During our 'Customs Series' webinar we received some live audience questions.
Below you will find the answers from our panel of experts.
EU Customs Specific:
Q: What does it mean a parcel less than 150 EUR? Does it mean the total value of a Parcel? Or the value of each category (HS code) items in a parcel?
A: The €150 de minimis threshold refers to the total parcel value – i.e., the combined value of all items/commodities packed within that specific parcel.
Q: Can e-platforms pay the 3EUR by their IOSS account?
A: IOSS account is only for VAT settlement, not for the 3EUR flat duty settlement.
Q: Adding the 3EUR to the selling price, this would impact the Duty and Taxes and could potentially exceed the EUR 150 threshold. Do you recommend having this as an additional fees? Current platforms are not updated with the 3 EUR fees, the retailer will incur this cost in most cases?
A: Adding a flat €3 duty into every SKU could inflate the duty amount from the buyer’s perspective. For example, if a buyer purchases two pieces of the same HS code in the same parcel, they would effectively be charged €6 instead of €3, which is not accurate. It would be more precise to charge the duty separately, rather than embedding it into each selling price. This could be done at checkout. We have this capability with SendNow by Asendia at checkout calculated by each individual HS code rather than item.
Q: Will the 2EU fee be assessed per package or per item?
The text from March 2026 states that it will be a 2EUR handling fee per item. However, this is still to be 100% confirmed. We expect to have an update in September/October 2026.
Q: If shipping from the USA using Asendia Select DDP - will the 2EUR handling fee apply or is this strictly for the postal shipments?
The 2EUR handling fee will apply for every import when it is applicable. This is regardless of postal or commercial shipping.
Q: With IOSS, is VAT applied before Duties and Tax?
With IOSS, VAT is applied before the duty and admin charge, so you do not pay VAT on the duties and tax charges.
Q: Is IOSS Mandatory?
IOSS it is not mandatory, but may be requested by your delivery courier if shipping DDP.
Q: Do we need our own IOSS code for packages over 150 in order to send DDP, or how does that work?
For order values over 150 EUR there is no IOSS.
Q: Are product ID's mandatory for EU to EU shipments even though the origin of the product is coming from outside of the EU?
No, Product Identifiers are not currently required for EU to EU shipments regardless of origin at the moment.
Q: How can the state's customs organisation validate/verify the PID?
It depends per member state / landing country how they will verify the information.
Q: Does this just apply for goods going into the EU from Outside the EU?
It only applies to goods being imported into the EU. Goods within the EU are not included.
Q: How can I solve the double VAT paid on my shipments being delivered into the EU?
This is likely to be a postal issue shipping DDU as postal operators are unable to confirm if VAT has already been paid. This has not been an issue we've seen for commercial shipments. Shipping DDP would resolve this.
Q: Is there a way to solve double duty & taxes paid on shipments being returned back to EU from a NON EU country?
We are also experiencing this issue with our customers. If you use one partner (like Asendia) for shipping and returns it’s easier to manage this process as then there is clear data on export customs. But if you use postal or a different courier for returns, there can be double-duties and taxes on returns.
Q: Does this cover all items, or are magazine subscriptions included [if a large letter size]?
Officially, we believe so, but in practice, we don't know yet. It's unclear if some or all EU countries will indeed treat magazines with a selling / subscription price as ordinary merchandise. When the new regulations were introduced in the EU in July 2021, only Hungary made a real difficulties with magazines.
Q: What about b2c non-sale / gifts?
This no longer exists. All items are treated and handled the same way. But it's an evolving situation and updates may come later this year.
Q: Once the data hub in EU is in place, will the 3 euros be done away with? Could this mean some products may even be cheaper to send because some products have little or no duties in Europe from other countries.
The 3 EUR duty will go away the day the data hub is introduced (1st July 2028). We will then see the normal CCTS (Common Customs Tariff Specification) take place which should be more simplified.
Q: Do you expect overseas warehouses to become more common as customs rules tighten?
Yes, we are already seeing this trend growing and more 3PL and fulfilment suppliers appearing. But there is a lot to consider when you do this around costs and managing inventory. Established brands are more likely be doing this.
Q: With the EU customs changes, is there duty-draw back if someone returns an item?
