New customs duty regulations for non-EU online purchases

The Customs Department has announced new regulations for online purchases from countries outside the European Union. The previous tax exemption for low-value shipments under €150 has been abolished. A temporary customs duty of €3 is now applied per product category contained in a single package. In addition to this duty, VAT must be paid on the total value of the shipment, which includes the duty itself. For example, a parcel containing three different items like a shirt, earrings, and a keychain incurs a total duty of €9. If a parcel contains multiple items of the same type, such as several cotton shirts, they are classified as one item, resulting in a single €3 duty charge. Consumers can pay these duties either during the online checkout process, if supported by the platform, or upon delivery via the postal service or courier. If the tax is not collected at the point of sale, the carrier will request payment before finalizing the delivery.