What is a Verified Account?
Verified Accounts keep your shipments moving. With a Verified Account, Zonos collects duties from you and remits them directly to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on your behalf, fulfilling the requirement for prepaid duties on postal shipments under $800 USD.
This allows Japan Post to continue issuing labels — knowing duties will be properly calculated, collected, and paid. Here's how it works:
- Sign up for a Verified Account via the Japan Post referral link.
- Create your Japan Post shipping labels in a supported shipping platform or carrier, the Zonos Dashboard, or via the Zonos API, with duties already prepaid.
- Print and close your manifest when you're ready to hand parcels to Japan Post.
- Japan Post ships your parcel to the U.S. and Zonos calculates and remits duties to CBP.
- Zonos bills you for duties and the postal clearance fee on a daily auto-charge.
Three ways to create labels
Each shipment into the U.S. needs a Declaration ID associated with the shipment and listed on the Japan Post label. The Declaration ID is proof that duties will be paid and is required for the Japan Post postal clerk to accept and ship your parcels. To attach a Declaration ID to every shipment, merchants create their Japan Post labels through Zonos. Choose the option that fits your team's setup — all three produce the same compliant Japan Post label with a Declaration ID linked to the tracking number.
Create labels with supported platforms and carriers
For merchants using the e-commerce platforms and carrier tools you already ship with. Use your Verified Account directly inside the platforms and carrier tools you already use. Now available in Ship&Co, with more integrations on the way.
Create labels with supported platforms and carriers →
Create labels in Dashboard
For small and mid-size merchants who don't want to write code. Create labels and upload orders in bulk through the Zonos Dashboard. Best for moderate volume or for merchants whose tools already export shipment data as CSV.
Create labels via API
For merchants and 3PLs with development resources. Integrate your fulfillment system with the Zonos GraphQL API to create labels programmatically. Best for higher-volume shippers who already have a fulfillment workflow.
Verified Accounts for Japan Post
Ensure every U.S.-bound shipment clears with duties paid through a Zonos Verified Account
As of August 29, 2025, a new U.S. executive order requires all postal shipments valued at less than $800 USD into the United States to have duties prepaid. If you're shipping parcels under $800 USD to the United States through a post, you must prepay duties before your parcel crosses the border.
To support Japan Post business customers, Zonos partnered with Japan Post to provide Verified Accounts for their merchants.
A Verified Account is needed if you have a business account with Japan Post and you ship packages under $800 USD to the U.S. If you are a casual shipper, you can use the Zonos Prepay app for your U.S. shipments instead.