New Customs Charges From July 2026

⏱ 4 min read 

If you shop online, you're about to notice a difference at checkout — or worse, on your doorstep. From the 1st of July 2026, new customs charges apply to packages coming into Ireland and the rest of the EU from outside the bloc. The old rule that let parcels under €150 in duty-free is gone, and a lot of everyday online orders are about to get more expensive.

Here's exactly what's changing, what it'll cost you, and how to avoid it altogether.

What are the new customs charges?

Previously, packages valued at €150 or less arriving into the EU from outside it weren't charged Customs Duty. That relief no longer applies in the same way. As of July 1st 2026, a new charge of €3 per unique item applies to most packages shipped from outside the EU, regardless of the parcel's total value.

This affects orders from any non-EU country, including the UK, the US, China, and Australia. It doesn't matter where the retailer is based, either — if your order physically ships from outside the EU, the charge applies. Some EU-based websites ship products from warehouses in China or elsewhere, so a familiar-looking checkout doesn't guarantee you're in the clear.

How much will customs charges actually cost?

The €3 charge applies per type of product, not per individual item. A few examples make this clearer:

• Order a Scrub top, a trouser, and a scrub cap from a UK retailer: that's three different products, so three separate €3 charges — €9 total.

• Order ten of the exact same scrub cap from a supplier in China: that's one product type, so just €3 total.

On top of the €3 customs charge, you may also owe VAT and, depending on the goods, Customs Duty calculated on the value of the order plus shipping and insurance. Couriers and postal operators typically add their own administration fee as well, so the final bill at delivery can end up considerably higher than the per-item charge alone suggests.

When do the new rules take effect?

The charges apply from the 1st of July 2026 onward. Crucially, it doesn't matter when you placed the order — if your package arrives into Ireland on or after that date, the new charges apply, even if you ordered weeks earlier.

Will you have to pay at checkout or on delivery?

It depends on the retailer. Some businesses collect the duty upfront at checkout and confirm the price you pay is final. Others don't, which means you could be asked to pay the courier or postal service before your parcel is delivered, on top of an administration fee.

Never assume a retailer has handled this for you. Always check the terms and conditions for where the company ships from and whether import charges are included in the price.

Are gifts or second-hand items affected?

Gifts sent from outside the EU and properly declared as such are exempt from these charges, provided they're worth €45 or less (excluding certain goods like alcohol, tobacco, and perfume). Second-hand, vintage, and used items don't get an exemption, though — customs charges apply to those too, whether bought from a business or another consumer.

How to avoid customs charges entirely

The simplest way to sidestep all of this is to shop from retailers based and shipping within the EU. If a parcel never leaves the EU customs union, none of these charges apply, full stop — no per-item fee, no surprise VAT recalculation, no courier administration charge at the door.

That's exactly how happythreads works. We're an Irish-owned business, and every order ships from within the EU, with same-day dispatch on top. There's no customs duty, no hidden delivery-day bill, and no fine print to dig through — the price you see at checkout is the price you pay.

Choosing an EU-based brand isn't just about dodging a €3 fee here and there, either. It means supporting a business that's actually based where you are, faster dispatch since your order isn't crossing customs in the first place, and one less thing to think about at checkout.

Shop happythreads, support an Irish-owned brand, and skip the customs charges altogether.

Quick checklist before you order from anywhere

• Check where the item actually ships from, not just where the company is registered

• Look for confirmation that import charges are included at checkout, not added later

• Read the returns policy before you buy, since refunds get more complicated once customs charges are involved

• When in doubt, choose a retailer that ships from within the EU