A temporary duty of €3 per item will be applied from July 1, 2026 to online purchases from third countries, according to an announcement by the Customs Department.
The new customs rules concern products worth up to €150, which are purchased from countries outside the European Union. The measure will apply in all member states and is expected to increase the cost of some online purchases, as well as affect the return process.
The aim of the regulation, according to the announcement, is to ensure a level playing field between EU and non-EU companies.
In particular, the exemption from import duties for parcels entering the Union from a third country, when the value of the goods, excluding shipping and other charges, does not exceed €150. At the same time, a provisional duty of €3 is imposed on each item contained in a parcel worth up to €150 and sent from a country outside the Union as a distance sale.
The Customs Department clarifies that the exemption from duties and VAT remains in force for gifts worth up to €45, which are sent from a private person to a private individual, are of a non-commercial nature and do not include any payment, including the items specified in Regulation 4 of RPA 378/2004.
The new duty will apply per different type of product, i.e. per different 6-digit Taric code or 10-digit Combined Nomenclature code, different description and different origin, where applicable.
The amount will be added to the taxable value for the calculation of VAT and will be borne by the final consumer.
