Yes, since 1 July 2026, purchases from AliExpress, Shein and Temu pay customs duty when they arrive in the EU, even if they cost less than €150. The European Union has removed the old exemption and now applies a flat €3 customs duty for each type of product in the shipment, plus the usual VAT. On top of that, the European Commission plans a €2 handling fee per item from 1 November 2026. There is no legal way to avoid paying them, but there are ways to pay considerably less: we explain exactly how much you pay and what actually works.
In short
- €3 customs duty: per type of product (tariff classification) in shipments of up to €150, not per unit. Five T-shirts in the same parcel pay €3, not €15.
- VAT: always payable on purchases from outside the EU (since 2021).
- €2 handling fee: planned from 1 November 2026, per item.
- How to pay less: buy what is already stocked in EU warehouses, group products of the same type and consolidate your orders into a single shipment.
- What doesn't work: declaring a lower value or using “tricks” to avoid paying. It is an offence, and customs are getting better and better at detecting it.
What changed in 2026 with AliExpress, Shein and Temu tariffs
| Item | Before July 2026 | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Customs duty | Exempt up to €150 | €3 per type of product in shipments of up to €150 (temporary until 1 July 2028) |
| VAT | Payable from the first euro (since 2021) | Unchanged: always payable |
| Handling fee | Only in some countries | €2 per item across the EU, planned from 1 November 2026 |
| Shipments over €150 | Standard customs duty for each product + VAT | No change: standard customs duty for each product + VAT |
Sources: official European Commission guidance on the €3 customs duty and EU customs reform. From July 2028, with the new EU Customs Data Hub, platforms are expected to act as “importers for distance sales” (the Commission will assess before 1 December 2027 whether the hub will be operational on 1 July 2028).
How much you pay: examples using the official rule
The key is that the €3 duty is charged for each different type of product (tariff classification) within the same shipment, not for each unit or each order. Illustrative examples, always for shipments of up to €150 and excluding VAT and the handling fee:
- 5 T-shirts in one parcel: 1 type of product → €3.
- 3 T-shirts, 1 pair of trainers and 1 phone case in one parcel: 3 types → €9.
- The same 5 T-shirts in 5 orders arriving separately: 5 shipments → €15.
That is why placing lots of small, separate orders is now the most expensive way to shop on AliExpress or Shein. More detail in our guide to the new €3 per product customs duty.
How to pay less in tariffs on AliExpress, Shein and Temu (legally)
- Buy what is already in Europe. Many AliExpress and Shein products are shipped from warehouses in Spain or elsewhere in the EU (on AliExpress, filter by “ships from Spain”). Those goods have already been imported: you pay no customs duty when you receive them and VAT is included in the price.
- Group products of the same type. The fewer different types there are in each shipment, the fewer times you pay the €3.
- Consolidate your orders into a single shipment. With your address at our warehouse in China, we receive all your AliExpress, Shein, Temu or Taobao orders and ship them to you together. You save up to 70% on international shipping. Important: because you arrange the transport from China through a forwarder, it is not a distance sale by the seller and the flat €3 duty does not apply; instead, the standard customs duty for each product (according to its tariff classification) plus VAT applies. Work out which option suits you first with the shipping quote calculator.
- Buy at source prices. On Taobao or 1688, prices are usually lower than on the international versions, and VAT (and the standard customs duty, on shipments you forward yourself) are calculated on a lower value. We explain it in our Singles Day 11.11 guide.
- Declare the real value. With our self-managed proforma you declare the value and description of each product. You avoid holds, inspections and penalties.
What doesn't work (and is best avoided)
- Declaring less than the real value or marking a purchase as a gift: it is a customs offence. With the advance digital data that customs now require, it gets detected and can end in a fine or with your parcel being held.
- Thinking that an intermediary avoids customs duty: anything entering the EU from outside pays customs duty and VAT, whatever route it takes. Anyone who promises otherwise is not telling you the truth. A good parcel forwarder helps you pay less, not pay nothing.
What if you buy from Latin America?
These tariffs are set by the European Union and only affect goods entering the EU. If you live in Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Colombia or Peru and shop on AliExpress or Shein, your own country's rules apply. We summarise them in our Singles Day 2026 guide, with taxes country by country.
Pay less on your purchases from China: one shipment, not ten
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Frequently asked questions about AliExpress and Shein tariffs in 2026
Do AliExpress, Shein and Temu charge tariffs in 2026?
Yes. Since 1 July 2026, the EU has removed the exemption for shipments under €150 and applies a flat €3 customs duty for each type of product in the shipment, in addition to VAT. It is charged even if the purchase is only worth a few euros.
How much is the AliExpress or Shein customs duty?
€3 for each type of product (tariff classification) in each shipment of up to €150. Five units of the same product in one parcel pay €3; three different products pay €9. It is a temporary measure until 1 July 2028.
Do I also have to pay a €2 fee?
The European Commission plans to apply a €2 handling fee per item from 1 November 2026 on online purchases arriving in the EU from outside. It is separate from the customs duty and VAT.
Can AliExpress tariffs be avoided?
Not legally if the product comes from outside the EU. You can, however, pay less: by buying products already stocked in EU warehouses, grouping products of the same type and consolidating your orders into a single shipment.
Does AliExpress go through customs in Spain in 2026?
Yes, shipments arriving from outside the EU go through customs with advance digital data. Those dispatched from warehouses in Spain or elsewhere in the EU do not go through customs because they have already been imported.
Is it still worth buying from AliExpress or Shein in Europe?
Yes, if you shop strategically: fewer separate orders, grouped products and, where possible, shipping from within the EU. Consolidating several orders into a single shipment reduces shipping costs.
