Question
If I send a small package through USPS to Spain as a gift, does the recipient have to pay any duties/tariffs?
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
“If you made it, then you set the value at $2.00.”
“But still, the recipient may have to pay the inspection and holding fees that could be up to €75.”
“You can declare a value, but customs can set whatever they decide. I shipped a used item, declared it had a value of €700, but customs adjusted the value to €1400 and charged me accordingly.”
“My friend sent me two tiny fridge magnets (smaller than a postage stamp), declared with a zero value. It cost me €25 to pick them up.”
“What they make you pay is VAT, almost never tariffs. The majority of that fee isn’t VAT but a ridiculous service charge Correos demands for managing the payment of this tax. You can pay VAT online, print out a certificate, and then pick it up at the post office.”
“If you care about this person, don’t push them into customs hell. It’s torment that goes on for weeks.”
“Check out SendmyBag, a service that might work better than USPS for sending packages internationally.” – Get -5% discount here!
“Consider shopping on Amazon.es and having gifts delivered to the recipient.”
“Don’t do it. Packages can get stuck in customs for months, and the customs fees and taxes can cost more than the item. It’s better to order from an EU company and ship it directly to Spain. Amazon in the US also ships to Spain for many items and includes customs fees in the total cost. Shipping usually takes about a week.”
“The duty is very high, often much higher than the value of the items in the package.”
“Every package we’ve received from friends came with random duties and fees. Even postcards and letters have taken months to arrive. It’s better to use a Spanish site like Amazon.es or wait to deliver the gift in person.”
“Depending on the value, most likely yes. I used to send parts to my father in Spain, and customs frequently challenged the declared value, delaying the shipment for months. Low-value shipments still took 2-3 months to arrive.”
“I’ve paid €30 for my daughter to receive jelly beans from her grandparents. If it’s something handmade, I wouldn’t risk sending it—it’s costly to receive and could easily get lost.”
Conclusion
According to members of the Spainguru’s Facebook group, sending small gift packages to Spain via USPS often results in the recipient having to pay duties, VAT, and significant service fees.
Customs may adjust declared values, sometimes increasing fees unpredictably. Delays and potential losses are also common, making this option unreliable for important or unique items.
For a smoother experience, consider alternatives like using Amazon.es to ship gifts directly or services like SendmyBag. If the gift is handmade or irreplaceable, it’s best to wait and deliver it in person to avoid customs complications and high fees.
