MaltaPost advises customers of new customs duty on non-EU deliveries

MaltaPost reminded the public that deliveries purchased from outside the EU under €150 in value will no longer be exempt from customs duty as of 1 July. 

In a statement released on Tuesday, MaltaPost said the change follows the adoption of an EU Council Regulation which rolled out a new customs duty plan for low-value imports entering the bloc from third countries.

This measure is expected to last until July 2028, when a wider EU Customs Reform Framework and Customs Data Hub is implemented.

It explained that goods valued at up to €150 and imported from outside the EU will no longer benefit from duty-free treatment. 

Instead, a flat-rate customs duty of €3 per item will apply according to its product category, while it will also be charged according to the number of different product categories in an order, as identified by their tariff sub-heading or HS classification.

A single purchase containing items classified under multiple categories may therefore incur multiple customs duty charges. For example, MaltaPost said an order containing items from two different categories would attract a total customs duty charge of €6 before VAT.

Customs duties will also apply where purchases are made through EU- based platforms if the goods are dispatched from a third country.

Consignments with a value exceeding €150 will continue to be assessed under the existing customs rules and duty rates. 

For further information, MaltaPost encouraged customers to refer to the Malta Tax and Customs Administration Guidelines which can be downloaded from the customs section of the Malta Tax and Customs Administration website.