Czech shoppers from Chinese e-shops may face customs duty demands; beware of scams

Czech consumers shopping on Chinese e-commerce platforms should prepare for potential demands to pay additional customs duties. These requests stem from a new flat-rate customs duty policy that took effect for packages entering the EU on July 1, 2026.

The duty applies to all shipments delivered to the European Union from that date forward, irrespective of when the order was placed. If customers did not pay the duty upfront at the time of purchase, they can expect to receive a notification requesting the outstanding payment.

Authorities are urging consumers to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of these payment requests. With the introduction of the new duty, there is an increased risk of fraudulent communications attempting to impersonate official channels. Consumers need to be vigilant to ensure they are not falling victim to spam or phishing scams when handling these notifications.