Elimination of the EU's tax exemption for purchases under 150 euros

Overview

The European Parliament and the Council of the EU have decided to abolish the duty-free status for goods imported into the EU with a total value of less than 150 euros, effective July 1, 2026, and to impose tariffs as follows:

Transaction type / Total Value of contents	Less than 45 euros	45 euros or more, less than 150 euros	Over 150 euros
B2C (Online retail)	3 euros per item	3 euros per item	EU common tax rate

 

Target Countries and Regions

Ireland, Italy, Estonia, Austria, Netherlands, Gadlelop, Cyprus, Greece, Croatia, Sweden, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Finland, France, French Guiana, Bulgaria, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Malta, Martinique, Monaco, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Luxembourg, and Réunion. (United Kingdom see footnote).

 

How to calculate the €3 customs duty per item

In addition, customs duty of 3 euros will be levied on each HS code in the consignment. (An HS code (Harmonized System Code) is a standardized 6-digit numerical method used globally to classify traded products, calculate customs duties, and track trade statistics. Managed by the World Customs Organization, it acts as a universal economic language for international shipping).

How the €3 Duty Works:

Per Tariff Line: The regulation defines an "item" as goods in a consignment sharing the same tariff classification and description (grouped by HS code). 

Multiple Quantities: Ordering 10 identical bags of “ground coffee” (same HS code) results in a single €3 duty.  

Multiple Categories: Ordering 5 bags of ground coffee and 5 bags of instant coffee (different HS codes) or mixing items like Ground coffee, Instant coffee and Green tea results in multiple €3 charges (e.g., €3 for each distinct code).

  

Footnote: United Kingdom - EU €3 Parcel Charge: Starting July 1, 2026, the European Union implemented a temporary €3 customs duty per item type on low-value packages (under €150) arriving from outside the EU bloc. Because the UK is outside the EU, only parcels sent from or through the UK to EU consumers are subject to this rule. 

A recent UK customer reported back to the our shop, that "there's no VAT on personal consumption tea imports, and his £120 parcel (green tea) went through customs with no charge in Aug-2026". 

 Please check with your local government related websites for the latest information.