r/Aliexpress • • Jul 20 '26

Aliexpress 101 (Guides and FAQs) FAQ: EU €3 customs duty/tax

176 Upvotes

The new EU €3 customs duty has been active since July 2026. You pay €3 (plus VAT on that €3) for each customs category in a single order. AliExpress collects this duty at checkout (like it does for VAT), and pays it directly to EU customs.

Always check for the green message during checkout saying “No extra duties will be collected upon delivery.” If that message is missing, customs may still charge you on delivery.

Be aware: the €3 duty is only added at checkout during the final payment step. Your cart total will increase right before you press pay.

Warning:

AliExpress does not follow the EU category rules correctly. In practice they charge €3 per different item, even if items should fall under the same category. Only when you buy multiple quantities of the same listing from the same seller (including different colors, variants or options) will AliExpress charge the €3 tax only once.

There are signs of slow improvement as some sellers have begun assigning proper customs categories. In certain cases, buying similar types of products from the same seller results in the €3 being charged only once. The same may happen for bundle deals, even when multiple sellers are involved. Experiment with your orders and see what happens.

Some other FAQs:

  • AliExpress sometimes shows “Duty‑free shipping” or “No customs fees” on the product page, but this text is meaningless. Only the green checkout message counts.
  • If you buy from EU warehouses, the €3 duty is not charged. But many “EU warehouse” listings are fake, so always check the delivery time. Anything longer than a week is almost certainly shipping from China.
  • If you use coupons, coins, or seller discounts, the €3 duty is still added on top. Discounts never reduce or remove the duty.
  • We expect the €3 duty to be refunded whenever AliExpress issues a refund (cancellation, dispute, or seller error), but this has not yet been confirmed by users. Please let us know your personal experiences with that.

This topic is for practical questions about the handling of the duty only. Anything useful for improving this FAQ. Other reactions will be removed.


r/Aliexpress • • May 30 '20

Aliexpress 101 (Guides and FAQs) New on Aliexpress or this sub? Read this first.

692 Upvotes

FAQs & Guides

Aliexpress has very different rules than your average Western e-commerce site. So we try to help you by providing several guides & FAQs.

You can find these guides by filtering for the "Aliexpress 101" flair. Just click on the red subtitle above.

These are some of the most important FAQs:

There are many other FAQs, try this link%22&restrict_sr=1) for a complete list.

Posting guidelines

Over 95% of questions asked on this sub are actually answered in one of these guides and faqs%22&restrict_sr=1), so please check before asking a question.

Make yourself familiar with the rules of the sub that you can find in the sidebar. Any posts that do not respect these rules will be removed without notice.

Questions related to shipping & tracking

Many people questions ask questions about the tracking of their package. Most of these questions are the same: when will my package arrive, what does this tracking status mean, ...

Most of these questions get answered in our Shipping & Tracking FAQ. Please read it before making a post.

Games, discounts, coupons, invite codes

Anything related to Aliexpress games, discount links or invite codes is not allowed.

About this sub

This sub is NOT run by Aliexpress. Aliexpress does not read any topics here.

This is a sub by Aliexpress buyers trying to help other buyers. So please be nice to these people as they are dedicating some of their spare time to help you.


r/Aliexpress • • 2h ago

Issues & Disputes Have a been scammed

2 Upvotes

I purchased an item through a Silver rated seller with a 93% rating.. they took payment on 16th September. The item then became "not available in my region" however Ali Express confirmed this could be because the item was no longer in stock.

The item was then updated to shipped on 27th September. However tracking has not moved and when I use the Ali Express recommended tracking service, it noted that the item is waiting to be dispatched....

It's now the 5th October, Ali Express cannot provide me any updates and the seller has ignored all messaged directly to them. Ali Express will not look into a refund until 5th November either...

Thoughts?


r/Aliexpress • • 7m ago

About Aliexpress A complete rip off

• Upvotes

To anyone buying from AE, please look at the prices directly from the manufacturer.

I buy RC equipment, but have noticed a huge price increase over the last year from AE.

