Shipping from the UK to Italy: what your customer will actually pay

Italy is one of the UK's most important EU export markets — particularly for fashion, homeware, food, and luxury goods. Italian consumers have a strong appetite for British products. But post-Brexit, shipping to Italy comes with some specific quirks worth knowing about.

Italy's VAT rate

Italy's standard VAT rate is 22% — one of the higher rates in the EU. Applied to the CIF value of your shipment, this is the main charge Italian customers face when receiving UK parcels.

For a £180 product with £14 shipping and 0% duty, your Italian customer faces a VAT bill of around £43 on delivery. For higher value orders the number grows quickly.

Italian customs — the slow lane

If there's one thing UK sellers consistently report about shipping to Italy, it's that Italian customs (Agenzia delle Dogane) can be slow. Very slow. It's not unusual for parcels to sit in customs in Milan or Rome for 5–10 working days, particularly during August when much of Italy shuts down for Ferragosto.

This doesn't affect the charges your customer pays, but it does affect delivery expectations significantly. If you're shipping to Italian customers, build extra time into your delivery estimates and communicate this clearly. An Italian customer who was told to expect 7–10 days is far more patient than one who expected 3–5.

Import duty

Under the UK-EU TCA, most standard UK-made goods attract 0% duty when exported to Italy. Fashion items, homeware, ceramics, art, and general consumer goods typically qualify. Some specific textile categories and processed foods may attract duty — check your commodity code if you're unsure.

The €150 threshold

As with all EU countries, orders under €150 have VAT typically handled at checkout. Above €150, Italian customs assess VAT and potentially duty on arrival. Given Italy's 22% rate and the tendency for customs processing to take longer, this is a combination worth planning for carefully.

Italian customs handling fees

Italian carriers and customs agents typically charge handling fees of €10–20 per dutiable shipment — slightly higher than northern European counterparts. These are charged to the recipient on top of VAT and duty.

A real example

A UK fashion brand ships a silk scarf worth £120 and a leather wallet worth £95 to a customer in Florence. Total order: £215.

A £66 bill at the door on a £215 order — plus a potential 7–10 day wait. Italian customers who weren't warned about either the charges or the timeline are among the most likely in Europe to refuse delivery or leave negative feedback.

What to do

Calculate the full landed cost before shipping to Italy, and be generous with your delivery time estimates. ClearShip calculates the UK-to-Italy landed cost instantly. A clear upfront message about both the potential VAT charge and the realistic delivery timeframe will save you a significant number of difficult conversations.