Customs on a parcel from China in 2026: what you'll pay

Since July 2026, small parcels from China pay an EU customs duty. Here is how it's calculated, with examples, so delivery holds no surprises.

The rule in one sentence

For a parcel under €150 of declared value, you pay a €3 customs duty per item category, plus VAT of the delivery country. From 1 November 2026, a €2 handling fee is added.

What counts as a "category"

It's the type of item, not the number. Three identical t-shirts are one category: €3. A t-shirt and a pair of sneakers are two categories: €6.

Examples

Parcel contents	Duty	Fee (from Nov 2026)	VAT
2 t-shirts (€40)	€3	€2	your country's rate
1 hoodie + 1 pair of sneakers (€110)	€6	€4	your country's rate
A €180 parcel	standard duties by item type	—	your country's rate

Sources still disagree on whether the €2 fee is per category or per parcel: we count per category, the most expensive case.

3 habits to pay less

Group items of the same type in one parcel: customs counts categories, not pieces.
Stay under €150 of declared value per parcel: above that, standard (higher) duties apply.
What matters is the date the parcel reaches customs, not the purchase date.

What about the €2 tax in France?

The French tax of €2 per category, in place since March 2026, has been suspended since July 1, 2026: the €3 EU duty replaced it.

Until when?

This is temporary. With the EU customs reform, expected around 2028, the €150 threshold should disappear and each item will pay its standard duties. The date isn't fixed yet.

Sources

Council of the EU, press release of 12/12/2025 on the €3 duty
European Commission, EU customs reform
European Commission, 29/06/2026: €3 duty on low-value parcels