A package can clear the United States in a day and then sit in a foreign customs office for weeks. Most of those delays trace back to paperwork, not the carrier. Customers at Newport Beach Mailboxes & More ship gifts, business samples, and personal belongings overseas all year, and the same handful of habits separates smooth deliveries from stuck ones. These eight tips cover what to check before the box is sealed.
Does the destination country allow what you’re sending?
Every country sets its own import rules, and an item that is legal to mail here may be refused there. USPS publishes a listing for each country in its International Mail Manual, which shows prohibited and restricted items. Some countries restrict items you might not expect, such as certain foods, medications, used clothing, or electronics. Check the listing before you pack.
How specific should the contents description be?
Describe each item the way a customs officer would picture it. “Clothing” or “gift” is too vague and invites inspection. “Two cotton T-shirts” or “one hardcover cookbook” is clear. List each type of item on its own line, with its quantity and value.
Can you lower the declared value to save the recipient money?
No. Undervaluing a shipment, or marking a purchase as a gift, is a false customs declaration and can lead to fines, seizure, or a returned package. Declare what you paid or what the item would reasonably sell for. Keep the receipt in case customs asks.
What is an HS code, and do you need one?
An HS code is a number from the Harmonized System, the international product classification maintained by the World Customs Organization. Customs offices use it to decide which duty rate applies. Business and commercial shipments usually need one on the commercial invoice, and adding it to personal shipments can speed clearance too.
Who pays duties and taxes?
By default, the recipient pays any duties and import taxes before delivery, and an unexpected bill is a common reason packages get refused. UPS and FedEx let senders choose to pay these charges upfront, an arrangement often called delivered duty paid. Rules have also tightened in many places. Since July 2021, the European Union charges VAT on imports of any value. Tell your recipient what to expect.
What contact details does a customs office need?
Include the recipient’s full name, phone number, and email address on the shipping label and customs form. Carriers and customs offices use them to request missing information or arrange payment. Write the address in the destination country’s format, with the country name in capital letters on the last line, as USPS recommends.
When do you need to file export paperwork?
For most personal shipments, the customs form is enough. If a single type of commodity in your shipment is valued over $2,500, or the item requires an export license, U.S. Census Bureau rules require Electronic Export Information to be filed through the Automated Export System. Your carrier or shipping center can explain how to handle that filing.
How much extra time should you plan for?
Add several business days on top of the carrier’s transit estimate. Customs clearance times vary by country, season, and inspection rates, and holiday periods slow everything down. For anything time sensitive, such as a birthday gift or contract documents, ship early and choose a service with full tracking.
Where can you ship internationally near Newport Beach?
These local shipping centers offer international shipping services:
- Newport Beach Mailboxes & More
- The UPS Store, Bayside
- The UPS Store, Bristol Street in Costa Mesa
- The UPS Store, Harbor Boulevard in Costa Mesa
- The UPS Store, Main Street in Huntington Beach
1. Newport Beach Mailboxes & More
Newport Beach Mailboxes & More has served customers from 2618 San Miguel Drive in Newport Hills for about 15 years, under CEO Joseph Swan. The store handles domestic and international shipping, packing, and art shipping, and customers can work through customs forms and packing for an overseas shipment at the counter. Notary services, document services, mailbox rentals, and LiveScan fingerprinting are available at the same location, which helps when a shipment includes documents that need a signature first.
2. The UPS Store, Bayside
This franchise location on Bayside Drive in Newport Beach offers shipping and mailbox services.
3. The UPS Store, Bristol Street in Costa Mesa
This franchise location on Bristol Street offers shipping and mailbox services.
4. The UPS Store, Harbor Boulevard in Costa Mesa
This franchise location on Harbor Boulevard offers shipping and mailbox services.
5. The UPS Store, Main Street in Huntington Beach
This franchise location on Main Street offers shipping and mailbox services.
Get the paperwork right before it leaves
Customs trouble almost always starts with a vague description, a value that doesn’t match the receipt, or a surprise bill for the recipient. Most of that is avoidable with a careful customs form and a clear agreement about who covers duties. Then give the package a few extra days. If you have an overseas shipment coming up, start the customs form early and bring your questions to the counter before the box is sealed.