Import Duty and VAT When Buying from China (EU + US Guide, 2026)

Q: What changed on 1 July 2026 in the EU?

The EU removed the 150 euro customs-duty exemption and introduced a temporary flat duty until 2028 on low-value imports, charged per product category on the customs declaration.

Q: Is there still an 800 USD duty-free limit in the US?

No. The 800 USD de minimis exemption ended for China in May 2025 and was suspended for all countries from August 2025, and remains suspended in 2026. Chinese parcels are now dutiable regardless of value.

Q: How much VAT will I pay in the EU?

Your own country's rate, for example 19% in Germany, 20% in France, 23% in Ireland, 25% in Croatia. It is usually already included at checkout.

Last updated: July 2026

Short answer: what you pay to import a parcel from China changed significantly in 2026, and it is different on each side of the Atlantic. In the EU, VAT is charged from the first cent (usually collected at checkout), and from 1 July 2026 a new small customs duty applies to low-value parcels. In the US, the old $800 duty-free allowance ("de minimis") has been suspended, so cheap Chinese parcels are no longer duty-free.

This guide breaks down both, so you know your real landed cost before you order.

EU: what you pay

VAT is always due. The old €22 VAT-free allowance was abolished back in 2021. Every parcel owes your country's VAT from the first cent.
VAT is usually collected at checkout (IOSS). For orders up to €150, marketplaces like AliExpress, Temu and DHgate are registered for the Import One-Stop Shop and charge your country's VAT when you pay, so there is no VAT bill at the door.
New from 1 July 2026: a customs duty on low-value parcels. The EU removed the €150 duty-free threshold and introduced a temporary flat customs duty (until 2028) on top of VAT. It is charged per product type on the declaration — the EU's own example: five identical T-shirts count as one item (one charge), but a T-shirt plus a watch counts as two categories (two charges). Verify the exact amount at checkout, as the mechanism is new.
VAT rates vary by country — for example Germany 19%, France 20%, Ireland 23%, Croatia 25%. The duty is added on top of VAT, not instead of it.
If VAT was not collected at checkout (no IOSS), the courier collects VAT — and usually a handling fee — from you on delivery.

Practical effect for EU shoppers: on a normal order the price you see at checkout is close to your real cost, because VAT is already in it. The 2026 change mainly nudges up the cost of the very cheapest parcels.

US: the big 2026 change

The $800 de minimis is gone. Goods under $800 used to enter the US duty-free. For China and Hong Kong that ended on 2 May 2025, and the exemption was then suspended for all countries from 29 August 2025.
Still suspended in 2026. The suspension was continued for goods entered on or after 24 February 2026. Chinese parcels no longer get a special low-value exemption and are dutiable regardless of value.
What that means: cheap parcels from China that used to arrive with no US charges can now incur duty. The exact current per-parcel rate has moved several times and is set by CBP — check the live figure at checkout or on the carrier's notice, rather than trusting a fixed number quoted second-hand.

Practical effect for US shoppers: budget for added duty on China-origin orders, and prefer sellers who ship from a US warehouse where the goods are already stateside.

How the marketplaces handle it

For EU orders, AliExpress, Temu and DHgate are IOSS-registered and collect VAT at checkout for orders up to €150, with the new 2026 duty added on top. In the US, with de minimis suspended, low-value China parcels now attract duty regardless of value — some platforms add an estimate at checkout, others leave it to the carrier. Choosing an EU or US local-warehouse listing sidesteps most of this friction entirely.

One constant on both sides: no legitimate courier texts you asking for card details to "release" a parcel. Any tax you owe is charged at checkout or by the official carrier through proper channels — a demand by SMS is a scam. Related reading: Is AliExpress legit? Some links on our site are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay customs on parcels from China to the EU?

VAT is always due and usually collected at checkout via IOSS for orders up to €150. From 1 July 2026 a small flat customs duty is also charged on low-value parcels, on top of VAT.

What changed on 1 July 2026 in the EU?

The EU removed the €150 customs-duty exemption and introduced a temporary flat duty (until 2028) on low-value imports, charged per product category on the customs declaration.

Is there still an $800 duty-free limit in the US?

No. The $800 de minimis exemption ended for China in May 2025 and was suspended for all countries from August 2025, and remains suspended in 2026. Chinese parcels are now dutiable regardless of value.

How much VAT will I pay in the EU?

Your own country's rate — for example 19% in Germany, 20% in France, 23% in Ireland, 25% in Croatia. It is usually already included at checkout.

Is a customs-fee text message about my parcel real?

No. Taxes are charged at checkout or by the official carrier, never by a text asking for your card details. Such messages are phishing.