Why cheap online shopping is about to change for Irish consumers
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Updated / Tuesday, 9 Jun 2026 09:27
A new €3 customs duty will apply to small parcels coming into the EU to help tackle the flood of cheap imports from platforms such as Shein and Temu. Photo: Getty Images
Analysis: The era of the frictionless €5 parcel is ending to be replaced by something which will be more expensive, more transparent and regulated
By Eoin Plant-O'Toole, Edinburgh Napier University
If you regularly buy low-cost clothes, gadgets, beauty products or household items online, a small customs change could soon make a noticeable difference. From 1 July, a new €3 customs duty will apply to many e-commerce parcels valued at €150 or less coming into Ireland from outside the European Union. That includes purchases from Great Britain, China, the United States and other non-EU countries.
This is the end of what is often called "de minimis" customs relief for low-value consignments. Until now, goods worth €150 or less could enter the EU without customs duty, although VAT was still payable. Revenue says the new €3 charge will apply per item, and that it will form part of the amount used to calculate VAT. That sounds technical, but it could affect millions of ordinary online purchases.
What does it mean at checkout?
The key point is that the charge is not simply €3 per parcel. Revenue says it applies to each distinct product type in a package. For example, a parcel containing a pen, notebook and keyring would attract three €3 charges, or €9 plus VAT. Two identical pens would count as one item and attract one €3 charge.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Today with David McCullagh, online shoppers to face extra charges as Revenue introduces new customs duties on goods bought from outside the EU
Some websites may collect the duty at checkout, but others may not. If it is not collected when you buy, the postal operator or courier may ask for payment before delivery. That could mean unexpected costs, delays or refused deliveries.
Returns may also become more complicated. Revenue says the €3 customs duty will not be refundable if goods are returned, unless they are faulty. VAT refunds will depend on the supplier's own arrangements. For shoppers, the practical advice is simple: check where the goods are shipped from, not just where the website appears to be based. A ".ie" domain, euro pricing or Irish-looking branding does not necessarily mean the goods are in Ireland or the EU.
Why is the EU doing this?
The change is part of a wider European response to the explosion in low-value e-commerce imports. EU finance ministers agreed to impose a €3 duty on small parcels to help tackle the flood of cheap imports from platforms such as Shein and Temu. It also reported that 4.6 billion such small packages entered the EU in 2024, more than 145 per second, with 91% originating in China.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Oliver Callan, personal finance expert Kel Galavan on online shopping issues
The Council of the EU says the current duty-free treatment of low-value parcels has created unfair competition for EU sellers, health and safety risks for consumers, high levels of fraud and environmental concerns. The European Commission has also warned that many low-value imported goods do not comply with EU rules, raising concerns about harmful products, unfair competition and the environmental impact of mass shipping.
In other words, the issue is not only tax. It is also about product safety, consumer rights, customs enforcement and whether Irish and EU retailers are competing on a level playing field.
The challenge for shoppers and...