Guides
Eight guides on the rules that cost sellers the most money — duty lines, classification, VAT collection and the paperwork that holds a shipment at the border. Written for people shipping, not for lawyers.
IOSS Explained: When You Need It and When You Don't
A practical guide to the Import One-Stop Shop: who must register, what it covers, and what happens if you ship without it.
The EUR 150 Threshold: What It Actually Exempts
Duty relief, VAT, and the difference between consignment value and order value — explained with worked examples.
DDP vs DAP: Who Pays the Import Bill
Incoterms decide whether the seller or the buyer absorbs duty and VAT. Here is how each term behaves on a real EU delivery.
Import Duty on Solar Panels from China to Germany (2026)
Solar panels enter Germany at 0% duty under HS 8541.43, but 19% import VAT applies on goods plus freight. Worked example, HS codes and AD status.
Is Lithium Battery Duty Free in the EU? (2026)
No: HS 8507.60 carries a 2.7% duty and 19-25% import VAT. HS codes, UN 38.3, the Battery Regulation and a worked landed-cost example.
Phone Case HS Code: 3926 or 8517? (2026)
A plain plastic phone case is 3926.90 at 6.5% duty; one with a charging coil is 8517.70 at 0%. How customs decides, and what a wrong code costs.
IOSS vs DDP: Which One Do You Need for Parcels Under €150?
IOSS is a VAT scheme, DDP is an Incoterm — different problems. The four combinations, when IOSS fails, and how each one hits refusal rates.
How to Read a TARIC Entry Without Guessing
How to read a TARIC entry: the duty line, measures, conditions, and the four things that change the answer. Worked example with 3926.90.