Ireland to impose €3 customs fee on low‑value online orders from non‑EU

From 1 July, a new EU-wide rule will require Irish consumers to pay a €3 customs duty on each individual item valued at €150 or less that is purchased online from outside the European Union, including the United Kingdom. The charge applies per distinct item in a parcel – for example, three separate items will incur €9 in duties – and is added to the price at checkout on sites that collect the fee, or is collected by the delivery carrier if the retailer does not. The duty is not refundable on returns unless the goods are faulty, and VAT refunds depend on the seller’s policy. Revenue officials, including Raphael Ryan, head of national customs policy, advise shoppers to check the seller’s terms and the shipping origin before buying to avoid unexpected costs.