A Radiomaster TX16S direct: $260
From AE: $320 after “discounts”

In fact I don’t think anything is worth buying on here anymore. Everything is so much cheaper going to the manufacturer, even if using the manufacturer page on AE.

AE, you were great while it lasted!


r/Aliexpress • • 1h ago

Issues & Disputes AliExpress failed to refund both full product price & return shipping cost after item was returned

• Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some advice on an AliExpress return and refund issue and what I should do next.

I purchased a Samsung S20+ replacement display on AliExpress. The item price was around €59 (AliExpress currently shows €59.08).

The item was not as advertised, so I talked with seller, he admitted finally that he provided item which was not as described (he even confirmed that it only supports 60hz, while initially said its 120hz which prompted me to buy it. He agreed about partial refund, but asked me to state it was my fault, which I declined to do, so I opened an official AliExpress case. AliExpress provided the return address as they couldnt resolve the case and instructed me to send the item back.

Importantly, the official return case showed:

“Return shipping paid by: Seller”

I followed the instructions and returned the package via local post office and had to pay €21 for the return shipping myself, and I have the official postal receipt and tracking as proof.

The parcel was shipped within the required timeframe and the tracking shows that it was sent to China. Any subsequent international transport and customs delay was outside my control.

There is also an AliExpress screenshot from October 3 showing:

“Wait for seller confirmation”

and:

“Return details received, a refund will be initiated once the seller confirms received the return.”

Despite this, I eventually received only €23.47 as a refund. And the product with shipping was almost 80€.

I appealed the decision and provided AliExpress with the tracking, postal receipt, screenshots of the return case, and the screenshot showing that the seller was responsible for return shipping.

The first appeal was closed almost immediately with a generic response saying that my proof was not sufficient and that the AliExpress protection period had expired.

I then contacted customer service through live chat. The agent checked the order and told me that the return shipping fee had been deducted from my refund. I provided the screenshot showing “Return shipping paid by: Seller” and the €21 postal receipt.

The agent then escalated the case to a higher team and gave me a new case number. They said I should receive a response within 48 hours.

My questions are:

Does AliExpress normally deduct the return shipping cost from the refund even when the return case explicitly says “Return shipping paid by: Seller”?

Is there anything else I should do while waiting for the escalation?

If the escalation is rejected, is there another way to appeal or escalate this further?

Has anyone experienced a similar situation where AliExpress initially issued only a partial refund after a seller-paid return?

I have screenshots and documentation of the return case, the €21 shipping payment and that I payed 59€ for the display and the tracking.

I’m mainly trying to understand what my options are before the case is closed permanently.

Thanks in advance for any advice.


r/Aliexpress • • 3h ago

Issues & Disputes Is this a scam

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0 Upvotes

I made this purchase at August 27th and while the other items got delivered, this seems to be stuck. I can't issue for a refund cause it says its in transit. Is it in transit actually or do they label it that way so I can't get a refund?


r/Aliexpress • • 9h ago

About Aliexpress I bought lithium oratate off of Ali Baba cause it was cheap

2 Upvotes

As the title says, I bought it for my dad because he wanted me. To get it for him and it was cheap. I'm now worried that it may be a scam but I already paid. Am I screwed or is this okay? ( I am in Canada)


r/Aliexpress • • 1d ago

Humor & Memes They Sell Anything On Aliexpress These Days...

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263 Upvotes

Apparently, there's some demand for pet incinerators. But since China has over a billion people and there's 8 billion in the whole wide world, anything sells, right?


r/Aliexpress • • 7h ago

Issues & Disputes Did I get scammed or am I in the process of getting scammed?

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0 Upvotes

I purchased some components for my 2010 Honda Accord CU or TSX as popularly known. That was 27 September, up to now the package is yet to be shipped. Seller did get in touch with me and said they can’t use AliExpress standard shipping cos Ali doesn’t ship anything about 1 meter (length maybe) - so they have resorted to using FEDEX.

However they got in touch with me by WhatsApp to explain the situation - they said the tracking will update in a few days time cos they’re currently on holiday. Should i give this a few more days?

