Malta Import Duties & Taxes Explained

Malta has a €150 duty-free threshold for customs duty on your shipment. However, 18% import VAT applies to all commercial imports from the US with no minimum threshold.

Your shipment to Malta will incur import VAT at 18% on all commercial purchases from the US, with no minimum threshold, plus customs duty if your goods exceed €150 in value. You should also expect carrier handling fees of approximately €15–€25 when your package arrives.

There is no way to get a 5% tax rate for shipments to Malta. Malta charges 18% VAT on all commercial imports from the US, plus customs duty that varies by product type (0% to 17%, with shoes around 5% and electronics often at 0%). Your actual charges depend on what you're buying, not a choice of tax rate.

Yes, you must pay 18% import VAT on all commercial shipments from the US to Malta, regardless of the item's value. This tax is calculated on the total landed cost (goods value plus shipping and insurance) plus any customs duty applied.

VAT is charged at 18% on the sum of your goods' value, shipping costs, insurance, and any customs duty levied. This means high shipping costs to Malta can increase your final VAT bill.

Your shipping carrier (such as DHL, FedEx, or UPS) or MaltaPost collects these charges on behalf of Malta Customs before releasing your shipment. They will contact you directly for payment upon arrival.

Yes, carriers typically charge a clearance or brokerage fee ranging from €15 to €25 to process the customs entry and advance tax payments. This fee is separate from the VAT and duty amounts.

No, standard e-commerce purchases forwarded by Stackry do not qualify for the €45 gift relief threshold, which is strictly enforced and rarely applies to consolidator shipments. You should expect to pay full VAT and duty on these items.

No, since Brexit, items originating from or transiting through the UK are treated as non-EU imports just like those from the USA. You will face the same VAT and duty thresholds and rates.

Customs duty generally applies when the value of goods exceeds €150, so a shipment valued at exactly €150 may be exempt from duty but will still incur the 18% import VAT. Always check the declared value carefully to estimate your costs accurately.