Dear Seller,
Greetings from eBay Global Shipping Team!
Effective 1 November 2026, the European Union (EU) will introduce a new Union Handling Fee (UHF) of EUR 2 per distinct item for goods sold online and imported into the EU from outside the EU.
The fee will apply to business-to-consumer (B2C) distance sales, regardless of the value of the goods, including shipments valued above EUR 150.
What does this mean for sellers?
The new fee may increase the cost of shipping products to EU buyers. To prepare for this change, we recommend that sellers:
- Contact their shipping service provider or the eBay Global Shipping (EGS) team to understand how the fee will apply to their shipments and how it will be collected.
- Review their shipping arrangements and any potential additional costs.
- Consider whether any adjustments to product prices or shipping charges are necessary.
How the fee applies?
- The fee is €2 per distinct item in a package.
- The fee is NOT refundable, even where goods are later found to be faulty.
Few Illustrations:
A package valued at €10 containing a pen, notebook and key ring purchased online and sent from outside the EU contains three different items. Since 1 July 2026, the €3 Customs Duty charge applies to each item, resulting in Customs Duty of €9, plus any applicable VAT. From 1 November 2026, an additional Union Handling Fee of €2 per item will also apply, adding €6. The total charges will therefore be €15, plus any applicable VAT.
If the package instead contained two identical pens, these are considered one item, so this package is liable to a €3 Customs Duty charge plus VAT and from 1 November 2026, an additional €2 Union Handling Fee, so €5 plus any applicable VAT in total.
If the value of a package is greater than €150, then the Customs Duty which applies to the specific goods instead of the €3 Customs Duty charge will be due. For example, a package contains a pair of jeans (€100) and a pair of runners (€150), in this case the jeans will attract Customs Duty of €12 (12%) and the runners €25.35 (16.9%) plus VAT in addition to the €4 Union Handling Fee so €41.35 plus any applicable VAT in total.
For further information, please refer to the official EU customs guidance.
We encourage sellers to review their shipping arrangements in advance to help avoid potential disruptions.
Thank you for being part of the eBay community.
Regards,
eBay Global Shipping Team