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Customs, Duties & Taxes Explained

Do you want to order from KewbzUK but you don't want to get hit with unexpected customs/import charges? Let's go over everything you need to know about how shipping works since Brexit.

What are duties, taxes and import charges...

Customs Duty - A charge that can apply when goods are imported from on customs territoy into another. Unlike VAT, customs durt depends on things such as: What the product is, It's customs / HS classification / the value of the goods / the country where the goods were manufactured. Basically, customs duty is a charge for importing certain goods.

Taxes/VAT - A Tax charged on goods and services specific to each country. When ordering from KEwbz (into the EU), the VAT rate depends on the country you are importing into. For eligible orders under €150 we will collect VAT during checkout and remit it on your behalf. For orders over €150 things change slightly, more on this later though.

Shipping Cost - The cost to actually ship you the goods. This is a charge to us for us to then pay Royal Mail to move the goods from our warehouse to your door. This changes based on countries but we will give you more info on this later.

DDU vs DDP - Some countries allow us to pay the customs duty from our end. This is called DDP (delivered duty paid) whilst some do not, this is DDU (delivered duty unpaid). In a DDU country, your customs office will ask you to pay the duty charge which varies based on which product you ordered. Each different type of product gets charged differently. More on this below under the "What is a duty charge?"
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What is IOSS

IOSS stands for Import One Stop Shop, an EU scheme that makes shopping from our UK store easier for customers in the European Union. For eligible orders with a goods value of €150 or less, we collect your country’s VAT at checkout and pay it through the scheme on your behalf. This means you pay VAT upfront and should not be charged it again when your parcel arrives, helping reduce delays and unexpected VAT collection fees. IOSS applies specifically to EU deliveries and covers VAT; it does not cover every possible customs duty or delivery charge.
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Orders over €150 vs Orders under €150

We will try to simplify this as much as possible as it does get quite confusing.

If your order is less than €150 (or equivalent) and you are from a country that accepts IOSS then you will pay your countries VAT to us at checkout, we will then pass that VAT back to your country. 

 

In this image you will see that the MoYu WeiLong V11 Ai smartcube costs €125.95, shipping is €9.49 and the total is €135.44. This price includes €23.51 in taxes/vat which will be pre-paid by us and allow you to receive your delivery with nothing else to pay when your order reaches your door.

Things change slightly when your order is over €150...

 

In this second example, the two cubes cost €207.90 before VAT, with free shipping. Because the goods’ value exceeds €150, this order cannot use IOSS, so VAT has not been collected at checkout. Assuming your country charges 21% VAT, the VAT on the goods alone would be €43.66, bringing the total to €251.56. The courier may collect this before delivery, together with any applicable customs duty or clearance fees. The lower checkout price therefore does not mean the order is tax-free.
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Quick Questions

What is a duty charge?

Customs duty is a charge on imported goods, separate from VAT and shipping.

Since 1 July 2026, a temporary €3 customs duty applies per tariff category in qualifying EU parcels with a goods value of €150 or less. For example, ten identical cube mats within one category would attract €3 in duty. A parcel containing products across four different tariff categories would attract €12.

For goods worth more than €150, different duty rules apply. The amount depends on the products’ classification, value and origin; some products may have a zero duty rate.

Whether duty is paid through us or collected before delivery depends on the shipping service used. Read the EU’s explanation.

What is my countries VAT rate?

For EU deliveries, VAT depends on the destination country and the type of product. These are the standard rates as of September 2026. Certain products, such as books, may qualify for lower rates, and some regions have different rules.

 

Austria - 20%

Belgium - 21%

Bulgaria - 20%

Croatia - 25%

Cyprus - 19%

Czechia - 21%

Denmark - 25%

Estonia - 24%

Finland - 25.5%

France - 20%

Germany - 19%

Greece - 24%

Hungary - 27%

Ireland - 23%

Italy - 22%

Latvia - 21%

Lithuania - 21%

Luxembourg - 17%

Malta - 18%

Netherlands - 21%

Poland - 23%

Portuga - 23%

Romania - 21%

Slovakia - 23%

Slovenia - 22%

Spain - 21%

Sweden - 25%

 

You can check the latest rates in the EU’s official VAT guide. Customers outside the EU should check their local import tax rules.

Does an order over €150 have higher costs?

It can. For eligible EU orders with a goods value of €150 or less, we collect VAT at checkout through IOSS. The €150 limit applies to the goods before VAT, excluding separately stated shipping and insurance.

Above this limit, IOSS cannot be used. In the example shown on this page, VAT is removed at checkout, which makes the products appear cheaper. However, import VAT is still payable when the parcel enters your country.

Customs duty and courier clearance fees may also apply, so a lower checkout total does not necessarily mean a lower final cost.

What will I get charged for my order over €150?

If import charges have not been prepaid, the courier or postal operator will normally ask you to pay them before releasing or delivering your parcel. These can include import VAT, customs duty and a clearance or handling fee.

For example, two cubes costing €207.90 before VAT, with free shipping, would attract €43.66 in VAT at a rate of 21%. That gives a total of €251.56 before any customs duty or courier fees. This is an illustration: the actual VAT calculation can also include applicable duty and delivery costs.

Please contact us before ordering if you would like help understanding the possible charges for your destination.

DDU vs DDP

DDP means Delivered Duty Paid. With this arrangement, the seller handles the applicable import duties and taxes, so the recipient should not need to pay those charges on arrival.

DDU means Delivered Duty Unpaid. This term is commonly used for deliveries where the recipient pays any outstanding import charges, usually before the parcel is delivered.

Availability depends on the destination and the delivery service we use. IOSS is separate: it allows us to collect VAT at checkout, but does not automatically mean customs duty or courier fees have also been paid. An IOSS parcel can therefore still have duty payable on arrival.

If you are unsure which arrangement applies to your order, please contact us before purchasing.

DDP - These countries allow us to pay the duties on your behalf making the checkout more seamless and final (as of September 26)

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Cyprus
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Portugal
  • Slovakia
  • Spain
  • Sweden

DDU - These countries will require you to pay duties when the products enter your country (as of September 26)

  • Bulgaria
  • Greece
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Croatia
  • Czechia
  • Hungary
  • Poland
  • Slovenia

Will I need to pay anything when my order arrives?

We always use Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) shipping wherever it is available for your destination and order. With this service, we arrange payment of the applicable import VAT and customs duty, and KewbzUK covers the carrier’s DDP handling fee. You should therefore have no additional import charges to pay on arrival.

 

Where DDP is unavailable, the delivery company may ask you to pay outstanding import VAT, customs duty and its own clearance fee before delivery. Any VAT already collected through IOSS should not be charged again.

 

DDP availability can depend on both your destination and your order’s value. Please contact us before ordering if you would like us to confirm which arrangement applies.