Ireland Starts €3 Customs Fee on Sub-€150 Non-EU Items From July 1
Updated
Updated · RTÉ News · Jun 30
Ireland Starts €3 Customs Fee on Sub-€150 Non-EU Items From July 1
3 articles · Updated · RTÉ News · Jun 30
Summary
July 1 brings a €3 customs charge plus 23% VAT on each unique non-EU item entering Ireland, ending the exemption for purchases valued below €150.
A pen, book and lamp in one parcel would add €9 before VAT, while two identical T-shirts count as one item; retailers are expected to show the charge at checkout.
Amazon, Temu and other large sellers have prepared to collect the fee upfront, but if smaller retailers do not, carriers such as An Post or DPD may collect it and add about €7 in administration fees.
Revenue says the charge depends on when goods enter Ireland, not when they were ordered, and customs fees will not be refunded on returned items.
The EU says the measure is meant to protect consumers and level competition with low-cost Chinese platforms, while Irish authorities warn confusion could trigger scam texts because Revenue never contacts shoppers directly for payment.
As the EU's €3 import fee begins, will it force fast-fashion giants to abandon their current business model?
Now that cheap online orders cost more, is the promise of safer products enough to satisfy EU consumers?
The EU’s €3 Duty on Low-Value Imports: New Customs Rules for E-Commerce Starting July 2026
Overview
Starting July 1, 2026, the EU will remove its previous de minimis threshold and introduce a temporary flat €3 customs duty on low-value parcels imported from outside the bloc. This change means online platforms and sellers, rather than EU consumers, must now declare and pay the duty, as they are designated as the importer. The new rule aims to create a fairer trading environment and streamline customs processes. The European Commission will monitor the system and may expand its scope, while this €3 duty serves as a transitional measure until a permanent customs regime is established in 2028.