Moldova parcel tax takes effect as Romania changes its rules
Two announcements about taxes on overseas parcels have highlighted contrasting approaches in Moldova and neighbouring Romania. While Chișinău has introduced a new tax on low-value online purchases, Bucharest has abolished its existing national parcel levy.
From 1 November 2026, Moldovans receiving goods worth up to €150 from foreign online retailers must pay 20% VAT on the value of their purchases. The change affects orders from international platforms including Temu, AliExpress and Shein.
The new rules were confirmed by the Moldovan Customs Service, which explained that VAT applies even to orders placed before 1 November if the goods are cleared through customs on or after that date. An additional fixed handling fee of 12 lei per parcel will follow on 1 January 2027, according to Moldova 1.
The government has justified the measure as a way to support domestic retailers and producers struggling to compete with inexpensive goods sold through Chinese online platforms.
That argument might be easier to accept if the authorities applied the same concern consistently. Moldovan farmers have also complained about competition from cheaper agricultural products arriving from Ukraine, yet the government’s approach to protecting domestic producers remains a source of controversy.
For ordinary consumers, meanwhile, the immediate consequence of the Moldova parcel tax is straightforward: buying inexpensive goods from abroad has become more expensive.
Romania removes its 25 lei fee but introduces European charges
Across the border, Romania has taken a different approach to its national parcel tax. Since 1 January 2026, the country had imposed a fixed charge of 25 Romanian lei on parcels worth less than €150 arriving from outside the European Union. The levy applied regardless of how inexpensive the goods were, meaning even a €3 purchase could attract the same fixed charge.
However, the Romanian government decided to abolish the national levy from 1 November 2026, as Romanian public broadcaster TVR reported.
There is an important qualification: the removal does not mean parcels are now free of additional charges. A new European processing fee of €2 per item applies alongside a €3 customs duty introduced in July. Depending on the contents of a parcel, the overall cost to consumers may therefore remain substantial.
The Romanian government explained that retaining its national levy alongside the European charges would effectively impose overlapping taxes on the same shipments.
The contrast is nevertheless revealing. Romania has removed a national charge to avoid duplicating European fees, while Moldova has begun collecting VAT on inexpensive overseas purchases and plans to introduce an additional handling fee.
Both governments can argue that their measures serve legitimate fiscal or commercial purposes. But for Moldovan households already facing pressure on their budgets, the new rules mean paying more for goods that were previously available without this additional VAT burden.
The question is whether the promised protection of domestic businesses will provide sufficient benefits to justify the extra costs imposed on consumers.
