International shipping presents a significant growth opportunity for WooCommerce stores, but it also poses challenges such as customs clearance, duties, and paperwork. Mistakes in these areas can lead to delays or unexpected costs. UPS simplifies the process with its global network and customs expertise. When integrated with WooCommerce, it helps ensure shipments are compliant and delivered on time.
This guide explains how to set up UPS international shipping in WooCommerce, with a focus on duties, HS codes, and customs forms.
On This Page
- Why UPS for WooCommerce International Shipping?
- Understanding Duties & Taxes in International Shipping
- HS (Harmonized System) Codes Explained
- Essential Customs Forms for UPS International Shipments
- How to Set Up UPS International Shipping in WooCommerce
- Real-World Example
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Why UPS for WooCommerce International Shipping?
Expanding your WooCommerce store internationally requires a reliable shipping partner, and UPS stands out for several reasons:
- Global Reach and Reliability: UPS delivers to over 220 countries and territories worldwide. With its extensive network, you can be confident your packages reach customers on time, regardless of location.
- Customs Expertise: International shipments must comply with local customs regulations. UPS has deep experience handling duties, taxes, and paperwork, reducing the risk of delays or penalties.
- Seamless WooCommerce Integration: By connecting UPS with your WooCommerce store using a dedicated plugin, you can automate shipping tasks.
- Accurate Duties and Taxes Calculation: UPS provides real-time estimates for duties and taxes, allowing your customers to see the total cost upfront.
- Automated Documentation: From commercial invoices to electronic customs forms, UPS simplifies compliance by automatically generating the required documents based on your WooCommerce product data.
Using UPS for international shipping ensures that your WooCommerce store delivers a smooth, reliable experience for both you and your customers.
Understanding Duties & Taxes in International Shipping
When shipping internationally, WooCommerce store owners need to account for import duties and taxes, which are additional costs imposed by the destination country’s customs authorities. Understanding these charges is crucial to avoiding unexpected costs and delays.
What Are Duties and Taxes?
- Duties: These are tariffs imposed on imported goods. The rate depends on the product type, value, and country of destination.
- Taxes: Often referred to as VAT (Value Added Tax) or GST, these are charged on imported goods and may vary depending on local regulations.
Who Pays Duties and Taxes?
- Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU): The recipient pays duties and taxes upon delivery.
- Delivered Duty Paid (DDP): The sender (store owner) pays duties and taxes in advance, allowing the customer to receive the shipment without additional charges.
UPS can calculate estimated duties and taxes for international shipments. When integrated with WooCommerce, UPS allows you to display these charges at checkout, giving customers a clear idea of the total cost.
HS (Harmonized System) Codes Explained
HS codes, or Harmonized System codes, are standardized numbers used internationally to classify products for customs purposes. They play a crucial role in determining duties and taxes and ensuring smooth clearance at customs. Assigning the correct HS code for each product is essential for:
- Customs Compliance: Using the right HS codes prevents shipment delays, fines, or confiscation.
- Accurate Duties Calculation: Duties and taxes are determined based on the HS code assigned to the product.
- Smooth International Shipping: Proper HS codes help shipments clear customs faster and reduce disputes.
- WooCommerce Integration: Assign HS codes to products in WooCommerce and ensure the UPS plugin includes them automatically in customs forms.
Correct HS code usage ensures hassle-free international shipping and a better experience for your global customers.
Essential Customs Forms for UPS International Shipments
Shipping internationally requires proper documentation to ensure packages clear customs smoothly. When shipping with UPS, the following forms are typically required:
1. Commercial Invoice
This is the most important document for international shipments. It includes:
- Sender and recipient details
- Product descriptions and HS codes
- Quantity and value of each item
- Declared currency
Customs authorities use this to calculate duties and taxes accurately.
2. Other Forms That May Be Required
- Proforma Invoice: Used for samples or goods without commercial value
- CN22/CN23 Forms: Required for small or postal shipments
- Electronic Export Information (EEI): Needed for regulated shipments above certain thresholds
When shipping internationally with UPS, always ensure compliance with import and export regulations to avoid delays or extra charges. For detailed guidance, check the UPS Import and Export Regulations.
