Italy to Add National Parcel Tax on Top of EU Fee for Low-Value Imports

Italy will impose its proposed €2 tax on low-value imported parcels in addition to the European Union's €3 customs charge, increasing the total cost of qualifying shipments entering the country from outside the bloc.

Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti told parliament on Wednesday that the national levy will complement, rather than replace, the EU-wide measure aimed at curbing the surge in low-cost imports from overseas.

Rome plans to begin applying the €2 tax in October to parcels with a commercial value of up to €150. The charge will come on top of the €3 customs fee introduced by the European Union on low-value shipments arriving from non-EU countries.

"This tax will be added to the duties imposed under the European Union regulation," Giorgetti said.

The move comes as European policymakers intensify efforts to address the rapid growth of low-value e-commerce shipments, particularly from Chinese online retailers such as Shein and Temu, which have benefited for years from customs exemptions on goods valued below €150.

The European Commission first proposed a handling fee for such parcels in 2025 as part of a broader overhaul of the bloc's customs framework.

According to EU data, customs authorities processed approximately 4.6 billion low-value parcels in 2024, with 91% originating from China, fueling concerns over unfair competition, product safety standards, and the growing administrative burden on customs agencies.

The European Union began enforcing its €3 customs charge on qualifying low-value imports in July 2026 as part of its strategy to curb the influx of inexpensive overseas goods and strengthen the competitiveness of European retailers.

Italy has now confirmed that its domestic €2 parcel tax will be applied in addition to the EU levy, meaning eligible shipments entering Italy will face a combined €5 in import-related charges before any applicable taxes or duties.

The measure reflects a broader European push to tighten oversight of cross-border e-commerce while protecting domestic businesses from increasingly intense competition from low-cost international online marketplaces.