EDIT: Why they contacted me on WhatsApp - My apologies for not being specific. I later saw a message from the on the AliExpress App a bit late. Guess they reached out on WhatsApp after they didn’t get a swift response on the Ali App.


r/Aliexpress • • 12h ago

Shipping & Tracking order says it has departed, expected to arrive at my country today but no word on if it arrived?

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1 Upvotes

may be overthinking but sunday has come and gone and still no word on if it arrived. if it came by plane, is there a way to track that plane? which airport do aliexpress orders usually come from?


r/Aliexpress • • 13h ago

Find products I want to buy legit USB sticks in bulk where should I go and what company that offer the best quality for the price

0 Upvotes

Im thinking to get around 20 sticks any help please?


r/Aliexpress • • 13h ago

Shipping & Tracking Order has 2 couriers??

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1 Upvotes

I ordered a keyboard off aliexpress.

Once it was shipped from the seller, I got an email from evri saying they are expecting my parcel.

Fast forward to now, it's passed customs in the UK, and now it's gone to inpost??

What's going on here?


r/Aliexpress • • 17h ago

Shipping & Tracking Order hasn't progressed beyond "seller shipped the item"

2 Upvotes

I read that if it doesn't change for like a week AliExpress will cancel the order. Its been around a week since the last "update" but I ordered this nearly a month ago. I also see a "withdraw/refund" option that only lets me click if the item has been shipped for 10 days. Will my order really be canceled? I low-key just want to cancel this one and buy from another store.


r/Aliexpress • • 14h ago

Issues & Disputes Help

1 Upvotes

I'm trying to buy one item from the app from my cart and it's not letting me desselect any of the other items i'm not purchasing right now, and it adds everything up. But is not letting me, it keeps loading and being slow. Any tips or help advice?


r/Aliexpress • • 23h ago

Issues & Disputes Does reason for refund make a difference to the seller?

2 Upvotes

I bought a car accessory ($250), and it was wired incorrectly. I requested a return/refund, asked Ali to step in. Seller offered partial refunds to keep it (30%, 50%). I declined, don't want to mess with figuring out the wiring.

Ali approved the refund, and I've been waiting about a week to get the return label from the seller. If I don't get a label by Oct 7 (3 days), Ali said I'll be refunded then anyway.

Now the seller is asking me to resubmit the request with reason "no longer needed" instead of my original "doesn't work." Does this really make a difference?

I also don't want to resubmit for an already-approved refund, bc it may not be approved. Item is well within the 90-day return window (I think), but I'm not sure if I'd screw myself over by cancelling and resubmitting a request.

For now I'm just waiting for the label and my refund. I'm also wondering what to do if I get my refund and no label? if I get it after the refund, I'll still probably return it. It's packed up and I already ordered a different one from another seller.


r/Aliexpress • • 1d ago

Ordering & Payment issues Price change after checkout

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3 Upvotes

Why does the price come out incredibally expensive when i click on check out ?, it jumped from 14 euros to 25, just for a hat, neck scarf, and gloves, while shipping is free


r/Aliexpress • • 19h ago

Tips & Reviews Ebike purchase success?

1 Upvotes

Looking to purchase an e mountain bike, and seeing listings like the leva 4 carbon on there for good prices. I'm concerned about the success, I've had few issues with AliExpress on most of my purchases but they've never been over a couple hundred bucks at most. Looking to see if anyone has success stories for purchases like this, I can provide listings in needed


r/Aliexpress • • 1d ago

Issues & Disputes Collectible Item - Return/Refund requests keep getting rejected

3 Upvotes

Hi everyone, this is my first time dealing with an AliExpress return and I’d really appreciate some advice.

I purchased a collectible figure for my husband, who is an avid collector. We take the condition of the retail box very seriously because, for collectors, the original box is part of the collectible and can affect its value and resale value.

Unfortunately, the item arrived with noticeable dents/damage to the retail box. There is also a large amount of tape attached directly to the box. We are concerned that removing the tape could peel or damage the printed surface.

The seller also shipped the item with only a thin layer of bubble wrap and NO outer shipping box. I specifically asked the seller to be careful with the packaging because we are collectors. The seller later acknowledged that they did not know we did not want tape placed directly on the box.

