To comply with customs regulations in certain countries, forward2me must collect a Tax Identification Number (Tax ID) or Business Tax ID from the receiver before shipping. Providing this helps your shipment clear customs smoothly and avoids the risk of it being delayed, held, returned, or destroyed by local authorities.
In some countries a Tax ID is required for personal imports too, not just business shipments.
Tax ID Requirements by Country
The ID needed can depend on whether the recipient is an individual (B2C) or a business (B2B). Some countries only require an ID above a certain shipment value — these are marked as conditional.
Country | Business (B2B) ID | Consumer (B2C) ID | Expected format / example | Notes |
| Argentina | CUIT | CUIL or DNI | 11 digits: XX-XXXXXXXX-X | Mandatory on AWB and invoice. Customs will hold the shipment; holding fees apply if missing. |
| Botswana | TIN | Omang (National ID) | 9–10 digits | National regulations require importer identification. |
| Brazil | CNPJ | CPF | CNPJ: XX.XXX.XXX/XXXX-XX · CPF: XXX.XXX.XXX-XX | Mandatory on AWB and invoice. Clearance fails immediately without a valid ID. |
| Bulgaria | VAT Number | EGN or Personal ID | B2B: BG + 9/10 digits · B2C: 10 digits | Required for local VAT and customs compliance. |
| Chile | RUT | RUN or RUT | XX.XXX.XXX-X (ends in a digit or 'K') | Mandatory on AWB and invoice. Customs will hold shipments until provided. |
| China | USCC (Social Credit) | Resident ID | 18 alphanumeric characters | Conditional: requested if the shipment exceeds ¥1,000 RMB (approx. $140) or fails informal clearance rules. |
| Croatia | OIB | OIB | 11 digits | Required for all formal duty and customs assessments. |
| Estonia | VAT Number | Isikukood | B2B: EE + 9 digits · B2C: 11 digits | Required for standard EU customs and VAT records. |
| Greece | AFM | AFM | 9 digits | Required for all baseline customs processing. |
| Hungary | Adószám | Adóazonosító jel | B2B: 11 digits · B2C: 10 digits starting with 8 | Enforced locally for strict import tracking. |
| India | IEC or GSTIN | PAN or Aadhaar | GSTIN: 15-char alphanumeric · PAN: 10-char alphanumeric | Mandatory KYC. Recipients must upload ID and matching address proof, or cargo is held. |
| Indonesia | NPWP Badan | NPWP Pribadi or NIK | 15 or 16 digits | Highly recommended. Customs frequently requests it to avoid high-rate informal assessment. |
| Israel | Company No. | Israeli ID Number | 9 digits | Conditional: mandatory if the shipment value is over $150 or weighs more than 5 kg. |
| Latvia | VAT Number | Personas kods | B2B: LV + 11 digits · B2C: XXXXXX-XXXXX | Standard Baltic customs compliance requirement. |
| Mexico | RFC (12-char) | RFC (13-char) or CURP | B2B: 3 letters + 9 mixed · B2C: 4 letters + 9 mixed | Mandatory in the data payload. Missing IDs freeze shipping labels at the carrier level. |
| Namibia | TIN | National ID or TIN | 7–8 digits | Used for basic cross-border clearance identification. |
| Norway | Organization No. | Fødselsnummer (Personal ID) | B2B: 9 digits · B2C: 11 digits | Conditional: customs may request it to verify identity on high-value or restricted consumer classes. |
| Oman | CR Number | Civil ID / Resident ID | 8 digits | Mandatory for all B2C. Shipments are held by customs until an ID is produced. |
| Peru | RUC | DNI | RUC: 11 digits · DNI: 8 digits | Customs routinely targets consumer imports to request formal DNI verification. |
| Qatar | Commercial Reg. | QID (Qatar ID) | 11 digits | Mandatory copy. Carriers must present a physical or digital copy of the ID to clear customs. |
| Slovakia | IČ DPH | Rodné číslo | B2B: SK + 10 digits · B2C: XXXXXX/XXXX | Strict European VAT compliance tracking. |
| South Africa | Customs Code | South African ID | 13 digits | Conditional: required if the shipment exceeds ZAR 500 (approx. $28). Foreign nationals and tourists use a passport number. |
| South Korea | Business Registration | PCCC (Customs Code) | 13 alphanumeric characters (starts with 'P') | Mandatory on AWB and invoice. Customs holds shipments instantly without a valid PCCC. |
| Spain | NIF / CIF | NIF / NIE | 9 alphanumeric characters | Required to associate imports with a legal tax-resident entity. |
| United States | EIN | SSN or ITIN | EIN: XX-XXXXXXX · SSN: XXX-XX-XXXX | Rarely required for low-value B2C, but requested by customs for formal or high-value entries. |
Please note: Tax ID requirements can change without notice, as they're set by local customs authorities and can also depend on courier requirements. Always check the current requirements for your destination if you're unsure. The table below is a guide, not a guarantee.
Good to Know
- If you don't provide a valid Tax ID where one is required, your package may be delayed, held by customs, or returned.
- Your information is handled securely and only shared with customs authorities where required by law.
If you have further questions, please contact our Customer Experience team.