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Return

If you are shipping merchandise or other frequently-returned products, you may wish to generate return labels to include with your shipment, for you customer's convenience. EasyPost offers a simple way to submit the same parameters as your initial shipment, but with an additional flag set, that will generate you a return label to receive any return shipments at your original from address.

It's important for some carriers, with different return billing, to specify a return label even if it's not a return label for an earlier Shipment.

If doing more than 10,000 USPS returns in a year, please contact EasyPost for the USPS scan-based return program, which we also offer.


Create Return for a Shipment

You can easily create return labels. All you need to do is set the is_return parameter to true, leave the addresses the same as the initial Shipment's creation request and we switch the to_address and from_address for the return Shipment.

Request Parameters

is_return
i.e. true
to_address
i.e. The original Shipment's to_address
from_address
i.e. The original Shipment's from_address
POST /shipments
1curl -X POST https://api.easypost.com/v2/shipments \
2  -u "EASYPOST_API_KEY": \
3  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
4  -d '{
5    "shipment": {
6      "to_address": {
7        "name": "Dr. Steve Brule",
8        "street1": "179 N Harbor Dr",
9        "city": "Redondo Beach",
10        "state": "CA",
11        "zip": "90277",
12        "country": "US",
13        "phone": "8573875756",
14        "email": "dr_steve_brule@gmail.com"
15      },
16      "from_address": {
17        "name": "EasyPost",
18        "street1": "417 Montgomery Street",
19        "street2": "5th Floor",
20        "city": "San Francisco",
21        "state": "CA",
22        "zip": "94104",
23        "country": "US",
24        "phone": "4153334445",
25        "email": "support@easypost.com"
26      },
27      "parcel": {
28        "length": "20.2",
29        "width": "10.9",
30        "height": "5",
31        "weight": "65.9"
32      },
33      "is_return": true
34    }
35  }'
Response
1{
2  "created_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25Z",
3  "is_return": true,
4  "messages": [],
5  "mode": "test",
6  "options": {
7    "currency": "USD",
8    "payment": {
9      "type": "SENDER"
10    },
11    "date_advance": 0
12  },
13  "reference": null,
14  "status": "unknown",
15  "tracking_code": null,
16  "updated_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25Z",
17  "batch_id": null,
18  "batch_status": null,
19  "batch_message": null,
20  "customs_info": {
21    "id": "cstinfo_75b9d86bcced4df4a90d971d79467395",
22    "object": "CustomsInfo",
23    "created_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25Z",
24    "updated_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25Z",
25    "contents_explanation": "",
26    "contents_type": "merchandise",
27    "customs_certify": true,
28    "customs_signer": "Steve Brule",
29    "eel_pfc": "NOEEI 30.37(a)",
30    "non_delivery_option": "return",
31    "restriction_comments": null,
32    "restriction_type": "none",
33    "mode": "test",
34    "declaration": null,
35    "customs_items": [
36      {
37        "id": "cstitem_28713b4da6c442c59fc2643c27e68fbc",
38        "object": "CustomsItem",
39        "created_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25Z",
40        "updated_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25Z",
41        "description": "T-shirt",
42        "hs_tariff_number": "123456",
43        "origin_country": "US",
44        "quantity": 1,
45        "value": "10.0",
46        "weight": 5.0,
47        "code": "123",
48        "mode": "test",
49        "manufacturer": null,
50        "currency": null,
51        "eccn": null,
52        "printed_commodity_identifier": null
53      }
54    ]
55  },
56  "from_address": {
57    "id": "adr_8dcc8d20ba4c11eeb60eac1f6bc539aa",
58    "object": "Address",
59    "created_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25+00:00",
60    "updated_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25+00:00",
61    "name": "EasyPost",
62    "company": null,
63    "street1": "417 Montgomery Street",
64    "street2": "5th Floor",
65    "city": "San Francisco",
66    "state": "CA",
67    "zip": "94104",
68    "country": "US",
69    "phone": "4153334445",
70    "email": "support@easypost.com",
71    "mode": "test",
72    "carrier_facility": null,
73    "residential": null,
74    "federal_tax_id": null,
75    "state_tax_id": null,
76    "verifications": {}
77  },
78  "insurance": null,
79  "order_id": null,
80  "parcel": {
81    "id": "prcl_f5c724b686f5426e86572e0c6ae2eca3",
82    "object": "Parcel",
83    "created_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25Z",
84    "updated_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25Z",
85    "length": 20.2,
86    "width": 10.9,
87    "height": 5.0,
88    "predefined_package": null,
89    "weight": 65.9,
90    "mode": "test"
91  },
92  "postage_label": null,
93  "rates": [
94    {
95      "id": "rate_a5473958bf84407d98729d6a0ae57a50",
96      "object": "Rate",
97      "created_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25Z",
98      "updated_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25Z",
99      "mode": "test",
100      "service": "Express",
101      "carrier": "USPS",
102      "rate": "49.60",
103      "currency": "USD",
104      "retail_rate": "57.40",
105      "retail_currency": "USD",
106      "list_rate": "49.60",
107      "list_currency": "USD",
108      "billing_type": "easypost",
109      "delivery_days": null,
110      "delivery_date": null,
111      "delivery_date_guaranteed": false,
112      "est_delivery_days": null,
113      "shipment_id": "shp_d270335b7bf846b3b03b67df7c181d6f",
