In THREE! In the next few months, significant legal changes will come into force across the EU that will have a major impact on consumers and supply chains. The changes are intended to curb fraud by foreign mail-order companies and put an end to 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 country of destination. They then have to reckon with increased handling costs for all carriers and delays in delivery times.
It is very curious that very little is reported in the press about the upcoming changes, or that hardly any attention is paid to the topic. After all, it is estimated that around 100 million consignments with a value of less than EUR 22 are imported every year in Germany alone.
eClear offers an innovative volume-based customs solution to third country traders across Europe with its full-service product ClearCustoms.
