Rules on what you pay when a parcel crosses the EU border, in either direction. Every figure comes from Revenue, the European Commission or the destination's own customs service.
| Date | What changed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1 July 2026 | A €3 customs duty per item started to apply to goods in packages valued at €150 or less arriving from outside the EU. | Revenue |
| 1 November 2026 | The Union Handling Fee of €2 per distinct item applies to online purchases arriving from outside the EU, on top of the €3 duty. It is not refundable. | Revenue |
Dates checked against each source on 9 October 2026.
A €3 customs duty already applies per distinct item in parcels valued at €150 or less. From 1 November 2026, a separate €2 handling fee applies to online purchases arriving from outside the EU.
· 4 min read
The proposal covers electronic customs entries, extra carrier data for post and bonding requirements on certain entries. Irish sellers have until 7 December 2026 to submit comments.
· 2 min read
The Union Handling Fee applies to online goods shipped from outside the EU, regardless of value. Sellers or delivery businesses pay it, and Revenue says faulty goods do not qualify for a fee refund.
· 2 min read
The reform introduces a handling fee for each item bought from non-EU web shops and sent directly to EU customers, including buyers in Ireland. Member states must start collecting it by 1 November 2026.
· 2 min read
Irish reporting flags a proposed handling fee for purchases from outside the EU. Revenue says the amount and application date have not been determined. An Post says it remains unclear how it would be charged.
· 2 min read
An unusually high share of Irish ecommerce parcels are dispatched from UK warehouses. Shoppers can face the €3 duty after checkout, with a possible €6.95 An Post administration fee.
· 2 min read
Irish shoppers face a €3 per item customs duty on low-value ecommerce imports following the end of the exemption in July. Shein warns the European sales impact could match or exceed the hit in the US.
· 2 min read
UK Etsy sellers can buy Royal Mail postage to Ireland with duties paid upfront. Royal Mail’s handling fee for shipments to Ireland is 50p per parcel.
· 2 min read
The new US postal entry process generally covers eligible mailed goods worth $2,500 or less. The US has also set a 10% all-inclusive tariff on EU goods, while duties on posted goods can vary by item.
· 2 min read
An Post’s half-year update reports softer parcel growth in early July. More parcels originated from EU-based hubs, while large non-EU retailers absorbed some tariff costs.
· 2 min read
Goods worth £135 or under sold by Irish sellers into the UK fall within the reform. The Treasury will set the start date, with October 2028 the latest deadline.
· 2 min read
Canada Post has restored parcel and packet service to Ireland. The suspension affected parcels and packets from Canada, while An Post continued normal services from Ireland to Canada.
· 2 min read
The European Commission has explained how the temporary duty applies to low-value parcels from outside the EU. The charge follows tariff categories, with the seller or importer responsible for declaring and paying it.
· 2 min read
Orders bought before the customs change still face the new charges if they reach Ireland after 30 June. The CCPC also warns about payment requests claiming to come from Revenue.
· 2 min read
CBP has written the indefinite suspension of the $800 postal allowance into its regulations. The rule takes effect on 24 July 2026 and preserves the separate exemption for genuine gifts.
· 2 min read
An Post and 19 other postal groups want more time to prepare for the €3 charge. DHL, FedEx and UPS have called for a phased approach, warning that shipments could be held up at EU borders.
· 2 min read
Ireland’s customs duty exemption for low-value online goods changes on 1 July 2026. Revenue says purchases from outside the EU, including Great Britain, will attract €3 duty per item.
· 2 min read
Online platforms selling into the EU will become responsible for duties and product safety. For Irish shoppers ordering from outside the EU, the package also includes a €3 duty on parcels valued below €150 from July and a handling fee by November.
· 2 min read
The European Commission says low-value parcel imports rose 26% in 2025. The EU plans a €3 fee on low-value parcels from July before the planned end of the customs duty exemption.
· 2 min read