114      "carrier_account_id": "ca_9685a1198a75477885a3cdca37559bac"
115    },
116    {
117      "id": "rate_cf8d03f7b5054a52a6f7e87a8f38bf86",
118      "object": "Rate",
119      "created_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25Z",
120      "updated_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25Z",
121      "mode": "test",
122      "service": "Priority",
123      "carrier": "USPS",
124      "rate": "7.33",
125      "currency": "USD",
126      "retail_rate": "15.20",
127      "retail_currency": "USD",
128      "list_rate": "10.89",
129      "list_currency": "USD",
130      "billing_type": "easypost",
131      "delivery_days": 2,
132      "delivery_date": null,
133      "delivery_date_guaranteed": false,
134      "est_delivery_days": 2,
135      "shipment_id": "shp_d270335b7bf846b3b03b67df7c181d6f",
136      "carrier_account_id": "ca_9685a1198a75477885a3cdca37559bac"
137    },
138    {
139      "id": "rate_51439cb11b9b4aa9b2de79bfc24fcae8",
140      "object": "Rate",
141      "created_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25Z",
142      "updated_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25Z",
143      "mode": "test",
144      "service": "GroundAdvantage",
145      "carrier": "USPS",
146      "rate": "6.79",
147      "currency": "USD",
148      "retail_rate": "13.15",
149      "retail_currency": "USD",
150      "list_rate": "9.41",
151      "list_currency": "USD",
152      "billing_type": "easypost",
153      "delivery_days": 3,
154      "delivery_date": null,
155      "delivery_date_guaranteed": false,
156      "est_delivery_days": 3,
157      "shipment_id": "shp_d270335b7bf846b3b03b67df7c181d6f",
158      "carrier_account_id": "ca_9685a1198a75477885a3cdca37559bac"
159    },
160    {
161      "id": "rate_45e9d6f024724c47822543032841289f",
162      "object": "Rate",
163      "created_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25Z",
164      "updated_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25Z",
165      "mode": "test",
166      "service": "First",
167      "carrier": "USPS",
168      "rate": "6.79",
169      "currency": "USD",
170      "retail_rate": "13.15",
171      "retail_currency": "USD",
172      "list_rate": "9.41",
173      "list_currency": "USD",
174      "billing_type": "easypost",
175      "delivery_days": 3,
176      "delivery_date": null,
177      "delivery_date_guaranteed": false,
178      "est_delivery_days": 3,
179      "shipment_id": "shp_d270335b7bf846b3b03b67df7c181d6f",
180      "carrier_account_id": "ca_9685a1198a75477885a3cdca37559bac"
181    },
182    {
183      "id": "rate_45ac4cce2b18400ea50e0f330f74b430",
184      "object": "Rate",
185      "created_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25Z",
186      "updated_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25Z",
187      "mode": "test",
188      "service": "ParcelSelect",
189      "carrier": "USPS",
190      "rate": "6.79",
191      "currency": "USD",
192      "retail_rate": "13.15",
193      "retail_currency": "USD",
194      "list_rate": "9.41",
195      "list_currency": "USD",
196      "billing_type": "easypost",
197      "delivery_days": 3,
198      "delivery_date": null,
199      "delivery_date_guaranteed": false,
200      "est_delivery_days": 3,
201      "shipment_id": "shp_d270335b7bf846b3b03b67df7c181d6f",
202      "carrier_account_id": "ca_9685a1198a75477885a3cdca37559bac"
203    }
204  ],
205  "refund_status": null,
206  "scan_form": null,
207  "selected_rate": null,
208  "tracker": null,
209  "to_address": {
210    "id": "adr_8dc57048ba4c11eea6e33cecef1b359e",
211    "object": "Address",
212    "created_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25+00:00",
213    "updated_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25+00:00",
214    "name": "Dr. Steve Brule",
215    "company": null,
216    "street1": "179 N Harbor Dr",
217    "street2": null,
218    "city": "Redondo Beach",
219    "state": "CA",
220    "zip": "90277",
221    "country": "US",
222    "phone": "8573875756",
223    "email": "dr_steve_brule@gmail.com",
224    "mode": "test",
225    "carrier_facility": null,
226    "residential": null,
227    "federal_tax_id": null,
228    "state_tax_id": null,
229    "verifications": {}
230  },
231  "usps_zone": 4,
232  "return_address": {
233    "id": "adr_8dcc8d20ba4c11eeb60eac1f6bc539aa",
234    "object": "Address",
235    "created_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25+00:00",
236    "updated_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25+00:00",
237    "name": "EasyPost",
238    "company": null,
239    "street1": "417 Montgomery Street",
240    "street2": "5th Floor",
241    "city": "San Francisco",
242    "state": "CA",
243    "zip": "94104",
244    "country": "US",
245    "phone": "4153334445",
246    "email": "support@easypost.com",
247    "mode": "test",
248    "carrier_facility": null,
249    "residential": null,
250    "federal_tax_id": null,
251    "state_tax_id": null,
252    "verifications": {}
253  },
254  "buyer_address": {
255    "id": "adr_8dc57048ba4c11eea6e33cecef1b359e",
256    "object": "Address",
257    "created_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25+00:00",
258    "updated_at": "2024-01-24T00:07:25+00:00",
259    "name": "Dr. Steve Brule",
260    "company": null,
261    "street1": "179 N Harbor Dr",
262    "street2": null,
263    "city": "Redondo Beach",
264    "state": "CA",
265    "zip": "90277",
266    "country": "US",
267    "phone": "8573875756",
268    "email": "dr_steve_brule@gmail.com",
269    "mode": "test",
270    "carrier_facility": null,
271    "residential": null,
272    "federal_tax_id": null,
273    "state_tax_id": null,
274    "verifications": {}
275  },
276  "forms": [],
277  "fees": [],
278  "id": "shp_d270335b7bf846b3b03b67df7c181d6f",
279  "object": "Shipment"
280}