Starting July 1, 2026, the European Union is introducing a new customs duty on orders shipped to EU countries. This article explains what it is, how much it costs, and how it appears in Subliminator.
What's changing
Until now, parcels valued under €150 entered the EU without customs duty. From July 1, 2026, the EU removes that exemption and applies a customs duty of €3 per product type on orders shipped to the EU.
This is a new charge, separate from VAT. VAT continues to apply exactly as before — nothing changes there.
How the duty is calculated
The €3 is charged per product type, not per item. Products are grouped by their customs classification (commodity code), so:
Multiple units of the same product type = one €3 charge.
Each different product type adds another €3.
Examples (orders shipped to the EU):
Order contents | Duty charged |
2× Fashion Hoodie - AOP | €3 |
1 Fashion Hoodie - AOP + 1 Leather Tote Bag - AOP (2 different product types) | €6 |
3× Leggings - AOP + 2× Fashion Hoodie - AOP (2 product types) | €6 |
In short: count the distinct product types in an order, then multiply by €3.
Who pays, and how it works
You pay the EU import duty to Subliminator as part of the order. We pass it on to the fulfilment and shipping partner, who clears it with customs. Your customer pays nothing extra at delivery — no surprise fees, no parcels held at the border.
Where you'll see it
The duty appears as a separate line called "EU import duty", shown in three places:
The order form (when placing an order), once an EU shipping address is entered.
The order details page.
Your invoice, with the breakdown.
It only appears for orders shipped to the EU. Orders to non-EU countries are not affected and won't show this line.
A note on currency
The duty is set by the EU in euros (€3 per product type), but Subliminator charges in US dollars. We convert it for you and show the USD amount. Because exchange rates move, the final amount is set by the exchange rate at the time of billing, so the figure shown when placing the order is approximate. Your invoice shows the exact euro amount, the exchange rate used, and the dollar amount charged.
Changing the shipping address
If you change an order's shipping address from an EU country to a non-EU country, the EU import duty no longer applies — it will be refunded and the line removed. If you change an address to an EU country, the duty is added.
Orders over €150
For the small number of orders with a customs value above €150, the €3 flat duty does not apply and nothing changes from how those orders were handled before.
Frequently asked questions
Does my customer have to pay anything at delivery?
No. We handle the duty up front so the parcel clears customs without your buyer being charged.
Is this the same as VAT?
No. VAT is unchanged and applies as it always has. This is a separate customs duty.
Does buying more of the same item cost more duty?
No. The €3 is per product type, not per item — 5 of the same product is still one €3 charge.
Which orders are affected?
Only orders shipped to EU countries, from July 1, 2026 onward.
This article reflects the EU customs change effective July 1, 2026 (Council Regulation (EU) 2026/382).
If you have questions, reach out to our support team at [email protected].