If you sell physical products from outside the European Union to customers in the EU, new customs rules may affect your orders. From July 2026, changes to the way low value shipments are handled can result in additional costs when goods enter the EU.
Here is an overview of what the changes mean and how you can account for import costs in your Jimdo Creator store.
What has changed?
From 1 July 2026, the previous customs duty exemption for parcels worth up to €150 was removed. A temporary customs duty of €3 was introduced for low value consignments of goods worth up to €150 that are shipped to consumers in the EU.
This temporary measure is currently expected to apply until 1 July 2028.
Important: The exact rules and applicable charges can depend on the goods, their classification and the destination country. Always check the latest official EU customs information before making changes to your store.
Who is affected?
The change is particularly relevant if your business is based outside the EU and you sell physical products to customers located within the EU.
For example, if your business is based in Switzerland, the United Kingdom or the United States, the new rules may apply whenever you ship an order to an EU country.
If you only sell digital products or services that do not require physical shipping, these customs duties do not apply to those products.
How is the €3 customs duty calculated?
The €3 customs duty is based on the tariff classification of the items in a shipment rather than simply being charged once for every parcel.
For example, if a shipment contains several identical T shirts that all have the same tariff classification, they may count as one category. If the same shipment contains a T shirt and a watch with different tariff classifications, they may be treated as two categories.
This means the customs duty for an individual shipment can be higher than €3.
Who pays the customs duty?
Who is responsible for paying the customs duty depends on how the shipment and customs declaration are handled. In many cases, the declarant, seller or importer is responsible for the charge. In other situations, the customer may be asked to pay import charges when the parcel arrives.
As a seller, you should decide how you want to account for these additional costs and clearly communicate this to your customers.
Can costs vary between EU countries?
Yes. Although the customs duty is based on EU rules, the final cost associated with importing an order can vary depending on the destination.
Individual EU countries may apply additional handling or administration fees. VAT rates also differ between countries.
For this reason, it is important to check the requirements for the countries you ship to instead of assuming that every EU destination will result in exactly the same costs.
How can I handle the additional cost?
There are several ways you can approach import costs in your online store.
You can include the expected cost in the amount your customer pays when placing an order. Alternatively, you can ship the order without collecting the customs charge yourself and the customer may have to pay applicable charges when the parcel is delivered. You can also choose to absorb the additional cost as part of your business expenses.
If you want to include the expected import cost at checkout, you can use your Creator store's shipping settings.
Does Jimdo collect customs duties for me?
No. Jimdo does not calculate, collect or remit customs duties on your behalf.
As the store owner, you are responsible for deciding how you handle potential import costs and for configuring your shipping prices accordingly.
How to include import costs in your Creator shipping prices
Since import costs can vary depending on the destination country, you can create separate shipping costs for individual countries in your Creator store.
To create new shipping costs, go to Store > Settings > Shipping costs:
- Click Add shipping destination.
- Choose an individual country.
- Enter your shipping costs, including the additional amount you want to charge to cover the expected import costs. If applicable, you can also choose from the additional shipping options.
- Click Save.
- Repeat these steps for each country where you want to set a different amount.
For example, if your regular shipping cost is €10 and you want to account for an additional €3 import charge, you could set the shipping cost for that country to €13.
You can also create shipping costs for an entire region. In this case, the same shipping costs will apply to every country within that region. Since import related costs may vary between EU countries, we recommend creating individual shipping destinations if you want to account for different costs.
Keep in mind that Creator does not display the additional amount as a separate import fee at checkout. Instead, it is included in the shipping cost. Make sure your customers understand what the shipping amount includes by providing clear information in your store.
What about VAT?
Customs duties and VAT are separate charges. Depending on the destination and the circumstances of the sale, VAT may also apply.
Make sure that any additional costs you charge are communicated transparently to your customers and comply with the requirements that apply to the countries where you sell your products.
If you are unsure about your obligations, consult the official guidance provided by the European Commission or seek professional tax or legal advice.
What if I do not want to include the fee at checkout?
You do not have to include the expected customs cost in your Creator shipping prices.
Depending on how your shipments are handled, you may choose to let customers pay applicable customs charges when their order is delivered. You can also absorb the cost yourself.
Whichever approach you choose, clearly explain it to your customers. Your shipping information, product descriptions or store policies are good places to let buyers know whether additional import charges may apply.
Where can I find more information?
Customs regulations can change, and individual circumstances may be treated differently. For the latest and authoritative information, refer to the European Commission's Taxation and Customs Union guidance and official announcements from the Council of the European Union.
The information in this article provides a general overview and does not constitute legal or tax advice.