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  3. Selling to the EU

Selling to the EU

How does the Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) scheme affect you?

How has selling into the EU changed?

Our new customs tool will now create all your Royal Mail customs forms for you and include all the IOSS details needed for selling into the EU at the same time.

Create a Royal Mail form

What customs rules apply to items sold into the EU?

Items sold into the EU from England, Scotland and Wales are subject to VAT and customs rules. The Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) is a scheme through which you can pay these charges:

  • Any item, regardless of value, sold to the EU is subject to duties and fees in the destination country.

  • The IOSS scheme allows buyers to pay duties and fees on items worth up to €150 at the point of purchase. This avoids them paying duties and fees when the item is delivered.

  • Signing up to the IOSS isn't mandatory, but some marketplaces are registered with it on behalf of their sellers.

  • If your item is worth more than €150 or you sell an item outside of IOSS, you can pay duties and fees through a pre-paid service, or the recipient will pay the charges when the item is delivered.

What do I have to do for EU customs?

Items under €150 sold through IOSS 

How to use Parcels Online services with Royal Mail, Evri and DPD services:

1. Enter the IOSS number given by the marketplace when buying your postage online. You'll be prompted to provide this information.

2. All other Parcels Online services with Royal Mail, Evri and DPD require the recipient to pay all duties and fees when the item is delivered.

Parcels Online services

How to use postal services in branch:

If you're sending in branch using a Royal Mail, Parcelforce Worldwide or Evri international service.

1. Go to a Post Office branch to send your item. Tell us which IOSS marketplace you sold your item through. If the marketplace is not on the list below, please provide the IOSS number.

  • eBay 
  • Etsy 
  • Amazon 
  • Not On The High Street 

2. Alternatively, if you're sending with Royal Mail services, you can complete a customs form online with all of the necessary details before you arrive in branch.

3. Attach the IOSS sticker provided to the item near the address.

IOSS sticker example

Services available to buy in branch

Items over €150 sold through IOSS OR any item sold outside IOSS

How to use Parcels Online services with Royal Mail, Evri and DPD:

  1. Some DPD services include advance payment of duties and fees.
  2. All other Parcels Online services with Royal Mail, Evri and DPD require the recipient to pay all duties and fees when the item is delivered.
  3. All customs details are filled in during the booking process online.

Parcels Online services

How to use postal services in branch:

If you're sending in branch using a Royal Mail, Parcelforce Worldwide or Evri international service.

  1. Go to a Post Office branch to send your item. We’ll help you with customs at the counter.
  2. Alternatively, if you're sending with Royal Mail services, you can complete a customs form online with all of the necessary details before you arrive in branch.
  3. The recipient will be charged all duties and fees when the item is delivered.

All in-branch postal services

Sending via Royal Mail?

Customs forms can be completed online for Royal Mail services.  

Create a Royal Mail form

Sending via Parcels Online?

Customs details for services bought through Parcels Online are filled in during the booking process. Similarly, customs for branch purchases will be handled at the counter.

Access Parcels Online

Common questions

  • The IOSS scheme doesn't cover items over €150. If you post an item which is over €150, don’t include the IOSS number or the marketplace name on your parcel.

    You won’t be asked to include the IOSS number when booking postage through Parcels Online if the item is worth over €150.

    In both cases, if you haven't used an online pre-payment service with DPD, all duties and fees will be collected from the recipient when the item is delivered.

  • If you use a Parcels Online service with DPD or Evri, you can make a pre-payment of charges with some services. If this isn’t available on your chosen service, all duties and fees will be collected from the recipient when the item is delivered.

    If you pay for postage in branch instead, your item's recipient will be charged duties and fees when it's delivered.

  • Yes, use your IOSS registered number when buying your postage if the item is worth less than €150.

  • If you're buying postage in branch and your marketplace is IOSS registered but not on the list earlier on this page, please tell us the IOSS registered number when you pop in.

    If you're buying postage through Parcels Online, you'll be prompted to enter your IOSS information.

    If the item is worth under €150 but wasn't sold through IOSS, or it's worth over €150, and you don't use a pre-payment service, all duties and fees will be collected from the recipient when the item is delivered.

  • These changes don't impact you, so please continue to post your items in the usual way.

  • These changes don't impact gifts. All gifts under €45 are exempt from charges. Make sure you tick the GIFT option in the content section of the customs form. If the gift is over €45, any duties and fees will be collected from the recipient when the item is delivered.

Need some help?

Posting help and support

Find answers to common questions about posting services:

Visit our posting support page

More about sending mail

How to pack your parcel
How to send a parcel
Sending valuables by post
What can I send?
Send post internationally
Customs forms