France is the second-largest e-commerce market in the European Union and one of the most forgiving destinations for US sellers — right up until a parcel hits customs without an IOSS number. Then it becomes one of the most expensive.
The rules changed materially in 2026. The EU's old €150 duty-free threshold is being dismantled, a flat per-parcel duty now applies to low-value consignments, and carriers have layered their own handling fees on top. A $40 order that used to clear in a day can now arrive with a bill larger than the product.
Here is what shipping to France actually costs in 2026, what paperwork you need, and which carrier fits which order value.
The three charges every French parcel faces
1. VAT at 20%
France applies a standard VAT rate of 20% on the full landed value — product, shipping and insurance combined. There is no minimum. A €30 order with €12 shipping is assessed on €42, not €30. Reduced rates exist for books (5.5%) and some food products, but for most consumer goods you should budget 20%.
2. The flat duty on low-value consignments
The EU has moved away from letting sub-€150 parcels enter duty-free. A flat per-parcel customs duty now applies to low-value consignments, alongside a per-line customs handling fee. Together these can add several euros to a parcel that previously paid nothing, and they hit small orders hardest in percentage terms.
3. Carrier brokerage or disbursement fees
If you ship DDU/DAP and the carrier advances the duty and VAT on your customer's behalf, it charges a disbursement fee for the service — typically a flat minimum that is frequently larger than the duty itself on small orders. This is the charge that generates refused deliveries.
What it costs, order by order
The table below is an indicative model for a 1 kg parcel. Actual figures vary by HS classification, carrier agreement, declared value and whether you are IOSS-registered.
| Order value | VAT (20%) | Flat duty + handling | Carrier fee if DDU | Customer's surprise bill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| €25 | ~€5 | ~€3–5 | ~€12–15 | ~€20–25 (80–100% of order) |
| €80 | ~€16 | ~€3–5 | ~€12–15 | ~€31–36 |
| €200 | ~€40 | Duty by HS rate | ~€15–20 | ~€55–70 |
Read the right-hand column again. On a €25 order shipped DDU, your French customer is asked to pay roughly what they paid you. Almost nobody accepts that parcel.
IOSS: the single decision that matters most
The Import One-Stop Shop lets you collect VAT at checkout and remit it through a single EU registration, for consignments up to €150. Parcels moving under a valid IOSS number clear customs without the recipient being asked for anything.
The practical effect on small orders is dramatic: no carrier disbursement fee, no doorstep collection, no refusal. If France or the EU is more than an occasional destination for you, IOSS registration through an intermediary is the highest-return compliance work you can do.
Above €150, IOSS does not apply and the parcel needs a standard import declaration — which is where DDP with a proper landed-cost calculation earns its keep.
Carrier options and realistic transit times
| Option | Typical transit | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS to La Poste/Colissimo | 7–14 business days | Low value, non-urgent | Limited tracking depth after handoff |
| DHL Express | 2–4 business days | High-value, time-sensitive | Highest base rate; strong customs handling |
| FedEx / UPS International | 3–6 business days | Mid-value B2C and B2B | Brokerage and disbursement minimums |
| Consolidator / postal injection | 8–15 business days | High volume, low value | Needs IOSS to be worth it |
Documentation that prevents holds
- Accurate HS codes at SKU level. Generic trigger codes reclassification and delay.
- Specific goods descriptions. «Cotton t-shirt, women's, knit» clears. «Apparel» does not.
- True declared value. Undervaluing is the fastest way to a penalty and a seized parcel, and carriers increasingly refuse to advance duty on suspicious declarations.
- Country of origin per line item — not the country you shipped from.
- Your IOSS number transmitted electronically, not written on the label.
Products that need extra care
France enforces EU product rules strictly. Cosmetics need an EU Responsible Person. Electronics need CE marking and, since 2026, packaging EPR registration applies to sellers placing goods on the French market. Food supplements face national restrictions that differ from other EU states. Check these before your first shipment, not after your first seizure.
A practical sequence for your first 90 days
- Classify your top 20 SKUs with real HS codes.
- Register for IOSS through an intermediary if your average order is under €150.
- Switch checkout to show VAT as a named line, collected up front.
- Pick one express and one economy carrier, and rate-shop per order value.
- Track your refused-delivery rate weekly for the first quarter — it is your single best signal that something upstream is wrong.
Sellers who do this treat France as a normal domestic market with an extra tax line. Sellers who skip it discover that European expansion looks great in the revenue report and terrible in the refund report.
Ship to France without the surprise customs
At HereWeShip, we handle landed-cost calculation, IOSS-compliant documentation and carrier selection so your French orders arrive with nothing owed at the door.
Set up your France shipping at hereweship.com and stop losing margin to refused deliveries.
Rates, duty amounts and fees cited are indicative and vary by product classification, declared value, carrier agreement and destination. This is general information, not customs or tax advice — confirm your obligations with a licensed customs broker or EU tax intermediary.
