalties. The Postal Service assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of information that the sender enters on the customs form.
b. If the customs form is missing an appropriate AES ITN, AES Exemption, or AES Downtime Citation (as applicable), remind the sender that it is the sender’s responsibility to comply with U.S. Census Bureau requirements (including having all applicable information) and that the sender may be subject to civil and criminal penalties for noncompliance.
c. If the sender purchases additional insurance against loss, damage, or missing contents, record the insured amount in U.S. dollars in the space provided.
d. Round stamp any uncanceled stamps, and if the sender pays postage by meter, round stamp the front of the piece near the meter postage.
e. Review the IMM individual country listing for destination-specific mailing restrictions, prohibitions, and observations that apply to all mail classes unless otherwise noted.
f. If the package contains mailable dangerous goods (see 135), ensure that the Dangerous Goods box is checked in the “Category of Goods” section of the customs form.
g. After acceptance, place each item in the appropriate working pouch.
123.72 Preparation and Acceptance of PS Form
2976-R
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123.722 Postal Service Employee’s Acceptance of PS Form 2976-R
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[Add new items d. and e. to read as follows (redesignating current items d–l as f–n):]
d. Review the IMM individual country listing for destination-specific mailing restrictions, prohibitions, and observations that apply to all mail classes unless otherwise noted.
e. If the package contains mailable dangerous goods (see 135), ensure that the Dangerous Goods box is checked in the “Category of Goods” section of the customs form.
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123.73 PS Form 2976-E, Customs Declaration Envelope — CP 91, and PS Form 2976-ES, Small Customs Form Envelope
The Postal Service provides the following two transparent plastic envelopes:
a. PS Form 2976-E is a transparent plastic envelope designed to carry and protect customs form sets and any other documentation needed for customs clearance. When the mailer provides PS Form 2976-R and a mailpiece at a USPS retail service counter, the retail associate uses the form to generate and print the applicable customs form and to electronically transmit the associated customs data. Then, the retail associate inserts PS Form 2976-R into PS Form 2976-E, removes the backing sheet of PS Form 2976-E, and affixes PS Form 2976-E to the address side of the mailpiece. The current edition of PS Form 2976-E is July 2013; however, the mailer may use older editions.
b. PS Form 2976-ES is a smaller version of PS Form 2976-E. It is designed to fit on Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes or Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes and other small parcels requiring a customs form. When the mailer provides PS Form 2976-R with the associated mailpiece at a USPS retail service counter, the retail associate uses the form to generate and print the applicable customs form and to electronically transmit the associated customs data. Then, the retail associate inserts PS Form 2976-R into PS Form 2976-ES so that the barcode applied to PS Form 2976-R is visible, removes the backing sheet of PS Form 2976-ES, and affixes PS Form 2976-ES to the address side of the package. The current edition of PS Form 2976-ES is April 2016.
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2 Conditions for Mailing
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220 Priority Mail Express International
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224 Mail Preparation
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224.21 Using PS Form 2976-R
[Revise the first sentence to read as follows:]
Employees must follow the instructions in 123.722 to verify a sender’s PS Form 2976-R and to generate PS Form 2976-B.
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5 Nonpostal Export Regulations
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520 Foreign Trade Regulations — U.S. Census Bureau
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527 Placement of ITN, AES Downtime Citation, or AES Exemption
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[Delete item c. and redesignate current items d. and e. as items c. and d.]
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530 Commodities and Technical Data
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533 Additional Standards
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533.2 Mailer and USPS Responsibilities for Completing and Processing Forms
533.21 Mailer Responsibilities
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[Delete item c.]
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540 Munitions (Defense Articles) and Related Technical Data
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542 Mailing Under Individual Licenses
542.1 Marking by Sender
[Revise the paragraph to read as follows:]
For shipments under an individual license, the sender must mark the mailpiece, “DEPARTMENT OF STATE EXPORT LICENSE NO. _________.” If only a portion of the amount authorized is mailed, the sender must enter in the area provided on the license the amount (quantity and/or value) being shipped. In addition, the sender must record the license number in block 15 of PS Form 2976-R or in the appropriate field of PS Form 2976-A or PS Form 2976-B.
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560 Export of Rough Diamonds
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562 Mailing
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[Revise item g. to read as follows:]
g. The mailer must place the ITN on the upper right corner of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme certificate document and in the appropriate field of PS Form 2976-A.
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Although effective September 24, 2020, the Postal Service will incorporate these revisions into the next edition of the online IMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification, Marketing, 9-24-20