How to Set Up UPS International Shipping in WooCommerce
Offering international shipping through UPS in your WooCommerce store is simple and efficient with the WooCommerce UPS Shipping Plugin with Print Label. This plugin not only automates shipping calculations but also handles customs forms, HS codes, and label printing, ensuring a smooth international shipping process.
For step-by-step instructions on setting up UPS shipping, visit the PluginHive UPS Shipping Guide for WooCommerce.
Once the plugin is activated, you can enable Commercial Invoice, which is required for all international shipments.
Depending on your business needs, you can enable additional options to make international shipping more compliant and streamlined:
- EDI on Shipping Labels: Automates electronic data sharing with customs for faster clearance.
- NAFTA Certificate: Generates origin certificates for U.S.–Canada–Mexico shipments to reduce or eliminate duties.
- EEI Data: Adds required export information for high-value U.S. shipments or shipments requiring special licenses.
- Vendor Info: Allows the use of VCIDs (VAT Customer Identification Numbers) to verify point-of-sale VAT, especially useful for shipments to the EU or UK.
Select who will pay the duties and taxes. By default, this will be set to Shipper if the customer selects an Access Point location.
Enable Shipping Taxes on Cart/Checkout (Tax on Rates). Enabling this option applies taxes to your shipments automatically.
Within the plugin settings, you can also select the UPS international services you want to offer. UPS shipping rates for the selected services will automatically appear at checkout, giving customers transparent shipping costs.
Once configured, you can generate and print UPS labels, commercial invoices, and other required documents directly from WooCommerce.
Using this setup, WooCommerce merchants can provide reliable and flexible international shipping options, ensure compliance with customs regulations, and simplify the entire shipping process.
For a more detailed walkthrough, refer to the UPS International Shipping Guide for WooCommerce.
Real-World Scenario: WooCommerce Store Shipping Internationally with UPS
A WooCommerce store selling specialty home appliances to customers across Europe, the U.S., and Canada was facing challenges with international shipping, such as:
- Incorrect customs forms caused shipment delays.
- Unexpected duties led to customer confusion and abandoned carts.
- Manual handling of labels, commercial invoices, and customs documentation was time-consuming and error-prone.
Solution:
The store integrated the WooCommerce UPS Shipping Plugin, which allowed them to:
- Automatically calculate duties and taxes for each international shipment.
- Generate commercial invoices with accurate HS codes.
- Print UPS labels and required shipping documents directly from WooCommerce.
- Display total shipping costs, including duties and taxes, at checkout to improve transparency for customers.
- Utilize additional compliance features: EEI Data for high-value U.S. shipments, Vendor Info (VCIDs) for EU and UK VAT verification, and NAFTA Certificates for shipments to Canada.
The store reduced manual effort and ensured all shipments complied with international regulations. Customers received their orders faster with clear cost information.
Conclusion
International shipping with UPS in WooCommerce can be straightforward when duties, HS codes, and customs forms are properly managed. Understanding these elements helps avoid delays and provides a smooth experience for international customers. With the right setup, store owners can offer transparent shipping costs, ensuring compliance with customs regulations.
For further assistance or support with UPS shipping automation in WooCommerce, you can reach out to PluginHive Support.
FAQs
- Can I offer UPS international shipping at a discounted rate in WooCommerce?
Yes, WooCommerce store owners with a UPS account that includes negotiated rates can show discounted shipping prices at checkout. This helps offer competitive international shipping options.
- Does the WooCommerce UPS Shipping Plugin support UPS international returns?
Yes, this plugin allows you to generate UPS return shipping labels to simplify handling returns globally. Check this guide for more info on how to manage UPS return shipments.
- Does UPS deliver on Saturdays and Sundays?
For faster delivery options, UPS provides weekend delivery through services like UPS Ground, UPS SurePost, and UPS Express Critical. Check out: UPS weekend delivery services.
- Does the WooCommerce UPS Shipping Plugin support UPS Access Point® delivery?
Yes, for added convenience, customers can select a UPS Access Point® location to pick up their packages instead of home delivery. Learn more about UPS Access Point® delivery.
