🇫🇷 Shipping to France from the USA
20% TVA from the first euro, the EU parcel duty, and how to get past the digicode
Quick answer
- How long: 2 to 4 days by express, 6 to 14 days by USPS Priority Mail International, up to three weeks by First-Class.
- What the recipient pays: TVA at 20% from €0, plus a flat €3 EU duty per item category on online orders up to €150. France's own €2 parcel tax was suspended on 1 July 2026.
- Tax-free route: private gifts of €45 or less between individuals.
- Final mile: La Poste's Colissimo for most USPS parcels, Chronopost for many Priority Mail Express items.
TVA threshold
No €22 exemption
TVA rate
10% and 5.5% reduced
Delivery
Express to postal
Local post
Colissimo, Chronopost
Shipping Rates to France
| Carrier & Service | 1 lb | 5 lbs | 10 lbs | 20 lbs | Delivery Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USPS First-Class Intl | $26.00 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 10-21 days |
| USPS Priority Mail Intl | $69.50 | $88.35 | $113.50 | $163.60 | 6-14 days |
| USPS Priority Mail Express Intl | $88.25 | $106.90 | $134.35 | $188.75 | 3-7 days |
| UPS Expedited | $68.00 | $102.00 | $158.00 | $268.00 | 3-5 days |
| FedEx International Priority | $72.00 | $108.00 | $172.00 | $292.00 | 2-4 days |
| DHL Express | $62.00 | $92.00 | $142.00 | $242.00 | 2-4 days |
USPS prices are official retail rates from Notice 123 (effective October 4, 2026). UPS, FedEx, and DHL figures are rough list-price estimates before fuel and other surcharges, not quotes, and a live quote can be much higher or lower. Delivery times exclude customs delays unless stated.
Reference list-price estimates before fuel and demand surcharges, duties and taxes, not quotes. USPS rows include typical La Poste clearance time; overseas departments are not covered.
How long shipping to France takes
Paris Charles de Gaulle is a FedEx European hub, so Paris, Lyon and much of the north are often reached in 2 to 3 business days by express. Marseille, Nice and Bordeaux typically take a day longer. Postal parcels travel through La Poste's international mail flow, where clearance is the variable step: a normal parcel takes 6 to 14 days in total, while one flagged for payment waits until the recipient responds. Corsica adds a few days. August is slower for business recipients because many offices close, though La Poste still runs.
For background, see how long international shipping takes and FedEx delivery times.
TVA, duty and the French parcel tax
Older guides quote a €22 TVA threshold and a €150 duty threshold. Neither applies any more. French customs (Douane) now works as follows.
- TVA: 20% standard, 10% and 5.5% on specified goods, charged on value plus shipping plus any duty.
- Sales up to €150: flat €3 customs duty per item category from 1 July 2026, scheduled until 1 July 2028. It applies whether or not the seller uses IOSS.
- The French €2 charge: France charged its own €2 per item from 1 March 2026 and suspended it from 1 July 2026, when the EU duty arrived. Pages that still list it are out of date.
- Union Handling Fee: an EU-wide €2 per distinct item begins 1 November 2026 on e-commerce imports, charged to the seller side and possibly passed on.
- Over €150: normal tariff rates by product.
- Private gifts: free of duty and TVA up to €45. Above that, TVA is due on the consignment, and a flat 2.5% duty generally applies up to €700.
Example: a €70 pair of shoes bought online with €15 shipping, no IOSS. Duty €3, TVA 20% of €88 = €17.60, total €20.60 plus the carrier's advance fee. La Poste and private carriers set those fees themselves, so ask the seller or check the delivery notice instead of relying on a published figure. The duties and taxes guide shows the calculation order.
Food and drink
Meat and dairy from outside the EU are barred, which rules out US cheese and jerky. Commercially packed sweets, coffee and tea usually pass in personal quantities. Wine sent privately is taxable with no gift relief on the VAT or excise side, and USPS restricts alcohol outright, so most people use a licensed shipper.
Other limits
- Counterfeit fashion and luxury goods are aggressively enforced, including for individuals
- Weapons and many knives are controlled
- Perfume over carrier limits counts as dangerous goods in air transport
- Cosmetics and toys sold commercially must meet EU product rules
Getting a parcel to a French door
- Digicode: many city buildings have a keypad at the street door. Add the code, the staircase (bâtiment or escalier) and floor (étage) to the address.
- Mobile number: Colissimo and Chronopost send SMS slots to reschedule or redirect.
- Pickup points: missed parcels go to a post office or a Pickup relay shop, usually held for around two weeks.
- Accurate description: use "cadeau" only for real gifts. Customs can ask for proof of payment on anything that looks like a sale.
- Postcode: five digits with CEDEX for some businesses; a CEDEX address cannot take every courier service.
From elsewhere?
From the UK or Canada the charges match the US picture, with duty relief possible on originating goods under their trade deals. Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion and other overseas departments sit outside the EU VAT area and apply local taxes, so a parcel there is not treated like one to Paris. Belgium, Germany and Spain send to France inside the EU with no customs step. For an alternative hub, compare the Germany guide.
France shipping questions
Is La Poste a bad choice?
No. It is a reliable last mile. The trade-off is that postal clearance is slower than express and the charge notice can catch recipients out. A low-value, patient parcel still suits USPS. See USPS vs FedEx.
Why was my parcel charged when it was "only" €25?
TVA applies from the first euro and the EU duty from 1 July 2026 covers cheap online orders. Without IOSS, the carrier collects both.
Does the French €2 tax still apply?
It was suspended on 1 July 2026. The separate EU €2 handling fee is what starts in November 2026.
Can I ship to a French Pickup point from the US?
Only if the US service offers it. Most consumers get redirection through the local delivery text after arrival.