Enable Postal Tariff Rates for US Shipments

Executive summary:

• Introducing postal tariff rate options for US shipments.
• Offers a separate calculation method for postal carriers.
• Applies to all Shopify Plus merchants shipping to the US.

What changed

Shopify has introduced a feature that allows merchants to select postal tariff rates for calculating duties and import taxes when shipping to the United States. Previously, all parcels, whether shipped via commercial or postal carriers, had the same duty calculation scheme. Now, merchants can opt for duty calculations based on the Country Code of Origin, more suitable for postal carriers.

Why it matters

This update provides merchants with more flexible and accurate duty calculations for packages sent to the US, potentially reducing costs and enhancing customer satisfaction by aligning with postal carrier practices.

Role-specific impact

• Marketers: Can better manage pricing strategies based on reduced shipping costs.
• Developers: Minimal integration changes as the feature is toggle-based in the admin settings.
• Store admins: Easier setup through straightforward admin dashboard options.

Use-case example

Real-world scenario & metric

A Shopify Plus merchant using Canada Post sees a reduction in duties by adjusting to postal tariff rates, resulting in a 10% savings on shipping-related expenses for US-bound orders.

Implementation checklist

1. Log into Shopify admin account.
2. Navigate to duty settings.
3. Enable "Use postal duty rates into the United States".
4. Save the changes to apply immediately.

FAQ

Q: What carriers can benefit from this feature?
A: This setting is optimal for postal carriers like Canada Post.

Q: Does this feature apply to all US shipments?
A: Yes, it applies to all international checkouts with the US as the destination.

Resources

For more information, visit the Shopify Help Center on duties and import taxes.

Need guidance? Talk to Makro.