La Italian tax of 2 euros on small packages coming from Non-EU countries postponed againThe tax on shipments up to 150 euros, initially planned for October 1st, will start on December 1stThis is what is foreseen in the draft decree law being examined by the Council of Ministers, as reported by Il Sole 24 Ore .
The new postponement comes as the European Union prepares to introduce its own shipping tax, the so-called handling fees, on small purchases from outside the EU. After the green light from the Council of the European Union at the beginning of September, the The European Parliament gave the green light to the measure on 16 September, which must be applied by November 1st.
Italy has thus chosen to postpone its levy while awaiting the new European regulations. This step is part of the crackdown on low-value imports: the new regulation has already been in force since July 1st. European duty of 3 euros.
Extra-EU mini-parcels: the cost of returning them and the new EU tax.
However, postponing the Italian tax for another two months presents the tale: 40,8 million of euros. The figure is added to the 61,25 million already needed to cover the previous postponement, which had moved the start date from July to September. The measure, introduced by the 2026 Budget Law, was originally intended to begin in July and, starting in 2027, was expected to bring in approximately €245 million annually.
Now the spotlight is on the handling fees European Union. The Commission will establish the amount and, according to some hypotheses circulating in Italy, it could be between 2 and 4 euros. If this were the case, the new cost would be added to the 3 euro duty already in force, making low-value shipments are more expensiveThe first effects of the tariff, moreover, have already resulted in a drop in imports of small non-EU parcels.
The crackdown stems from the explosive growth of online shopping: in 2025, nearly 5,9 billion items arrived in the EU from non-EU countries. And the tariff system can impact each individual item in the shipment, based on its tariff classification, and not simply the total quantity contained in the package.
The crackdown on platforms and the criticisms
However, the European crackdown does not only concern the wallet. The reform of the customs framework approved by the EU Council provides that third-country e-commerce platforms who sell and ship within the Union are considered importers of the goods. They will therefore have to deal with the customs formalities and payment of duties. Those who do not respect the rules will face penalties. fines up to 6% of the annual value of goods imported in the previous year.
Meanwhile, the new postponement of the Italian tax has arrived critical of the Democratic Party. The deputies Silvia Roggiani e Andrea Casucontestano The decision to once again postpone the tax's effective date, rather than cancel it. According to the two parliamentarians, the shift from October 1st to December 1st prolongs uncertainty for the logistics sector, which has been demanding clear answers for months. The succession of postponements, they argue, also signals the government's difficulty in managing the measure.
