Common questions and answers about VAT on shipments from non-EU countries

There is a different regulatory framework for goods sent between private individuals, and this will remain unchanged. The limit for these is currently SEK 600 today. Gifts with a declared value of less than SEK 600 are not subject to VAT or a fee. However, the customs documentation must state it is a gift from a private individual.

In the media, the discussions about fees have mainly referred to goods from China. However, most shipments come from other countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom.

This fee is charged on all goods purchased from third countries, that is, countries outside the EU Customs Union.

In some cases, VAT is collected by the online retailer at the time of purchase. However, you may still be required to pay customs duties.

There may be different explanations. If a consignment is not retrieved from a service point within a certain timeframe, it will be returned. This means to the postal operator in the country it was sent from. The timeframe might vary from 14 to 30 days, depending on which service it was sent with.

Another explanation for returning items is inaccuracies or missing information in the customs documentation; see the answer below.

According to international regulations, correct customs documentation must accompany all consignments. Documentation must include the country of origin, content description, and the value of the goods. This applies to all commercial content arriving from outside the EU customs union. 

In cases where the documentation is incomplete, the customs declaration cannot be carried out. The shipment will therefore be returned to the sending country's postal operator. The operator will be notified that the customs documents lacked correct information.

As of 1 July 2026, new EU regulations will apply regarding how consignments are to be sent to the EU. If the sending company or the originating postal operator does not comply with these regulations, shipments may be returned. This is beyond PostNord’s control, but we are actively working to assist foreign postal operators to ensure that this situation does not arise.

If the consignment is internationally traceable, you will be able to see that the letter has been returned. In this case, our customer service can help you see the cause of the return. If the sender shipped with a service, it is not possible to trace. We will unfortunately not be able to see the return cause, and cannot provide information about the item.

While waiting for the VAT and duty fee to be paid, the shipment is stored. If the fee is not paid, the shipment will be sent back to the sender. At the same time, the request for payment of VAT and the VAT return fee will be canceled.

You do not risk receiving default interest, reminder fees, or debt collection claims if you choose not to pay.

We are also introducing a return button in our app where you can directly choose not to receive your shipment. In such cases, the items will be returned immediately.

Anyone who performs a VAT and/or customs declaration performs a service, which costs money. The costs consist of salary and taxes, technical equipment, premises for the employees, space to store items pending payment, etc.

In the case of e-commerce outside the EU, the consumer protection in the country where the online store is based applies. The seller might also undertake a voluntary guarantee. It is therefore always important to carefully examine the conditions that apply, especially when shopping from countries outside the EU.

In some cases, the sender has stated a 30-day right of withdrawal from delivery. In other words, from the day you receive the product. Any storage time will therefore not affect this deadline. However, it is the importer's responsibility to examine the conditions that apply to each purchase.

From the time you receive a notification, you have at least 14 days to pay.

As of 1 July 2026, the duty-free threshold for customs will be removed, meaning that, in addition to VAT, customs duties must be calculated on the value of the goods in the shipment.

This will result in increased costs for PostNord, which means we need to charge a higher fee to compensate.

In these cases, PostNord must prepare both a VAT declaration and a customs declaration. The fee for this handling is SEK 175 including VAT. Read more on the Swedish Customs website about which goods are subject to special regulations.

For certain goods, such as dietary supplements, special rules apply, which means that the simplified customs procedure cannot be used. In these cases, PostNord must prepare both a VAT declaration and a customs declaration. The fee for this handling is SEK 175, including VAT.

If you are certain that you have not ordered anything, there is no need to pay the fee. Due to current legislation, though, gifts will be subject to VAT. Therefore, you might receive a notification that a gift has been sent to you. The notice will be sent either by mail or as a text message.

Without payment, the consignment will be returned to the sender after the retention period and the fee will be canceled.

Yes, that is possible. To do this, you need to contact our customer service to get information about where the shipment is located. Instructions on how to proceed are available from the Swedish Customs Authority. However, the new customs regulations being introduced within the EU from 1 July 2026 make the process more difficult.

This only applies to private individuals. Read more about how VAT management is done for companies and organizations.

If the contents of the shipment are subject to Swedish excise duties or other taxes requiring a fee, PostNord must complete a full customs declaration. For this, PostNord charges a fee of SEK 175 plus any applicable taxes.

No VAT is charged if it has been paid via the IOSS system, but in some cases, PostNord may still need to charge customs duties, which means we must also charge a handling fee for that work. In these cases, however, the simplified process applies, so the fee is SEK 100.

All goods consignments from Russia must have a full customs declaration. This is to ensure that the shipment does not violate EU sanctions. For this, PostNord charges a fee of SEK 175.

Have you received a forgotten item sent to you with VAT? In some cases, we can clear these as duty- and tax-free. Contact us regarding your forgotten item.