USPS customs forms — CN-22 and CN-23, field by field. Or skip the paperwork and let us do it for you free.
Filling out USPS customs forms wrong is the #1 reason international packages get held, taxed extra, or seized at the destination border. This guide walks through CN-22 and CN-23 step by step so you can do it yourself correctly. If you'd rather skip the paperwork, Selectido handles customs declarations free for every shipment we forward — no extra fee, no markup.
If you forward a package through Selectido, our team prepares CN-22 or CN-23 (whichever the destination country requires), applies the correct HS tariff code from our internal library, declares actual retail value, and itemizes multi-item shipments per the destination country's rules. No extra fee. It's part of the $14.99 service. Most customers using a US forwarder choose Selectido specifically because the customs forms are the worst part of doing it themselves.
Which form do I need — CN-22 or CN-23?
USPS uses two international customs forms with overlapping but distinct requirements: the CN22 form (also written USPS CN-22) and the CN23 form (USPS CN-23). Both are types of USPS customs declaration paperwork — what carriers call the customs declaration form, and what you'd search for as "USPS international customs form", "customs form for international package", "USPS customs form online", "printable USPS customs form", or "how to fill out USPS customs form". This page is the complete CN22 vs CN23 walk-through, plus an honest take on customs paperwork shipping in general.
The right form depends on three things: your package's declared value (declare value USPS international ships requires the line item by line item), its weight, and the destination country's specific rules. With Selectido customs handling, our team fills these forms for you free — you skip the paperwork entirely. Here's the quick decision:
CN-22 — Customs Declaration
- Value $400 USD or less
- Weight under 4 lbs (1.8 kg)
- Personal items, small gifts, low-value goods
- Single-page form, affixed to outside of package
- Less detailed than CN-23
CN-23 — Customs Declaration + Dispatch Note
- Value over $400 USD
- Weight 4 lbs (1.8 kg) or more
- Multiple items requiring detailed itemization
- Commercial / business shipments
- Multi-page form with detailed sender + recipient + itemization fields
CN-22 — field-by-field guide
The CN-22 is the smaller, simpler form. It's about 4 inches × 4 inches and gets stuck to the outside of the package (most US Post Office locations affix it for you at the counter). The required fields:
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Sender's name & address | Complete US name and street address (no PO Box). Required so the package can be returned if undeliverable. |
| Addressee's name & address | Complete international name and address. Include phone number for international carriers that need contact for delivery. |
| Type of contents (check one) | Gift, Documents, Commercial Sample, Returned Goods, Sale of Goods, or Other. Be honest — see "common mistakes" below. |
| Detailed description of contents | "Children's clothing - 2 t-shirts," not just "clothing." Customs officials need to identify what's in the package without opening it. |
| Quantity | How many of each item. |
| Net weight (kg) | Just the contents, not the box. Required for accurate duty calculation in some countries. |
| Value (USD) | Actual retail value paid. Under-declaring is the #1 cause of customs holds. |
| HS tariff number | 6-10 digit Harmonized System code identifying the product category. Optional on paper CN-22 but recommended — it speeds clearance. |
| Country of origin | Where the item was manufactured (not where it was shipped from). For US-bought items, often "USA" for US-made products, but could be "China," "Vietnam," etc. for imported goods being re-exported. |
| Date and signature | Your physical signature certifying the declaration is accurate. Forging this is a federal offense. |
CN-23 — field-by-field guide
The CN-23 is the longer Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note. It's about a full sheet of paper, often with carbon copy backsides. Required when value exceeds $400, weight is 4 lbs+, or the destination country requires detailed declarations. Additional fields beyond CN-22:
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Sender's phone + email | Required so the destination customs office can contact the sender for clarification. |
| Recipient's phone + email | Required so the destination customs office can contact the recipient for duty payment. |
| Detailed itemization | Each item gets its own line: description, quantity, unit value, total value, weight, HS code, country of origin. Multi-item shipments need every item listed separately. |
| Invoice number | If commercial shipment, attach the seller's invoice and reference its number. |
| License or permit number | Required if the contents need an export license (rare for personal-use goods, common for regulated items like firearms parts, alcohol, certain chemicals). |
| Certifying signature | Stronger legal weight than CN-22 — false declaration on CN-23 carries higher penalties. |
HS tariff codes — what they are and how to find them
The Harmonized System (HS) is an internationally standardized classification system for traded goods. Every product has a 6-digit base code that's the same globally; countries add 2-4 more digits for their own sub-categories.
Some examples:
- 6109.10 — T-shirts, singlets and other vests, knitted or crocheted, of cotton
- 8517.13 — Smartphones
- 3304.99 — Beauty/skin preparations not elsewhere specified
- 9504.30 — Trading card games, including Pokémon TCG, Magic: The Gathering, etc.
- 4901.99 — Printed books, brochures, leaflets
- 9101.21 — Wristwatches, mechanical, with case of precious metal
Where to find the right HS code for your item:
- USITC HTS database (hts.usitc.gov) — official US tariff schedule, searchable by keyword.
- World Customs Organization HS database — the international standard.
- Destination country customs portals — Brazil's Receita Federal, India's CBIC, EU's TARIC.
- Third-party classification tools — Pitney Bowes, Avalara, and others have lookup engines.
If you're shipping a few items occasionally, this is manageable. If you ship regularly, it becomes a headache — which is why Selectido maintains an internal HS code library for the categories we forward most: apparel, electronics, cosmetics, supplements, trading cards, watches, books, toys.