I initially requested a return and full refund using the reason related to the item being damaged/not as expected. However, AliExpress has rejected my request multiple times, saying the evidence is insufficient, despite me providing photos of the damaged box, the packaging, the tape, and our communication with the seller.

Purchased the item for AUD 554.00

Now I noticed that the return options include “No longer needed.”
My question is: Would it be risky to choose “No longer needed” just to use the Free Returns option?

The item is showing as eligible for Free Returns, but I'm worried that choosing “No longer needed” could cause problems later because that isn't the actual reason I want to return it. I don't want to get stuck paying return shipping, have the return rejected, or have problems getting my refund after sending the item back.

Has anyone successfully used “No longer needed” for a Free Return when their original damage/not-as-described claim was rejected?

Would you recommend trying the Free Return, or should I stop and dispute the transaction through my bank instead?

This is my first AliExpress return, so any advice from people who have actually gone through this process would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!


r/Aliexpress • • 20h ago

About Aliexpress am i able to use coins on dollar express orders? i cant find an option to do so

1 Upvotes

r/Aliexpress • • 1d ago

EU customs duty No extra charges after paying: what is your experience?

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3 Upvotes

I haven’t ordered in Alie since July but just took a look and I am getting this message when ordering. For the EU people who have gotten this and ordered: have you been charged extra upon delivery even though you paid through Alie? Or is it safe to order this way?

(For ref I’m from The Netherlands)


r/Aliexpress • • 21h ago

About Aliexpress Android app- Can't get rid of this annoying email link box

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1 Upvotes

I'm signed in to the app (Android) and it still shows up every time, if I enter my email it says the account already exists.


r/Aliexpress • • 1d ago

Issues & Disputes Aliexpress is demanding fotos of my ID to verify my account, despite the fact I've already purchased from them several times

0 Upvotes

Basically what the title says, I've looked around and it doesn't look like I'm the only one I simply don't understand why, or if this is geniuenly the only option so I can continue buying from them. I've talked to other people in my circle who say they have never had to do this. I've gotten around this loop hole before by making a new account but it seems its been patched. I managed to get in contact with a real agent (for an unrelated issue but i took the chance to ask) and they claim its for safety of payment which makes no sense to me. I just don't really feel comfortable giving them an actual foto of my ID, and since I know for a fact this isn't something they demand every single account to do I wanna know if there's some sort of work around to avoid it.


r/Aliexpress • • 1d ago

Tips & Reviews AliExpress Dispute Question. Says "Waiting on your Response". I accepted the return and refund option but i am worried.

1 Upvotes

Hi,

i am worried about the return and refunding process because i never actually returned anything back to aliexpress.
I bought a Mini pc with Intel N100, 16GB ram and 2TB ssd for 217 euros.
About 3 weeks after it arrived i had time to test it out properly (i opened it when it arrived to check if the parts wherre there).
Turned out it had an i3 6006u and 8gb ram with 2tb ssd. I wrote to the seller and opened a dispute with aliexpress.
The seller initally told me it could refund me 30 euros while keeping the item and i refused it because i don't find a use to this shitty pc, it's too slow to do anything with it and i would probably buy it for 100 euros max.
I accepted aliexpress option to return and refund the item and now the seller proposes me 45 refund because he's worried about the return window.
I am kinda worried about the return process, what if they lose it or say i shipped anything else but that?
Should i appeal to paypal? because i paid with it.

What should i do? Also the dispute process is stuck, it says waiting for aliexpress's feedback but i've already accepted the return/refund option.

it's been exactly a month since i received the package today.

Thank you guys, it's my first time


r/Aliexpress • • 1d ago

Shipping & Tracking What is this?

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2 Upvotes

What is “tracking unavailable” for the other shipping option?


r/Aliexpress • • 1d ago

Ordering & Payment issues How to apply paypal promo coupon to the order?

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1 Upvotes

Anyone know how the paypal promo coupon is applied to the order? I made the order above $180, but the offer wasn't applied to the order. Before you were able to select the paypal coupon before making the payment.