No, the 3EUR EU duties fee is non-refundable. So this is why DDP is really effective to ensure that your return/decline rate is reduced.
FTA / MFN Specific:
Q: Will the India–EU FTA eliminate the new €3 customs handling fee or EU VAT for eCommerce sellers.
It depends on the customs declaration the import channel will use. So if the declaration is using standard VAT regime H1 declaration, then preferential rates FTA still apply - However, you need most stronger evidence to prove country of origin.
With H7 however, you have a flat fee. So it doesn't matter if you have preferential rates and you can prove the origin for goods coming from the country with which you have an FTA.
This process is becoming increasingly difficult, and proof or origin will become a major part of using a FTA. Enquiries since 1st July have already shown this.
Q: It seems like there's a tightening of free trade across the board, what do you think is driving that?
Instead of a tightening, we would say that there seems to be a more stricter understanding of how a FTA should be used between what has been signed and agreed. Many countries are trying to establish new bilateral FTA agreements and more countries will likely do this going forward.
Q: For Postal Shipping Flows into USA , is there a MFN waiver or is it applicable?
If you can apply a FTA, this could make the MFN 0%. However be aware that you must have clear product descriptions, especially in regards to country of origin (where the product was manufactured).
Q: We are a UK retailer. If we start including the country of origin on our commercial invoices, can we get a customs duty waiver for products made in the UK or the EU under the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement?
We do have customers in a similar situation who are using a FTA successfully, but this is all about your set-up ensuring everything is done to be fully compliant. Stating the manufactured origin is not enough to qualify.
DDP (Duty Pre-Paid) Specific:
Q: As a consequence, should we prioritize DDP over postal DDU?
If you would like a simplified and transparent duties process, then we strongly recommend DDP for a better customer experience. However, if postal DDU is still something you wish to have, Asendia does have a unique solution called ADP where the customs payment request to the shopper is triggered at origin. This removes the 'doorstep surprise' for shoppers and reduces refused deliveries within Europe.
Q: What are the charges for DDP arrangement from Asendia?
Q: When will Asendia be ready with a full solution for easy sending with all pre-paid ship to the EU?
We are ready! Contact our local team and we can discuss how to cover pre-paid to Europe.
Q: Postal networks are also imposing their own fee for processing the 3 Euro fee. How can I manage this?
The DAP administration fees charged by the origin and destination postal operators are partly driven by the cost of collecting the €3 fee from the buyer. The destination postal operator may also bear the risk of having already paid or advanced the fee if the buyer refuses the parcel at the point of delivery.
This is why we believe a commercial DDP solution will be more cost-effective in the longer term. By collecting the duties and fees upfront, the administration cost should be only a fraction of the cost under the postal DAP model, while also reducing the risk of failed delivery or buyer refusal.
Q: How can ddp be applied at platforms like Amazon, eBay, etc - where dual pricing is not possible - showing one price to a customer in Germany - where that tax is incl & thus paid by shipper & another price shown to customer in say, South Korea?
DDP does not necessarily require the seller to display a completely different product price. The additional cost could potentially be collected by the marketplace at checkout, included as a destination-specific shipping or import charge, or deducted from the seller’s proceeds. This is similar to how marketplaces currently collect and remit VAT for certain EU orders under the IOSS and deemed-supplier rules.
For the new €3 fee, the key issue is whether platforms will build the capability to calculate and collect it at checkout. However, this depends on platforms such as Amazon and eBay supporting the collection process. Until then, the €3 fee could be collected by Asendia in the country of origin from the EU buyer before the parcel is shipped via our Asendia Duty PrePaid Option
Q: How can I keep landed costs accurate when customs rates are changing frequently?
By using technology solutions such as SendNow by Asendia or DDP delivery, these updates are automatically included and customs will remain accurate.
SendNow by Asendia Specific = Small volume shippers:
Q: Can an e-tailer link SendNow into their order processing system?
Yes, for low international volume individual or marketplace sellers, SendNow by Asendia is set up to make customs easy and part of your order process. HS codes are easily identified and customs are calculated based on your shipping country. DDP is offered in all key markets to allow customs pre-payment. DDU is also available.
Q: How can I connect SendNow if I have an Etsy store?
There is a really easy integration with only 2 steps which allows you to connect you store and then use all the technology benefits of SendNow for your customs and delivery process.
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