A combined €5 charge will hit small parcels from outside the EU in Italy from Oct. 1, when Italy’s €2 levy starts stacking on the EU’s €3 tariff already in force.
Giancarlo Giorgetti said the measures target a flood of low-value shipments from Asian countries, reflecting surging e-commerce and the end of a tariff exemption for parcels worth up to €150.
The €3 EU charge is meant to regulate tax liability on low-value consignments, while Italy’s €2 fee is designed to cover customs clearance and inspection costs.
For orders with multiple items, the tariff applies per consignment line—an order containing a hat and a jumper would face €6 in EU tariffs alone.
Revenue from the €3 EU tariff is split 75% to the EU budget and 25% to member states unless the 2028-2034 EU budget framework changes that formula.