Important Update: Changes to Our European Shipping & Duties Setup

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Hi everyone — we have an important update about how we handle shipping to European customers, especially relating to duties, VAT, and customs.

What’s Changing (Effective Today – 26 September 2025)

Starting today, we will no longer support DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) shipments to any European destination.

For orders below the IOSS threshold (currently ~ €150 or ~ £125), we will still use the IOSS (Import One-Stop Shop) mechanism to collect VAT at checkout wherever possible. This means customers should not face surprise VAT charges on delivery for these smaller orders.

For orders above the threshold, customs clearance will be handled under DAP (Delivered At Place) or equivalent terms — meaning import VAT, duties, and handling fees will be charged by local customs and carriers at delivery.

Why We’re Making This Change

This change comes after DHL informed us of stricter enforcement by European customs and tax authorities. Under DDP, non-EU sellers are responsible for:

• Registering for VAT in each country where goods are imported
• Filing periodic VAT returns and annual declarations
• Maintaining local tax records (e.g. 10 years in Germany)

Without this, carriers are instructed to shift the liability to the receiver.

Beyond Germany, many EU states are tightening rules on DDP. France will stop allowing limited tax representation for DDP from January 2026, and the EU is preparing further reforms that could reshape import VAT completely. By removing DDP now, we avoid compliance risks, delays, and surprise costs for our customers.

What This Means for European Customers

• From today (26 September 2025), DDP is no longer available on any European shipment.
• IOSS remains in place for orders ≤ €150 / £125, so VAT is collected at checkout and no extra VAT is due on delivery.
• For larger orders, import VAT, duty, and handling fees will be charged locally by your customs authority or carrier.
• We are updating our website to provide clearer information and estimates for potential charges to help reduce surprises.

FAQs

Will I still pay VAT or duties?
Yes. For orders under €150/£125, VAT is collected at checkout (IOSS) and no extra is due at delivery. For higher orders, VAT and any duties/fees are collected on import.

Why can’t you keep DDP for some countries only?
Because rules are tightening EU-wide. Operating DDP selectively is no longer sustainable or legally safe.

What is IOSS?
IOSS (Import One-Stop Shop) allows us to collect VAT at checkout for low-value orders (≤ €150 / £125) and report it through a single EU return. Customers don’t need to do anything extra.

Does this slow down delivery?
In most cases, delivery times should stay similar. However, some larger orders may be delayed by customs processing, and customers may be asked to pay VAT/duties before final delivery.

Final Thoughts

We know this change may feel less convenient than before, but it’s the right step for transparency and compliance — and it ensures smoother long-term service across Europe.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with our team. We’re here to help guide you through the new setup.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

— The Unicycle.com Team