The EU's New €3 Customs Duty on Packages From the USA — What Changed in July 2026

If you have spent any time on Hungarian Reddit this month, you have probably seen the threads about the new EU parcel duty — usually framed as a Temu or Shein problem. It is bigger than that. As of July 1, 2026, the European Union removed its long-standing €150 duty-free threshold for parcels arriving from outside the EU. That change applies to every low-value shipment entering the bloc, regardless of which store, platform, or freight service it came through — including personal packages and online purchases forwarded from the United States.

What actually changed on July 1, 2026

Until June 30, 2026, parcels valued under €150 entered the EU without customs duty — only VAT applied above certain thresholds. Under Council Regulation (EU) 2026/382, that exemption is gone. A temporary flat customs duty of €3 now applies to low-value consignments, in addition to VAT.

How the €3 duty is actually calculated

This is the detail most coverage skips. The €3 is not a flat fee per parcel — it applies per item, based on its customs classification (HS code) within the parcel. A box containing three different types of products, each with a different HS code, is charged 3 × €3 = €9 in duty, not a single €3 charge.

Does this apply to my personal package, or just Temu and Shein orders?

It applies to your package too. The rule targets low-value consignments from outside the EU as a category — it does not matter whether the parcel came from a mass e-commerce platform or was collected, packed, and forwarded by a freight service on your behalf. If you buy from a US store and have items shipped or forwarded to Hungary, the same €150 threshold removal and €3-per-item duty apply.

What this means in practice

For most personal shipments — auto parts, electronics, clothing, outdoor gear — the added cost is modest: a few euros per shipment, not a percentage of value. It does not change the basic economics of forwarding US purchases to Hungary, but it is a real, additive line item that was not there a few weeks ago, and it is worth factoring into your budget for the shipment.

Frequently asked questions

Does the €3 apply per parcel or per item?

Per item, based on customs classification (HS code). A parcel with multiple product types can be charged multiple times.

Is the €3 duty permanent?

No — it is explicitly a temporary flat rate, in effect from July 1, 2026 until July 1, 2028. After that, low-value parcels are expected to be assessed at standard product-specific customs tariffs, once the EU's new customs data systems are operational.

Can I avoid the duty by declaring a lower value?

No, and we would not do that even if asked. Under-declaring value is customs fraud and risks far larger consequences — fines, seizure, and delays — than the €3 duty itself. We always declare accurate value and item details.