# Shein, Temu, AliExpress: Why Your Small Parcels Cost More Since 1 July

> EU €3-per-category customs duty on small non-EU parcels (Shein, Temu, AliExpress) since 1 July 2026: how it's calculated, who pays, the end of the €150 exemption, and the impact on your budget.

*Updated 2026-07-05*

## In short

- Since 1 July 2026, the EU applies a flat €3-per-product-category customs duty on parcels under €150 arriving from outside the EU (Shein, Temu, AliExpress…): the exemption that spared them is gone.
- The duty is owed by the platform, not by you at customs — but it will likely be passed on to prices. In France, it replaces (rather than stacks on) the €2 national tax of 1 March 2026.
- The real lesson: think in total cost (price + shipping + duty + VAT). A small parcel's bill can jump by €3, €6 or €9 depending on how many product categories it holds.

You may have noticed an odd extra line when paying for your Shein, Temu or AliExpress order. Since **1 July 2026**, the European Union applies a **flat customs duty of €3 per product category** on small parcels arriving from outside the EU[\[1\]](#source-1). Behind those few euros hides a genuine money lesson: learning to work out the _total cost_ of an online purchase. We unpack all of it, with no prior knowledge needed.

## First, what changes on 1 July?

### The old rule: the "exemption" for parcels under €150

Until 30 June 2026, a parcel coming from outside the EU worth **€150 or less** entered **without paying any customs duty**. This exemption, called the **"de minimis" relief**, had existed since 2009[\[5\]](#source-5). Watch out for a common trap: it only concerned _customs duties_. **Import VAT** has already applied to these parcels since July 2021 (the small €22 VAT exemption disappeared then)[\[5\]](#source-5).

### What changes: €3 per product category

Since 1 July 2026, this customs-duty exemption is gone. In its place, a **flat €3 duty** applies — not per parcel, nor per item, but **per product category** (in the sense of customs classification, the "nomenclature")[\[1\]](#source-1)[\[2\]](#source-2). In practice:

| Your parcel contains…       | Number of categories | Customs duty         |
| --------------------------- | -------------------- | -------------------- |
| 5 identical T-shirts        | 1                    | €3[\[2\]](#source-2) |
| 1 T-shirt + 1 pair of shoes | 2                    | €6[\[2\]](#source-2) |
| 1 toy + 1 coat + 1 perfume  | 3                    | €9[\[2\]](#source-2) |

The €150 threshold remains the limit: above it, the classic customs duties, calculated product by product, apply — as before[\[2\]](#source-2).

## "Customs duty", "tax", "VAT": don't mix them up

The media often talk about a "Shein tax", but the exact word matters, because these three things are not the same:

* A **customs duty** is an amount charged when goods _enter_ the EU's customs territory. That's exactly this new €3-per-category flat duty.
* **Import VAT** is a consumption tax (20% in France) calculated on the value of the product. It already applied to your parcels, and doesn't change here.
* A national **tax** is created by a specific country — as France had done (more on that below).

So the new European charge is, legally, a **customs duty** owed by the company, not a new "tax" you would pay yourself to the postal worker.

## Who really pays these €3?

On paper, not you. The duty is owed by the **online platform** (Shein, Temu, AliExpress…), treated as the "importer". You don't pay anything directly to customs when you receive your parcel[\[1\]](#source-1)[\[7\]](#source-7). In practice, though, a business hit with a new cost tends to **pass it on** through its prices — via the item price or delivery fees. The official texts don't _guarantee_ this pass-through: they only state that the consumer doesn't pay customs at the border. But it is the spirit of the reform, and it's what explains that extra line at checkout.

## And what about France's €2 tax?

A quick reminder: France had launched its **own €2-per-category tax** on 1 March 2026, on parcels under €150 from third countries[\[3\]](#source-3). Good news: it **does not add up** with the European duty. France **suspends** its national tax on 1 July 2026, and the €3 European customs duty **replaces** it[\[2\]](#source-2). In other words, it's not €2 + €3 = €5: it's €3.

Why did France drop its tax? Because it was widely circumvented. Customs found that about **90% of the targeted volumes** were re-routed through other EU countries, cutting revenue to roughly **€2.3 million a month**, far short of the €400 million a year hoped for[\[3\]](#source-3). The lesson is useful: a rule that stops at one country's border is easy to dodge; a rule across all 27 is much harder to.

## Why Europe is doing this

The number of small parcels has exploded. The European Commission counts about **4.6 billion low-value parcels** (≤ €150) entering the EU in 2024, nearly 12 million a day — roughly double the previous year[\[8\]](#source-8). And up to **65%** of them are thought to be _undervalued_ (a declared value that is too low) to escape duties[\[8\]](#source-8). The stated goal: restore **fairness** with European retailers, who already pay these duties, and close a loophole.

The measure is **transitional**: it runs from 1 July 2026 to 1 July 2028, while the EU sets up its future "Customs Data Hub". After that, the real, product-specific customs duties will take over[\[4\]](#source-4). The legal basis for all this is Regulation (EU) 2026/382, finally adopted on 11 February 2026[\[6\]](#source-6).

