EU to introduce handling fee for parcels ordered from non-EU countries from 1 November

EU to introduce handling fee for parcels ordered from non-EU countries from 1 November
Photo: Unsplash, Leon Rojas

The handling fee is one of the changes introduced as part of the EU customs reform. It will apply throughout the European Union to cover the costs of customs controls on consignments, including document checks, risk analysis and physical inspections.

According to Kaari Lainevool, Service Manager at the Customs Organisation Department of the Estonian Tax and Customs Board, people ordering small consignments from non-EU countries will need to take into account both customs duty and the customs handling fee. “The calculation is based on the same principle for both customs duty and the handling fee: the amount payable depends on the number of item lines listed in the declaration. Customs duty is three euros and the handling fee is two euros per item line. This means that if an order contains three different goods, nine euros in customs duty and six euros in handling fees will be payable,” Lainevool explained.

The handling fee applies to parcels sent by businesses to private individuals. It does not apply to business-to-business trade or to gifts sent from one private individual to another.

The recipient will not necessarily have to pay the handling fee separately when the parcel arrives. Depending on the system and terms used by the online shop or platform, the fee may already be charged at checkout or may become payable when the goods are imported. If a consignment was ordered or arrived in Estonia before 1 November but its customs declaration is submitted on or after 1 November, the handling fee will apply.