Irish consumers purchasing goods online from non-European Union countries are encountering substantial administrative fees from delivery couriers on top of the bloc's €3 import tax. The additional charges, known as disbursement or handling fees, are applied when online retailers do not collect the EU customs duty directly at checkout.

Since 1 July 2026, new EU-wide customs rules eliminated previous tax exemptions for low-value imports, introducing a minimum €3 customs duty per unique product line item on orders valued at €150 or less originating outside the EU. While major international e-commerce platforms automatically calculate and collect the duty during online checkout, smaller independent sellers and non-EU retailers often lack the integrated software required to process the tax upfront.

When import duties are not pre-paid by the seller, freight operators pay the charges directly to customs authorities on the customer's behalf to ensure packages clear customs without delay. Courier companies then pass this tax on to recipients alongside an administrative disbursement fee to cover processing costs. In reports highlighted by consumers, administrative fees levied by couriers such as FedEx have exceeded €18 per package for settling a €3 tax charge.

In a statement to media, FedEx clarified that disbursement fees are an established standard charge rather than a new tariff, but noted that consumers are encountering them more frequently following the expanded scope of EU customs duties on low-value goods. The courier explained that advancing duty payments to customs authorities incurs administrative expenses that are recovered through the fee.

National postal provider An Post stated that the vast majority of non-EU parcels arrive fully cleared because sellers use integrated checkout software. However, in instances where duties or VAT are not collected at point of sale, An Post applies its own administrative fee to process and collect the balance before final delivery. Consumer protection authorities advise online shoppers to check dispatch locations prior to purchase to avoid unexpected courier charges upon delivery.