EU Orders: New Import Charges from 1 July 2026
We are pleased to continue offering delivery from Sonic Sam to customers across the European Union. However, customers should be aware of changes to EU import rules that came into effect on 1 July 2026.
These rules apply to goods sent from Great Britain to EU countries and may result in additional VAT, customs duty and handling charges before your order is delivered.
How VAT is collected on EU orders
For orders placed directly through the Sonic Sam website, EU import VAT is not included in the price paid at checkout.
The appropriate VAT will normally be calculated at the rate used in the destination country. It may then be collected by the local customs authority, postal service or delivery provider before the parcel is delivered.
EU VAT already applies to goods imported from outside the EU, including goods sent from Great Britain. (Royal Mail Shop)
New €3 customs duty
From 1 July 2026, the EU introduced a temporary €3 customs duty for business-to-consumer orders valued at €150 or less.
This charge also applies to low-value orders where VAT has already been collected through the Import One-Stop Shop, commonly known as IOSS. The temporary arrangement is expected to remain in place until 1 July 2028. (Taxation and Customs Union)
Is the €3 charge applied to every product?
The €3 duty is applied per customs declaration line or product tariff classification, rather than simply per physical product.
For example:
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Five products sharing the same customs classification would generally attract one €3 duty.
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A parcel containing products under two different classifications could attract a €6 duty.
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Additional product classifications within the same parcel could result in further €3 charges.
The final calculation will be made using the customs information and HS codes declared for the products in the parcel. (Taxation and Customs Union)
Additional handling charges
The local postal service or delivery company may also charge a customs handling or administration fee for processing the parcel.
These fees are separate from VAT and the new €3 customs duty. They can vary depending on the destination country and the delivery provider. Royal Mail advises that customers receiving Delivered Duties Unpaid parcels may have to pay import VAT, customs duty and a local handling fee before delivery. (Royal Mail)
Some EU countries may also introduce their own local parcel or administration charges. A separate EU-wide handling fee has been discussed, but this is not the same as the €3 customs duty and its final arrangements remain subject to confirmation. (Taxation and Customs Union)
Orders valued above €150
Orders valued above €150 are not covered by the temporary €3 low-value duty arrangement.
Instead, normal customs duty rules may apply based on the type of products, their value and their country of origin. Import VAT and handling fees may also be charged. (Royal Mail Shop)
Does the gift exemption apply?
Genuine gifts sent from one private individual to another may remain exempt from duty where the total parcel value is €45 or less.
However, purchases from Sonic Sam are commercial business-to-consumer orders and cannot legally be declared as gifts. The €45 gift exemption therefore does not apply to orders placed through our website. (Royal Mail)
What EU customers should expect
When ordering from Sonic Sam, please allow for the possibility of paying:
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VAT at your country’s applicable rate
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The temporary €3 customs duty per applicable product classification
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A handling or customs administration fee from your local delivery provider
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Any additional country-specific import charges
These charges are set and collected by the relevant EU authorities or delivery providers. They are not controlled by Sonic Sam and are not included in the amount paid through our website.
Your local delivery provider will normally contact you if payment is required before your parcel can be delivered.
Thanks for your understanding and continued support.
Cheers,
Sources
Royal Mail: EU VAT and IOSS guidance (Royal Mail Shop)