Delivery Firms Added Fees for EU Customs Clearance
New customs regulations effective July 1, 2026, prompted shipping companies to pass processing costs to customers.
Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in International Trade
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Following the implementation of new EU-wide customs charges on July 1, 2026, major delivery companies began charging customers administrative fees to process customs payments. These fees apply when sellers fail to collect necessary taxes at the time of online checkout for imported goods.
Why it matters
Shipping firms charge these administrative costs because they pay customs duties upfront to keep packages moving through their networks. Many small non-EU retailers currently lack the technology to collect these specific customs charges at the moment of purchase.
Customs processing fees include a €6.95 charge by An Post, while DHL applies a €5 fee for smaller customs charges and a €14.50 fee when duties and VAT exceed €20. One FedEx customer reported a specific disbursement fee of €18.45 for package clearance.
The players
FedEx
FedEx is a global courier delivery services company that handles international logistics and customs clearance for shippers.
DHL
DHL is a division of the German logistics company Deutsche Post that provides international express mail services.
An Post
An Post is the state-owned provider of postal services in Ireland.
The details
Delivery companies perform customs clearance services by paying authorities on behalf of the recipient to expedite shipment arrival. Customers are then billed for these processing costs, which vary based on the carrier and the total value of the duties owed on imported items.
Timeline
New EU-wide customs charges took effect on 1 July 2026.
Market Landscape
The introduction of these administrative fees highlights a shift in international parcel logistics as carriers reconcile internal costs with new regulatory requirements. This trend illustrates the growing burden on carriers to manage tax compliance for small-scale imports that bypass traditional retail collection points.
Shoppers should anticipate additional service fees on top of standard shipping costs when ordering from non-EU retailers. It is important to check if a seller collects customs charges at checkout to avoid paying these variable administrative disbursement fees upon arrival.
The takeaway
Consumers can mitigate these costs by verifying whether a merchant collects all import duties at the point of sale. Failing to confirm this detail often results in unexpected surcharges levied by the courier during the final stage of delivery.
Further reading
Learn more about regulations governing cross-border movement in the International Trade section.
More information
Review the full CCPC guidance on customs charges for details on current import requirements.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TheJournal.
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