The 5 mistakes that get USPS international packages held
1. Under-declaring value
Marking a $300 item as $30 to avoid duty. Customs officials in Brazil, Mexico, India, the EU, and most other countries actively compare declared values against the market value of similar items shipped from the US. Packages flagged as suspiciously low get held for inspection, sometimes assessed additional penalties on top of normal duty, and occasionally seized outright. Always declare actual retail value paid.
2. Marking commercial goods as "Gift"
Most countries have a low gift-exemption threshold (often $50-$100). Above that, gift status doesn't avoid duty — and customs officials know that high-value items from US e-commerce sites are almost never genuinely person-to-person gifts. False gift declarations are legally fraud. The package can be assessed duty plus a fine, seized, or in serious cases prosecuted.
3. Vague descriptions like "Goods" or "Items"
Customs needs to know what's in the package. "Goods" or "miscellaneous items" gets the package flagged for physical inspection — typically a 5-14 day delay. Always specifically describe: "Two cotton t-shirts" or "One iPhone 15 case" or "One sealed Pokémon TCG booster box, 36 packs."
4. Wrong HS tariff code
If the HS code on your form doesn't match what's actually in the package, customs computes the wrong duty. The most common result: the package is held until the recipient pays duty plus a reclassification fee. Selectido uses correct HS codes from an internal library covering the categories we ship most often.
5. Restricted items not flagged
Lithium batteries above certain Wh thresholds, aerosols, alcohol, perishables, hazardous materials, certain electronics, and several country-specific items (Brazil bans some seeds, India restricts certain types of supplements, the UAE has specific rules on books and media) all require either special documentation, special routing, or a different carrier entirely. Sending a restricted item with no flag results in seizure, possible recipient penalties, and lost shipping cost.
How Selectido handles customs forms (free, included)
When you forward a package through Selectido, customs paperwork is part of the $14.99 service fee — no extra charge. Here's what we do for every shipment:
- Determine the right form. CN-22 if eligible, CN-23 if the value, weight, or destination country requires it.
- Apply the correct HS tariff code. We maintain an internal library covering the categories we ship most often — apparel, electronics, cosmetics, supplements, trading cards, watches, books, toys, home goods.
- Declare actual retail value. We use the seller's invoice or retail-as-paid value. No under-declaring (which causes holds) and no over-declaring (which costs you more in duty than needed).
- Itemize correctly for the destination country. Brazil, Argentina, India, and EU countries require detailed itemized declarations — we do them per each country's specific format.
- Flag restricted items before shipping. If your package contains lithium batteries, aerosols, alcohol, or items restricted by the destination country, we contact you with options (return to sender, hold for in-person pickup, donate, dispose) before anything ships.
Pricing — customs forms included free
What's included in the $14.99:
- Receiving and logging your package at our Minneapolis hub
- Hand-check + photos at intake
- 30 days of free storage
- Customs paperwork preparation (CN-22 or CN-23 as required)
- HS tariff code application
- Country-specific itemization
- Outbound carrier label + AfterShip tracking
DIY customs forms vs Selectido — when each makes sense
Do it yourself if you're sending a single low-value package directly via USPS, are familiar with HS codes for your category, know your destination country's rules, and have time to walk through the form at a US Post Office. Cost: free (your time + the form). Risk: a mistake can cost you in customs holds or fines.
Use Selectido if you're sending higher-value items, multiple items, items where you're not 100% sure of the right HS code, or to a country with strict declaration requirements (Brazil, Argentina, India, EU). Cost: $14.99 per shipment with paperwork included. Risk: minimal — we prepare these for thousands of packages and know the country-specific patterns.
Frequently asked questions
CN-22 for packages valued at $400 or less and under 4 lbs. CN-23 for packages valued over $400, or weighing 4 lbs+, or containing multiple items needing detailed itemization. Some destination countries (Brazil, Argentina, EU) require CN-23 regardless of value.
An internationally standardized 6-10 digit code that classifies your product for customs duty purposes. Required on most international shipments. Wrong codes cause incorrect duty calculations and customs delays.
Legally no, unless it's genuinely a person-to-person gift below the destination country's gift threshold. Customs officials know high-value items from US e-commerce aren't really gifts — false declarations cause holds, fines, or seizure.
Customs officials compare your declared value against the market value of similar items. Packages flagged as suspiciously low get held for inspection — typically 5-14 days of delay — and sometimes assessed additional penalties. Always declare actual retail value paid.
Yes — every shipment we forward includes customs paperwork preparation at no extra cost. We prepare CN-22 or CN-23 as required, apply correct HS codes, declare actual value, and itemize per destination country rules.
Free at any US Post Office, or downloadable from usps.com. If you're using Selectido's forwarding service, you don't need to print anything — we handle the forms.
Letters and documents under 16 oz typically don't need a customs form. Anything that resembles a package or contains goods needs at minimum a CN-22.
Brazil (Receita Federal), Argentina (Aduana), India (CBIC), and Mexico (SAT) require detailed itemized declarations with correct HS codes for most personal imports. The UAE and post-Brexit UK also require detailed declarations for commercial imports.
Common outcomes range from minor (a few days delay while customs resolves the inconsistency) to severe (package seizure plus penalty fees). Under-declaring value or false gift declarations are the most-penalized mistakes. If you're shipping high-value items or to strict-customs countries, professional handling is worth the small cost.
Yes — these are three of our common destinations and three of the strictest customs regimes. We prepare CN-23 declarations with proper itemization, HS codes, and CPF/IEC numbers where required.