Shopify Shipping billing

This page was printed on Oct 25, 2020. For the current version, visit https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/shipping/shopify-shipping/billing-and-taxes.

Shopify Shipping labels and label price adjustments are charged to the credit card that is on file for your Shopify account. All Shopify Shipping charges are billed in USD. If you are in Canada or Australia, then shipping label prices are shown in your local currency when you purchase the label, but the charge on your invoice is in USD.

Shipping label charges

Shipping label invoices are based on threshold billing. This means that as soon as you spend a certain amount on shipping labels within your billing cycle, you are invoiced and charged immediately. While you wait for the payment to be processed, you can continue to purchase labels until you reach 10% of your current threshold. After the invoice is processed, your threshold is reset.

If you don't reach this threshold within your billing cycle, then the shipping label charges are added to your monthly Shopify subscription bill.

For more information on how your specific account is billed for shipping labels, contact Shopify Support.

Find your shipping label charges

You can view your shipping label charges in the Bills section of your Billing page in your Shopify admin.

Shipping label refunds

Any refunds issued for shipping labels are added as a shipping label credit to your account. Credits are applied to future shipping label purchases.

Price adjustments

A shipping label price adjustment occurs when you purchase a shipping label and the shipping carrier determines that you've provided inaccurate information that results in an incorrect shipping label price. After you ship your order, the correct shipping label price is verified by the shipping carrier. If you paid an incorrect amount to ship the order, then your carrier credits or debits you the difference. Your package might still be delivered when there is an adjustment.

Price adjustments are a standard industry practice and most shipping carriers follow this standard. To avoid price adjustments, verify that you are entering the correct information when you are purchasing a shipping label.

Due to shipping carrier processing times, it's not uncommon for there to be a delay between when you purchase the shipping label and when you receive the charge or credit for a price adjustment.

In this section:

Reasons for price adjustments

If your carrier determines that your shipment needs a price adjustment, then the adjustment appears in the order's timeline. You'll receive a charge or credit to your Shopify account, which will appear on your next bill.

The following examples are possible reasons for price adjustments:

  • The package weight specified on the label doesn't match the actual weight of shipment.
  • The package dimensions specified on the label don't match the actual dimensions of shipment.
  • A flat rate label is used with a weight-based rate box, or a weight-based rate label is used with a flat rate box.
  • The specified mail class is incorrect (for example, the packaging weight is above the maximum threshold for that mail class).
  • The content of your package doesn't fit mail class restrictions.
  • The carrier charged a fee for preparing your shipment or non-customs documentation.
  • The carrier changed the return to sender fees.

If you have questions about a price adjustment, or think that a price adjustment was wrongfully applied, you can find out who to contact in questions about adjustments.

Over maximum limit adjustments

Carriers have maximum package sizes and weights. If a shipment is larger than the maximum size or weight, they can charge you substantial fees.

For example, if you are using UPS and your package weighs more than 150 pounds then you can be charged more than $875.00 USD for being over their weight limit. You can also be charged fees if the package dimensions exceed the carrier's limits. The UPS site has information about their Over Maximum Limits.

Avoiding adjustments

You can avoid overpaying or underpaying for your shipping labels by making sure that your shipping and product settings are accurate.

There are a few things you can do to make your shipping labels more accurate:

Questions about adjustments

Shipping label price adjustments are determined by your carrier.

For any questions about shipping fee adjustments, you need to contact USPS or Canada Post directly to file a claim. For UPS and DHL, contact Shopify Shipping support.

Taxes on shipping labels

Each country has different tax rules for shipping labels.

United States

The United States doesn't charge taxes on shipping labels.

Canada

Canada Post charges taxes on domestic and international shipments. To learn the specific tax percentages, refer to Taxes on Canada Post products.

Australia

Australian domestic shipping labels are taxable, but international shipping labels aren't. However, you don't pay tax if you meet all of the following conditions:

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