In THREE! In the upcoming months, significant legal changes will come into force across the EU that will significantly impact consumers and supply chains. The changes are intended to curb fraud by foreign mail-order companies and end the preferential tax treatment given to merchants based in the EU.
1. the duty-free threshold of EUR 22 is abolished
2. import VAT (19 %) is to be paid by the consumer, so to speak, from the 1 cent onwards
3. import duties additionally apply from a goods value of EUR 150 onwards
4. discontinuation of the verbal customs declaration – there is a written declaration obligation
Due to a lack of preparation and transparency for many merchants, massive cost disadvantages can arise for consumers in the destination country. They then have to reckon with increased handling costs for all carriers and delays in delivery times.
Curiously, more needs to be reported in the press about the upcoming changes, or more attention should be paid to the topic. After all, it is estimated that around 100 million consignments with a value of less than EUR 22 are imported annually in Germany alone.
eClear offers an innovative volume-based customs solution to third-country traders across Europe with its full-service product ClearCustoms.
