Shipping to other EU countries: couriers, costs, returns and what to show

.comparison-cards { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 1.5rem; } .comparison-card { background: #fff; border-radius: 16px; padding: 20px; border: 2px solid #efefef; } .comparison-header { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 12px; } .comparison-row { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; padding: 8px 0; border-top: 1px solid #efefef; font-size: 14px; color: #1f2937; } .comparison-label { font-size: 14px; width: 30%; } .comparison-value { width: 65%; text-align: right; } @media (max-width: 600px) { .comparison-row { flex-direction: column; align-items: flex-start; } .comparison-value { text-align: left; margin-top: 4px; } } A Romanian store sending parcels to Hungary, Germany or Italy, or a Danish webshop selling to Sweden and Germany, soon finds out that shipping to another EU country is not just a higher courier rate. The real cost per order changes, and so do delivery times, the way you handle returns, VAT above a certain threshold and what you have to show on your site. Below I go through each part, with a worked example and the EU rules checked. Confirm the tax side with your accountant and the rates with your courier. 1. What changes and what doesn't when you ship to another EU country EU member states do not charge customs duties among themselves: goods in free circulation move from one country to another without tariffs and without border checks. Your customer in Hungary or Germany pays nothing on delivery and you fill in no customs declarations. Watch the exceptions: Norway, Switzerland and the UK are not in the EU, so customs apply there. Excise goods such as alcohol have separate rules, which you should check before the first order. What really changes: Cost: a 1 kg parcel to another country usually costs several times more than a domestic one. Delivery time: over longer distances you get 3 to 7 working days instead of 1 or 2. Returns: a return from abroad is more expensive and slower. VAT: above…