Each EU destination post charges its own fee for handling a parcel through customs. This article compares that fee on a parcel worth up to €150, with and without IOSS. IOSS does not apply above €150, so above that value every parcel pays the non-IOSS fee.
The figures show the post's own fee only. The €3 EU customs duty, the €2 EU Union handling fee and VAT are not included.
Countries are grouped by the route Royal Mail offers to each destination. For more on the routes, see Royal Mail PDDP limitations: EU countries where the €3 duty is not prepaid.
Countries without PDDP (DDU only)
| Country (post) | Without IOSS | With IOSS | Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium (bpost) | €21.50 | €0 (fee only applies if VAT was not paid in the webshop) | 2026 |
| Croatia | HRK 18.50, about €2.50 | Same as without IOSS | 2022 |
| Czechia | CZK 97 clearance, or CZK 150 if the recipient gives no mandate or details | €0 | 2022 |
| Greece | €2.50 to €15 by value | Same as without IOSS | 2022 |
| Hungary | HUF 399 to 1,399 online, HUF 799 to 1,899 cash, by value | HUF 710 online, HUF 1,440 on delivery | 2022 / 2026 |
| Latvia | €0.88 or €3.99 | €0 | 2022 |
| Lithuania | €6.99 plus €2 | Same as without IOSS | 2022 |
| Poland | PLN 8.50 | Same as without IOSS | 2022 |
| Romania | RON 20, only if selected for control | Same as without IOSS | 2022 |
| Slovenia | €2.90 to €12 online, €4.60 to €13.80 otherwise | Same as without IOSS | 2022 |
Countries with PDDP only
| Country (post) | Without IOSS | With IOSS | Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denmark (PostNord) | €21.40, charged only if the IOSS number is missing and the data is incomplete | €0 if data is complete | 2022 |
| Germany (Deutsche Post) | €7.50 | €0 | 2026 / 2022 |
| Luxembourg (POST) | €6 up to €22, €18 from €22 to €150 | €0 | 2026 / 2022 |
Countries with PDDP or DDU
| Country (post) | Without IOSS | With IOSS | Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | €6 | €0 | 2022 |
| Bulgaria | BGN 36 | BGN 3.60 | 2022 |
| Cyprus | €3.50 | €0 | 2022 |
| Estonia (Omniva) | €2.35 automatic e-declaration | Not stated | 2022 |
| Finland (Posti) | €3.10 online, €3.30 at an outlet | €0 (only charged when tax is payable) | 2026 |
| France (La Poste) | €2, €5 or €8 depending on format and payment method | €0 | 2022 |
| Ireland (An Post) | €5.95 (press reports €6.95) | €0 if customs paid in advance with complete data (€3.50 in 2022) | 2026 |
| Italy | €5 | €0 | 2022 |
| Malta | €2 to €12 | €0 | 2022 |
| Netherlands (PostNL) | €10 | €0 when VAT is paid at checkout (€4 online in 2022) | 2026 |
| Portugal (CTT) | €4 base | Same as without IOSS | 2022 |
| Slovakia | €2 to €9 representation, €0 handling | €0 handling; representation not stated | 2022 |
| Spain (Correos) | €5.88, plus a €1.50 online or €5 to €15 counter payment fee | €0 | 2022 |
| Sweden (PostNord) | SEK 75 | €0 | 2022 |
What this means
- IOSS removes the post's fee entirely: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, plus Denmark and Ireland if the data is complete.
- IOSS reduces the fee: Bulgaria, Hungary.
- IOSS makes no difference: Croatia, Greece, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia. Six of these seven are in the group without PDDP.
- Not stated: Estonia.
In the countries without PDDP, IOSS gives a large saving at the door only in Belgium (€21.50 down to nothing), with smaller savings in Czechia, Latvia and Hungary. Elsewhere in that group the recipient pays the same postal fee either way. For Greece and Romania the comparison does not apply to Royal Mail shipments, as Royal Mail cannot currently ship IOSS orders to those two countries.
To avoid fees at the door in every EU country, consider a courier DDP contract or EAS Postal DDP, which covers all 27 EU countries.
About the data: figures marked 2022 come from fees that member states reported to the European Commission in June 2022. Where 2026 figures were available, the non-IOSS fees had all risen, and the Netherlands and Ireland had reduced the fee on IOSS parcels to nil. Treat 2022 non-IOSS figures as a minimum, and 2022 IOSS figures as possibly out of date in either direction. This is our current understanding and is subject to change.
Related reading: The €2 EU Union handling fee and the €3 customs duty: in-depth explanation; IOSS isn't mandatory, but here's why it's "mandatory" for your EU customers and your store.
Questions? Email support@easproject.com.