Analysis suggests Irish consumers could pay up to €170m in additional tariffs this year as a result of Brexit.
Figures up to the end of November show that the Treasury recorded 465 million euros in customs receipts.
Based on the trend in recent months and the increase in consumer spending in the Christmas period, it is estimated that this will rise to 510 million euros by the end of the year.
However, this compares to pre-Covid figures of around €340 million in 2019, €327 million in 2018, and €335 million in 2017.
In the Comptroller’s most recent Treasury Finance for the month of November, the Treasury said the increase in customs revenue is related to the impact of the UK’s exit from the EU customs union.
Since Brexit, goods from the UK whose country of origin is not the UK are subject to customs duties.
However, due to the lack of data, it is not clear whether the entire increase is attributable to the impact of Brexit, or some other factor.
Despite the revenue rebound, the Irish Treasury will not fully benefit from this, with about 75% of tariffs going directly to the EU, and only 25% ending up in the state.
The requirement that consumers pay tariffs on certain goods arriving from Britain since Brexit has created headaches for An Post and other delivery companies.
New customs rules for packages from Britain came into effect in the summer that require senders to provide electronic customs information for each package.
When customs duties apply, these duties must be paid by customers before the Post is allowed to deliver their goods.
“Brexit continues to bring us bad news here in Ireland and this is only the latest example,” said Chris McManus, MEP, Sinn Fein.
«I would urge consumers to make sure that the price they pay includes all fees.»
«It is especially painful that this does not do much for the treasury because 75% of the tariffs go directly to the EU.»
Last month, An Post chief executive David McCredmond criticized the British Post Office for not implementing new customs rules.
He said the failure resulted in thousands of packages being held up for weeks at the company’s warehouses.