Pay a Customs Charge

You are paying VAT because it is a tax applied to the importation of goods from a third country into the EU. Irish Revenue apply this tax to ensure that imported goods are treated the same as those sold within the EU.  Imported goods are liable to VAT at the same rate as applies to similar goods sold within the State. For example, goods which are zero-rated on sale within the State are zero-rated at importation. The VAT must be paid to An Post before the item is delivered to you. 

In some cases,your items may be reviewed and revalued after they have arrived in Ireland. Where this happens, the customs declaration may be updated and the charges recalculated. 

This can result in an additional amount to be paid before delivery.

If this happens, An Post will contact you with any additional charges to be paid.
 

EU rules state that if you buy or receive anything from outside the EU (including Britain), duties and taxes must be paid before we can deliver your item. From 1 July 2026, new EU customs rules apply. Under these rules, a minimum import duty of €3 is charged on each line item in your delivery. You may have already paid VAT at checkout through the retailer. However, this import duty is a separate charge and must be paid before delivery.

The €3 charge can apply to each type of item in your parcel.
For example:

• A parcel containing t-shirts and sunglasses may have a charge for each item type
• Multiple t-shirts would usually count as the same type

• An Post will never send a message containing any links when contacting you about the payment of customs charges. 

• Also, within a few days of receiving an An Post customs SMS or email you will receive an official An Post postcard detailing your customs charges (a customs charge notification card to which specific Terms & Conditions apply). 

• You can pay above. You will need your track & trace number and reference number provided in the SMS/email/ or by bringing your reference details to any post office. 

• If you are ever in doubt about scam messages we have further information on our security page to help you identify legitimate and scam messages. 

You may reject the item via the online payment channel, or at a Post Office (you will need your Customs Reference number - detailed on the Postcard/SMS/Email). The item will be returned to the sender if unpaid.

• If you buy goods from outside the EU  you may have to pay customs charges (Customs Duty, Excise Duty, VAT) to Irish Revenue. 

• An Post collect these customs charges from you and pay them to Irish Revenue on your behalf. 

• It is mandatory for An Post to collect customs charges, An Post cannot deliver your items until these charges have been paid. 

• A team of Irish Revenue’s customs officials are based at An Post’s Mail Centre and oversee the customs clearance of imported goods.    

• Compliant electronic customs data must be supplied for all incoming non-EU items by the sender. Many smaller, more specialist British retailers are simply not aware of these requirements and/or have not put in place the necessary online shopping systems for selling to Ireland, leading to Customs delays or returns when these parcels arrive in Ireland. Please hold tight, while we work to address this and ongoing queries.

• An Post collect the customs charges on your behalf that are charged by Revenue on items delivered to Ireland from non-EU countries. In order for your parcel to be processed and delivered, these charges must be paid.
• If customs duty or VAT is due on the item, where possible, we will contact you by post, text or email. You can then pay the customs fee above or at your local Post Office. We will deliver your item as soon as possible after payment has been received.
• If there is no customs duty or VAT due on the item, then the item will be delivered as normal.

• If your item has been returned to sender or you are awaiting an update on your item, it is likely that the electronic customs declaration made by the retailer/sender for your item may have been insufficient or invalid according to Customs regulations. An Post cannot amend customs declaration so items with incomplete data must be returned. 
• The goods within your parcel may be in a category of goods treated as prohibited or restricted by Irish Revenue.  
• For non restricted/prohibited items, you will need to refer to the sender and request that they submit a customs declaration with full details when resending your item. Our TARIC code finder helps retailers understand the required information needed. 
• Your item will be returned to the sender if the customs charge was not paid by the “pay by date".