Online shoppers face new fee on purchases from abroad from November 1st

The Union Handling Fee will apply to each item purchased online from outside the EU and delivered to Ireland, regardless of its value.

The charge comes on top of the €3 customs duty per item introduced in July, meaning shoppers could face €5 in charges per distinct item, plus any applicable VAT.

The new fee is being brought in to cover the increased costs faced by customs authorities due to the rapid growth of online shopping.

While the seller or delivery company will be responsible for paying the fee, retailers may pass the cost on to customers at checkout. 

If it has not been collected when an order is placed, shoppers could be asked to pay it before their parcel is delivered.

Revenue has warned that shoppers should check where their purchases are being shipped from, as a website using a .ie address or displaying prices in euro does not necessarily mean the goods are coming from Ireland or the EU.

The charges won’t apply to goods shipped from Ireland, Northern Ireland or another EU member state.

Shoppers should also be aware that the new €2 handling fee is non-refundable, even if an item is returned or found to be faulty.