How the calculation works
Import VAT is charged on the value of the goods plus the cost of transport into the EU, at the rate of the country you live in. Since 1 July 2026, parcels worth up to €150 that are sold under the IOSS scheme also pay a flat customs duty of €3 for each different tariff category they contain. The calculator multiplies €3 by the number of item types you enter. If the goods total exceeds €150, it shows a warning instead, because normal duty rates apply and depend on each item's tariff code.
Counting categories
A category is roughly an item type. Hoodies are one, T-shirts another, trainers another, caps another. Several of the same type count once. When unsure, count conservatively. Grouping a basket into fewer types is the simplest way to cut the duty part.
What it does not include
The calculator does not include carrier handling or clearance fees, which some carriers charge when VAT was not prepaid, nor any agent fees. Hipobuy states no agent service fee and a declaration charge of about ¥10 per parcel, which you can add to the shipping box. It also cannot know your line's tax handling; tax-included lines collect the same amounts up front.
Example
Two hoodies and a pair of trainers for €80 with a €22 line to Germany: VAT at 19% on €102 is €19.38, duty for two categories is €6, so about €127.38 in total. The same basket to Spain at 21% is about €129.42.
Honest limits
This is an estimate based on the published EU rule. Customs authorities decide the actual amount, and declarations must reflect the real value and contents. Under-declaring is illegal and is not something this tool supports.
Next steps
See country details for Germany, France, Spain and Belgium, the Hipobuy shipping guide, or go back to the Hipobuy spreadsheet.
Why this matters more after July 2026
Before the change, many small parcels paid VAT but no customs duty. The temporary €3 per category duty, due to run until 1 July 2028, adds a small but real cost that grows with the variety of items in a parcel. A parcel of five different item types now carries €15 in duty even if each item is cheap. Planning parcels around fewer categories is the new habit for EU buyers.
Using the result
Compare the landed cost with what the same item costs in a European shop, including your local shipping. For many basics, the agent route still wins clearly; for some items, once VAT, duty and international shipping are added, the difference narrows. The calculator makes that comparison honest before you buy.
Countries outside the EU
The calculator covers EU countries only. The UK charges VAT at the point of sale on goods up to £135, and the US ended duty-free treatment of low-value parcels in 2025; see our US guide.
Typical inputs
For the goods total, use the price shown by the agent in euros for all items. For shipping, use the quote for the line you plan to choose after packing, ideally from Hipobuy's Rehearsal Parcel. For categories, count item types: hoodies, trainers, caps and so on. Keep a note of the result with your order so you can compare it with what you actually paid.
Questions people ask
Is the €3 duty per item?
No. It is charged once per tariff category found in the parcel, so a stack of identical shirts counts once while a shirt plus a cap counts twice.
Does VAT apply to shipping?
Import VAT is generally charged on goods plus transport costs to the EU.
What happens above €150?
IOSS no longer applies and normal duty rates by tariff code are charged, plus VAT.
Does this include carrier fees?
No. Some carriers add handling or clearance fees, especially on parcels without prepaid VAT.