Since 1 July, orders worth €150 or less shipped from outside the EU attract the new €3 customs duty, including orders dispatched from Britain. According to The Journal, Northern Ireland is excluded, and An Post may add €6.95 if VAT or duties were not collected at checkout.
At a glance
- What changes
- €3 customs duty on low-value orders
- From
- 1 July
- Who it affects
- Irish shoppers ordering goods dispatched from Britain
- Possible extra cost
- €6.95 An Post administration fee
- What to do
- Check the dispatch country and checkout charges
On this page
Why UK dispatch matters for Irish shoppers
Customs compliance expert Brian Murphy says an unusually high share of Irish ecommerce parcels come from UK warehouses rather than directly from China or the US. Purchases fulfilled from Britain, except Northern Ireland, can attract the duty.
According to nShift, the duty reached retailers fulfilling EU orders from Britain and Norway during its first month. Customers received payment requests after checkout. Check where your parcel will be dispatched from before you pay.
What the charges can add
If your order attracts a single €3 duty charge and An Post adds its €6.95 administration fee, those charges total €9.95. The administration fee may apply when the seller has not collected VAT or duties at checkout.
The Journal reports that some identical or very similar items are being charged €3 each as though they were unique items. Retailers have not organised their customs data correctly. If you buy several similar items, check how many duty charges appear in the payment request.
What to check before buying
The CCPC advises shopping elsewhere if the trader’s location and the country your order comes from are unclear. Before paying, look for these details:
- Where the trader is based.
- Where the goods will be dispatched from, including whether a UK dispatch is from Britain or Northern Ireland.
- Whether the seller collects VAT and duties at checkout.
Duty refunds depend on the reason for return
nShift says the €3 duty is refunded when goods are faulty. It is not refunded when you simply change your mind. Include that charge in your buying decision if you plan to order items to try and return.
Questions
Do orders from UK warehouses attract customs charges in Ireland?
Orders worth €150 or less dispatched from Britain attract the new duty. Shipments from Northern Ireland are excluded.
Could An Post add a €6.95 fee to my order?
An Post may charge a €6.95 administration fee if the seller did not collect VAT or duties at checkout.
Can similar items each attract a €3 charge?
Some identical or very similar items are being charged €3 each because retailers have not organised their customs data correctly.
Will I get the €3 customs duty back if I return my order?
The duty is refunded for faulty goods. It is not refunded for a change-of-mind return.
Sources
- The Journal: How to avoid the EU customs charges, read 15 August 2026
- nShift: EU parcel duty: what the first month taught retailers, read 15 August 2026
Spotted an error? Email hello@postcompare.ie and we will correct it.
PostCompare news desk
PostCompare compares courier prices for parcels sent from Ireland. Every post links the pages its facts come from and, where a route is involved, shows our own prices beside it. How we choose and check stories
