Caitríona Redmond: New EU charge will disappoint online shoppers — here's what you need to know

Before July, consumers paid nothing extra for non-EU packages. Now, lower-value products will become extremely expensive to import to Ireland

Gifts sent from friends and family are not exempt, nor are samples or freebies sent as part of subscriptions.

It’s not good news for consumers who like to order items from outside of the EU. On Tuesday, the Revenue Commissioners confirmed the new handling charge and it’s certainly going to make for some very unhappy people ahead of buying Christmas gifts.

Before July 2026, ordering a parcel worth less than €150 (including shipping) from any country outside of the EU was relatively simple. Let’s say that parcel contained a T-shirt, a jumper and a pair of trousers. The total customs charge should have been €0. This was called the ‘de minimis exemption’.

Then the EU introduced a new customs charge for all parcels originating from outside of the European Union. That charge was €3.69 (€3 plus VAT) per unique item in a low-value parcel.

Returning to my example of a T-shirt, jumper and pair of trousers, after July 1, 2026, that same parcel cost €11.07 more. There was also a catch. Some retailers apply the customs charge on checkout, but others don’t apply any charges at all.

Parcels that arrive in Ireland without the customs charge already being paid are then subject to a customs administration fee by shipping partners. With An Post, that fee is €6.95 per parcel, and it must be paid before delivery. This increases the cost of the parcel to €18.02 more than the purchase price.

Since the new customs charges were announced last year, ahead of implementation in July, the €2 handling charge has been widely flagged. However, uncertainty remained about how it would apply to parcels and when it would take effect. Under EU legislation, it was clear that it had to be in effect by November 1, though.

Taking effect from November 1, the new handling charge will cost €2 per distinct item contained within a parcel and will not be refundable, even if an item is faulty.

While Tuesday’s announcement from the Revenue Commissioners was expected, it will definitely disappoint people and ruffle feathers ahead of Budget 2027 announcements on October 6.

Make no mistake, consumers are really struggling at the moment. For many, it feels like the cost of living is rising rapidly, and they are finding it harder to maintain basic standards of living on the money they have.

People have been buying lower-value items on international websites to keep the cost of Hallowe’en and Christmas at more affordable levels. Now it seems like they can forget about celebrating events and special occasions on a budget.

Taking effect from November 1, the new handling charge will cost €2 per distinct item contained within a parcel and will not be refundable, even if an item is faulty.

In the case of our clothing parcel containing a T-shirt, jumper and a pair of trousers, the overall cost of importing the items into Ireland will now rise to €6.15 per item including VAT. That’s an overall increase of €18.45 since June 2026.

In more bad news, the handling charge will also apply where parcels are imported without the charges being paid in advance. That is to say, the shipping partner handling fees will still be payable. If An Post delivers the parcel but the charges weren't paid at checkout, it will cost €25.37 more than last year.

These charges also don't take into account the value or size of the items ordered. Gifts sent from friends and family are not exempt, nor are samples or freebies sent as part of subscriptions.

Lower value products will become extremely expensive to import to Ireland. 

Take, for example, a pencil case with a pen and a pencil inside. The purchase cost could be less than €5 from an international retailer, but the new customs and handling charges now make importing small parcels prohibitive.

Bear in mind that ‘outside of the EU’ also includes buying products from the UK. While small parcels shipped from Northern Ireland are generally exempt, anything shipped from Great Britain will incur both the customs and handling charge from November onwards.

From the European Union’s point of view, the growth in low-value items purchased online has put considerable pressure on customs authorities. They also have very valid concerns about the quality and safety of items shipped from outside of the Union. Indeed, looking at the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s website (CCPC), you will see a list of products recalled in Ireland. The vast majority of those recalled appear to have been manufactured outside of the EU. Many of those products were intended for children.

Here’s my advice to those buying online in the weeks and months ahead:

• Buy directly from Irish or EU retailers to skip the customs and handling charges entirely.
• If it’s unclear, check the website’s delivery and returns policy to see where their shipping hub is located.
• If you must buy from outside of the EU, check to see if you will pay the customs and handling charges at the checkout stage. If not, calculate your final bill based upon the unique items in the parcel (€6.15 per item).
• Be prepared to pay the new charges for items ordered now but arriving from 1st of November onwards.
• Consumers ordering international parcels are vulnerable to phishing. Ask for a parcel tracking number and be wary of any emails and text messages from shipping handlers.

Redmond recommends

On online ordering, Amazon has said it is finally offering Amazon Family in Ireland, so Prime members can share benefits with one other adult in their household at no extra cost. This subscription model costs nothing extra for the second adult, and the invited adult doesn't need their own Prime subscription.

Benefits include free delivery on eligible items, video streaming, and exclusive deals and savings. Sharing the benefits but not the ordering account will be very helpful for those who like to use the platform to order gifts and don’t want the recipient to see what they’ve paid for.

With this benefit being on offer in Ireland, it’s only a matter of time before Kindle users can order their books from Amazon.ie? We can only hope!