## What it actually changes for your budget

Here's the most useful reflex to take away from this whole story: think in terms of **total cost** (or "landed cost"). The real price of an online purchase isn't the sticker price, it's:

**item price + shipping + customs duty + import VAT**

On a €10 basket, a duty of €3, €6 or €9 pushes the bill up by 30 to 90%. A few simple habits so you don't get caught out:

* Look at the **final price** shown at checkout, not the product's headline price.
* Because the duty is counted per category, **grouping items of the same category** in one order limits the number of €3 flat charges.
* Compare with an EU-based seller: once everything is added up, the price gap sometimes disappears entirely.
* Keep an eye on a future European **"handling fee"**, expected by 1 November 2026 at the latest. Its amount is not officially set yet: be wary of the figures already circulating[\[7\]](#source-7).

If you want to turn this reflex into a method, our guide [How to manage your budget when starting out](/en/blog/how-to-manage-your-budget-when-starting-out) helps you see where your money really goes.

## In summary

Since 1 July 2026, small non-EU parcels under €150 are no longer exempt from customs duties: a flat €3 per product category applies. It's owed by the platforms, replaces France's former €2 tax (without stacking on it), and will most likely be passed on to prices. The right reflex isn't to shun Shein or Temu, but to look at the _total cost_ of a purchase rather than its headline price — a skill that will serve you well far beyond small parcels.

_This article is informational and educational. It is not legal or tax advice. The amounts and timeline described — in particular the future European handling fee — may still change; check the official information on the [French Customs website](https://www.douane.gouv.fr/actualites/taxe-sur-les-petits-colis-point-dinformation-sur-sa-mise-en-oeuvre) or on [service-public.fr](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/actualites/A18985) before a significant purchase._

## Key takeaways

- Since 1 July 2026, a parcel under €150 arriving from outside the EU is no longer duty-free: a flat €3 per product category applies.
- It's €3 per category, not per item: 5 identical T-shirts = €3, but a T-shirt + shoes = €6.
- The duty is owed by the platform (Shein, Temu…), not by you at customs — but it will most likely end up in the price.
- In France, this European duty replaces the €2 national tax (launched 1 March 2026 and widely circumvented): the two do not stack.
- The right reflex: look at the total cost (price + shipping + duty + VAT), not the headline sticker price.

## FAQ

### Is it €3 per parcel or per item?

Neither: it's €3 per **product category**. Five identical T-shirts count as a single category, so €3\. But a T-shirt and a pair of shoes form two categories, so €6, and so on[\[2\]](#source-2).

### Do I pay these €3 directly to customs?

No. The duty is owed by the online platform, treated as the importer; you don't pay anything to customs when you receive your parcel[\[1\]](#source-1)[\[7\]](#source-7). In practice, the company will probably pass this cost on through the item price or delivery fees.

### Does France's €2 tax stack on top of the €3 European duty?

No. France suspends its €2 national tax (introduced 1 March 2026) on 1 July 2026, and the €3 European customs duty replaces it[\[2\]](#source-2). So it's not €2 + €3 = €5, but €3 per category.

### Which purchases are affected?

Parcels worth €150 or less shipped to the EU from a non-EU country, directly to a private individual[\[1\]](#source-1). Above €150, the classic customs duties, calculated product by product, apply as before.

### What's the difference between a customs duty, a tax and VAT?

A customs duty is charged when goods enter the EU's territory (that's this new €3 flat duty). Import VAT is a consumption tax (20% in France) on the product's value, which already applied. A national tax is created by a specific country, like France's former €2 tax.

### Will this last?

It's a transitional measure, planned from 1 July 2026 to 1 July 2028, pending the EU's future "Customs Data Hub"[\[4\]](#source-4). A European handling fee is also expected by 1 November 2026 at the latest, but its amount is not officially set yet[\[7\]](#source-7).

## Sources

1. [Entrée en vigueur au 1er juillet des droits de douane sur les petits colis à l'échelle de l'UE](https://presse.economie.gouv.fr/entree-en-vigueur-au-1er-juillet-des-droits-de-douane-sur-les-petits-colis-a-lechelle-de-lue/), Bercy — Ministère de l'Économie
2. [La taxe française sur les petits colis remplacée par un droit de douane européen](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/actualites/A18985), Service-Public.gouv.fr (DILA)
3. [Taxe sur les petits colis : point d'information sur sa mise en œuvre](https://www.douane.gouv.fr/actualites/taxe-sur-les-petits-colis-point-dinformation-sur-sa-mise-en-oeuvre), Douane française (DGDDI)
4. [Guidance and legal text: temporary flat fee on low-value imports (until 1 July 2028)](https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/news/guidance-and-legal-text-temporary-flat-fee-low-value-imports-which-will-apply-until-1-july-2028-2026-06-08_en), European Commission — Taxation & Customs Union
5. [The €150 customs-duty exemption threshold to be removed as of 2026](https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/news/e-commerce-150-eur-customs-duty-exemption-threshold-be-removed-2026-2025-11-13_en), European Commission — Taxation & Customs Union
6. [Council gives final green light to new customs duty rules for small parcels](https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2026/02/11/council-gives-final-green-light-to-new-customs-duty-rules-for-small-parcels/), Council of the EU (Consilium)
7. [Taxe « petits colis » : plus d'équité pour les entreprises et une meilleure protection des consommateurs](https://france.representation.ec.europa.eu/informations-et-evenements/informations/taxe-petits-colis-garantir-davantage-dequite-aux-entreprises-et-mieux-proteger-les-consommateurs-2026-07-01_fr), Commission européenne — Représentation en France
8. [EU ends tax loophole exploited by Shein, Temu and AliExpress](https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/06/30/eu-ends-tax-loophole-exploited-by-shein-temu-and-aliexpress), Euronews