Which is More Susceptible to Customs Investigations, UPS or USPS?

Unexpected customs investigations and customs delays, which can stop shipments, disrupt supply chains, and hurt customer satisfaction. Which of UPS and USPS is more susceptible to customs investigations and delays, and how to avoid them?

In this article, ChinaDivision will compare the customs processes of UPS and USPS, explore common pain points, and provide professional solutions to reduce customs risks and speed up cross-border fulfillment.

Customs investigations: What triggers them?

Before comparing UPS and USPS, let's first understand why packages are randomly inspected by customs:

Incomplete or inaccurate shipping documents

Suspicious declared value or item category

Prohibited or restricted items

Poor packaging or labeling

Shipper/recipient flagged for previous violations

These red flags may apply to any carrier. However, UPS and USPS handle them differently.

USPS vs. UPS: Who gets flagged more often?

USPS (United States Postal Service)

Customs clearance is handled by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and is considered government mail - Customs tends to inspect USPS packages more thoroughly, especially those from high-risk countries or arriving via economy services. USPS tracking can become obscured during customs detention, leading to confusion. Items with lower declared values ​​or "gift" items are often scrutinized and are cheaper, but have higher customs inspection rates due to the number and type of packages (many small packages, e-packages, etc.).

USPS international shipping is often used by individual sellers or small e-commerce businesses. However, due to the low visibility of USPS tracking and the higher possibility of customs delays, it is more risky for large or time-sensitive B2B shipments.

USPS Features

Postal customs clearance convenience: Customs inspection standards for postal packages in various countries are relatively loose, especially for B2C packages with low value (such as less than US$800 in the United States). Simplified customs clearance is often used.

Flexibility in declaration: Some sellers use USPS's "personal effects" declaration to evade tariffs, but in recent years, customs in many countries (such as the European Union and Australia) have strengthened their scrutiny, causing USPS Tracking to display "Held by Customs" for a long time.

Risk of return shipment: If customs determine that the declaration is false, USPS packages may be directly returned, and the return process takes up to several months.

UPS (United Parcel Service)

UPS, as a private customs broker, provides comprehensive customs clearance services. Faster and more consistent customs processing for commercial freight, UPS tracking packages provide detailed status, including customs inspection stations. If the commercial invoice and documents are complete, the higher the declared value, the less likely it is to trigger an investigation. The cost is higher, but there are fewer unexplained delays. When UPS tracking shows "clearance in progress", it means that the package is currently undergoing customs review, including document verification and possible physical inspection. UPS will coordinate directly with customs officials and usually contact the shipper or recipient if more information is needed.

UPS is more suitable for B2B transportation, especially those that require reliability, value declaration and tracking transparency. However, even with UPS, document errors can still cause customs delays.

UPS Features

Pre-declaration mechanism: UPS usually completes customs declaration before the goods arrive at the destination country, reducing the port stay time.

Strict review: There are high requirements for declared value and product name description. If discrepancies are found (such as under-declaration, category confusion), it may directly trigger a customs investigation.

High inspection rate: Because it mainly handles high-value and large-volume B2B goods, the customs usually conducts a higher rate of spot checks on UPS packages than postal channels.

Which one is more likely to be affected?

UPS and USPS packages are not necessarily more likely to be investigated by customs. Customs authorities will screen shipments based on the following risk factors:

Package contents (restricted or high-value items)

Accuracy and completeness of customs documents

Destination country regulations

Goods value and size

Random inspections or security alerts

Four common causes of customs delays and response strategies

Missing or incorrect documents

Problems: missing IOSS tax number, incorrect HS code, incomplete commercial invoice information

Solution:

Use Chinadivision intelligent customs declaration system to automatically verify documents and generate standardized documents that meet UPS/USPS requirements. Provide compliance declaration templates for sensitive categories (such as electronic products and cosmetics).

Dispute over declared value

Problem: Customs questioned the authenticity of the value of the goods and required additional supporting materials.

Solution:

Provide "trade terms optimization" services (such as DDP vs DAP) for B2B customers to clarify the division of responsibilities. Customize "declared value strategy" for B2C sellers to balance tariff costs and compliance risks.

Product qualifications do not meet

Problem: Lack of CE/FCC certification, no import license for food/drugs.

Solution:

Provide global market access consulting and predict the regulatory requirements of the destination country. Joint overseas warehouses to achieve "pre-qualification review" to avoid customs clearance jams.

Peak season customs clearance congestion

Problem: Customs processing time is extended during Black Friday and Christmas, and USPS Delivery or UPS Track Package status is stagnant.

Solution:

Through the "multi-port diversion" strategy, flexibly choose ports with high customs clearance efficiency such as New York, Los Angeles or Miami. Open a "priority customs clearance channel" (such as UPS Express Clearance) for time-sensitive orders.

ChinaDivision's solution: How to avoid customs delays?

As a professional international logistics order fulfillment service provider, ChinaDivision can help you avoid customs issues no matter which carrier you use.

1. Ensure that customs documents are accurate and complete

Provide detailed product descriptions, correct HS tariff codes, and accurate freight values. Make sure the commercial invoice, HS code, declared value, and consignee details are complete and correct. We review your documents before shipping to minimize customs markings.

2. Choose a carrier based on product type

UPS is recommended for high-value, time-sensitive, or bulk orders. For low-value or single items, USPS can be used with caution. For dangerous goods or complex shipments, UPS generally provides more comprehensive services and clearer customs processing procedures. ChinaDivision helps evaluate which carrier is best for your goods and destination.

3. Comply with country-specific regulations

We help you understand local import rules for electronics, beauty products, food, or other regulated goods. Our warehouse team ensures that packages meet export standards before shipping.

4. Pre-clearance and customs support

We provide customs pre-inspection for bulk shipments. For UPS shipments, we coordinate directly with their customs agents to resolve issues quickly.

5. Real-time tracking support

We monitor USPS tracking and UPS tracking package data through an integrated platform. Proactive alerts can help you react early to customs issues before they turn into crises.

Enterprises and e-commerce sellers can reduce customs-related headaches by focusing on compliance, choosing carriers wisely, and leveraging professional logistics partners like Chinadivision. This approach ensures smoother customs clearance, fewer delays, and higher customer satisfaction during international shipping. If you need expert support to guide UPS and USPS customs processes, streamline your international order fulfillment, and reduce customs delays, contact Chinadivision today for tailored logistics solutions.

Typical questions about USPS Tracking and UPS Tracking

If a UPS package is detained by customs for investigation, will there be a fine?

Minor declaration errors: pay additional customs duties + handling fees (usually 10%-20% of the value of the goods).

Deliberate concealment/prohibited goods: fines + blacklist risk.

Solution: Purchase Chinadivision customs liability insurance to cover fines and return costs.

How to avoid long delays in USPS International Shipping?

1. Pre-classification label: Paste multilingual product description labels on the outside of the package.
2. Segmented transportation: First leg air freight to the United States, then delivery through the USPS local network.
3. Data monitoring: Connect to Chinadivision logistics dashboard to warn of delay risks in real time.