Ireland's new customs fees spark bank warnings over scam messages

From 1 July 2026 Ireland will apply a €3 charge plus VAT to each individual product valued under €150 that is imported from outside the EU, including the United Kingdom. The fee is assessed per item in a parcel, not per shipment, meaning multiple low‑value items can generate higher total costs.

Bank of Ireland has warned customers that scammers are already exploiting the upcoming change by sending fraudulent SMS or email messages that claim a customs payment is required. The bank advises customers not to click links, to verify any request through official channels, and to avoid sharing card details or authentication codes. It also calls for legislation to introduce an SMS‑scam filter to better protect Irish consumers.