Import duty to apply to low-value parcels ordered from third countries from July. How to pay the duty and avoid scams?
From 1 July, a €3 import duty introduced by the European Commission will apply to all low-value parcels ordered directly from third countries.
Low-value parcels are shipments with a value of up to €150. Parcels worth more than €150 have already been subject to customs duties, with the amount depending on the goods.
The new import duty is €3 per product category. “This means that if you order three pairs of trousers, the import duty will be €3. However, if you order trousers, a grass trimmer and a soup ladle, the import duty will be €9, as these items fall into three different product categories,” explained Sven Kukemelk, Chief Commercial Officer at Omniva.
The import duty only applies to goods purchased directly from third countries. If an online store is based outside the European Union but ships goods from a warehouse located within the EU or via an EU intermediary, the goods have already been customs-cleared and no additional import duty will apply. The import duty does not apply to gifts sent from one private individual to another.
Which countries does the new import duty apply to?
Third countries are all countries that are not members of the European Union. The new import duty therefore applies to goods ordered from countries such as China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway and Switzerland.
How is the import duty paid?
For larger e-commerce platforms, customers pay the import duty directly to the online store when placing their order and do not need to take any further action.
For smaller online stores that do not have agreements with courier companies for customs clearance and delivery, goods are shipped through the international postal network. In these cases, no import duty is charged when placing the order. Once the shipment arrives in Estonia, the customer will receive a notification from Omniva that the parcel requires customs declaration. Customers can then authorise Omniva to complete the customs declaration via the Omniva mobile app or minu.omniva.ee and pay the import duty to Omniva.
Will I see the import duty as a separate line at checkout or as part of the product price?
The seller or online store may decide how to present the charge. The import duty may be shown as a separate line at checkout or included in the product price.
What happens if I placed my order before 1 July and the online store did not charge me import duty, but the shipment arrives in Estonia after 1 July, when the import duty requirement is already in effect?
For larger e-commerce platforms, the platform pays the import duty. Therefore, if you were not charged import duty at checkout before 1 July, you will not have to pay it when the goods arrive after 1 July.
For smaller online stores that do not have agreements with courier companies for customs clearance and delivery, and whose goods are shipped through the international postal network, customers will receive a notification for parcels arriving on or after 1 July informing them that they must declare the shipment and pay the import duty, even if the order was placed before 1 July.
Will the new import duty increase delivery times for shipments from third countries?
Only if the shipment is sent by post and the customer fails to complete the customs declaration information on time or in full, or fails to make the required payment, causing the shipment to remain pending customs declaration.
Will the import duty be refunded if I decide to return the goods?
If the online store allows returns and refunds, the import duty will not be refunded.
How to avoid scams?
The introduction of the new import duty may lead to an increase in scams where fraudsters misuse the names of the Tax and Customs Board or delivery companies to obtain money. To protect yourself from scams:
If you already paid the import duty at checkout, you do not need to pay it again in Estonia.
If you receive a notification that your parcel requires customs declaration, go directly to Omniva’s official self-service via the Omniva mobile app or at minu.omniva.ee, log in and complete all required actions in the secure environment.
Do not click on links that direct you to unfamiliar websites or make payments on unfamiliar websites.
Omniva will never ask you by phone to declare a parcel or pay an import duty. Never enter your PIN codes in response to requests made during a phone call.