Customs & taxes on forwarded parcels — country by country (2026)
The short answer: parcels forwarded within the European Union never face customs; for non-EU destinations (UK, Switzerland, Norway, US, Dubai) shipments go through customs clearance, the recipient pays any duty and import VAT — and the carrier always handles the paperwork. Here are the 2026 rules by destination.
Updated: 2026-07-19 · This overview is informational and not customs or tax advice.
Customs rules by destination
🇪🇺 European Union — no customs at all
Thanks to the EU customs union, parcels forwarded from Hungary to any EU member state face no customs clearance, duties or import VAT — the shipment arrives like a domestic one. This applies from Germany to Romania and Spain, with no value threshold.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Since Brexit, shipments to the UK go through customs. Import VAT (typically 20%) applies to most goods; customs duty generally only above £135. Gifts sent between private individuals under £39 are VAT-exempt. The carrier handles the paperwork and notifies the recipient of any charges.
Prices & delivery times →🇨🇭 Switzerland
Switzerland abolished industrial tariffs in 2024, so for most products only Swiss VAT matters: 8.1% standard, 2.6% reduced (food, books). If the calculated VAT is below CHF 5, the shipment is tax-free — often the case for low-value parcels. The carrier handles clearance.
Prices & delivery times →🇳🇴 Norway
Norway is not part of the EU customs union. Norwegian VAT (typically 25%) is collected by the carrier before delivery, and the carrier handles the customs paperwork. The recipient is notified of any charges.
Prices & delivery times →🇺🇸 United States
The US ended its $800 de-minimis exemption in August 2025, so duties now apply to low-value parcels too. The rate depends on the product type and its country of origin. The carrier handles clearance and notifies the recipient about charges.
Prices & delivery times →🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates (Dubai)
Personal parcels below AED 300 (about USD 80) are duty-free; above that a 5% duty typically applies. The carrier handles the customs process.
Prices & delivery times →Four rules that keep your parcel moving
Declare the real value
Every shipment gets a customs declaration with its contents and value. Always declare the real value — under-declared parcels can be held by customs and fined.
Keep the invoice
Your webshop order invoice proves the parcel’s value. Carriers may ask for it during clearance — having it ready speeds things up.
Prohibited contents
We cannot forward excise goods (alcohol, tobacco), dangerous goods or anything illegal — these would be stopped at customs anyway. The full list is in our Terms.
Check food rules
Within the EU, food ships freely. Outside the EU (UK, US), meat and dairy products are typically prohibited or permit-bound — sweets, spices and shelf-stable products are usually fine.
Customs FAQ
Do I pay customs on parcels forwarded within the EU? +
No. Within the EU customs union there is no customs clearance, duty or import VAT between member states, regardless of value. A parcel forwarded from Hungary to Germany, Austria, Romania or any other member state arrives like a domestic shipment.
Who pays customs charges and import VAT? +
Always the recipient. The carrier handles clearance: it calculates the duty and VAT, notifies the recipient, and delivers once paid. Most carriers also charge a small handling fee for the customs processing.
How are customs charges calculated? +
The base is the declared value of the goods (in some countries plus shipping cost). Customs duty is applied by product category, and the destination country’s VAT is then charged on the duty-inclusive value.
Are gifts treated differently? +
Several countries have friendlier gift rules: in the UK, gifts sent between private individuals under £39 are VAT-exempt. The parcel must be declared as a gift. Commercial orders from webshops follow the normal rules.
What happens if the recipient doesn’t pay the charges? +
The carrier won’t deliver; after a deadline the shipment is returned to the sender or destroyed, and return shipping may be charged. It’s worth estimating the expected duty and VAT for the destination before forwarding.
The carrier handles customs — you just shop
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