Cyprus Customs has issued examples explaining the new customs rules affecting online shopping from countries outside the European Union, following the removal of duty exemptions for low-value shipments below €150.
Under the new measures, a temporary charge of €3 per product category included in each shipment will apply, alongside VAT on the total value of the order.
Examples of the new charges
According to the Customs Department, a package purchased online from Asia containing three different items – such as a shirt, earrings and a keychain – would incur a charge of €3 per item category, resulting in a total customs charge of €9, plus VAT calculated on the overall value including duties.
In another example, a shipment containing a silk blouse and a cotton T-shirt would be treated as two separate product categories. The total duty would therefore amount to €6, with VAT also applied.
However, if a package contains two or more identical items of the same category, such as multiple cotton T-shirts, they are considered a single category. In this case, the customs duty would be €3 plus VAT on the total value.
How consumers will pay
The Customs Department said consumers will either pay the charge during the online shopping checkout process or upon delivery.
Some websites and e-commerce platforms may collect the customs duty directly during payment, clearly displaying the final cost before the purchase is completed. In these cases, consumers will not face additional delivery charges.
Other platforms may not collect the charge in advance. If this happens, postal services or courier companies will request payment of the €3 per category charge before delivering the package.
Returns and refunds policy
The department also clarified that returning a purchased product does not automatically mean a refund of the €3 duty charge.
The duty may only be refunded following Customs approval and a justified request, particularly in cases involving defective products or goods that do not meet the terms of the purchase agreement.
VAT refunds, meanwhile, depend on the policies of individual businesses, as some sellers may issue refunds while others may not.
Advice for consumers
Authorities urge consumers to review the “Terms and Conditions” and “About Us” sections before completing purchases to identify where the company is based and where products are shipped from.
Consumers are also encouraged to verify whether customs duties are included in prices, calculate additional costs beforehand and review return policies carefully.
According to the Customs Department, these steps can help shoppers avoid unexpected charges, delivery delays and unpleasant surprises when making online shopping purchases from non-EU countries.
Also read: New online platform provides information on the Competitive Electricity Market
For more videos and updates, check out our YouTube channel
