Sending to France or Belgium? Nothing’s changed for you.
You may have seen news about new EU customs charges. Here’s the simple truth: those changes affect commercial sellers, not personal parcel senders. Your gift to a friend in Paris or a parcel to family in Brussels ships exactly as it always has.
What Changed and Who It Affects
What's the news actually about?
From 1 July 2026, the EU introduced a new €3 customs duty on commercial parcels, which businesses send to customers when they sell goods online.
Personal parcels — a birthday gift, a care package, something you’ve made to send to a friend — sit in a different category. The rules for personal gift senders are unchanged.
If you are shipping goods as a business rather than sending a personal gift, learn how our UK to EU DDP shipping solution can simplify customs duties, taxes and delivery for your customers.
Gift Rules Explained
When does your parcel qualify as a gift?
Your parcel is treated as a gift, and is exempt from VAT and customs charges, if:
- It’s sent from one individual to another (person to person, not a business to a customer)
- The total value of goods is under €45
- It’s occasional in nature, not a regular commercial-style flow
A few things to watch:
- Items purchased from an online marketplace like eBay or Amazon don’t qualify as gifts, even if marked as such
- Alcohol, tobacco, perfumes, and fragrances are never exempt from VAT or Excise Duty regardless of value
- If your parcel is over €45, VAT and dutiy applies to the full customs value (goods + shipping)
What to Declare
What do I need to fill in when I send?
When you book with Happy Post we’ll guide you through this, but here’s what you’ll typically need:
- Description of contents (e.g. ‘white cotton jumper’, ‘red silk shirt’)
- Declared value of the goods in £
- Sender and recipient details (name and address)
- Confirmation it’s a personal gift, not a commercial sale
Ready to send?
Get an instant quote for your parcel to Belgium or France. We’ll take care of the customs form, so you just need to pack it well.