Recover duty and VAT on EU returns. Automatically, at scale.
EU returns generate recoverable duty and VAT across multiple mechanisms: standard import duty, VAT on re-imported goods, and since July 2026, the €3 fixed duty on low-value parcels. Most retailers miss recovery not because they're ineligible, but because they can't produce the evidence at scale.
Meridian's EU Returns Workflow automates evidence pack building for all EU duty recovery routes, not just the €3 levy, so recovery becomes a repeatable, audit-ready process across your entire EU returns operation.
What you get
Evidence packs (per return)
Checklist-driven, audit-ready documentation assembled automatically for each eligible EU return.
Exception queue
Clear visibility on what’s missing, who owns it, and what needs resolving before a claim can proceed.
Claim-pack export
Submission-ready packs that can be filed by your team, broker, or with Meridian’s support depending on route and setup.
EUR reporting (and GBP where relevant)
Finance-ready reporting in the correct lane currency. GBP for UK-side costs, EUR for EU-side recovery.
EU returns duty recovery is broader than the €3 levy.
The €3 levy on low-value parcels is the headline, but it's one piece of a larger recovery opportunity. Eligible EU returns that re-enter the UK with duty or VAT paid are potentially recoverable, regardless of parcel value.
EU duty and VAT recovery depends on the specific legal route and the evidence you can produce (for example, repayment/remission routes under UCC Article 116 where conditions are met). In practice, most claims fail for one reason: the operation can't assemble consistent, audit-ready evidence at volume.
The problem isn't eligibility. It's evidence. Most operations can't produce the documentation at scale.
Recovery routes at a glance
Not all consumer “change of mind” returns are claimable. Eligibility depends on the route and evidence (e.g., non-conformity/defect/rejection scenarios where required).
| Recovery route | What triggers it | What evidence is needed |
|---|---|---|
| Standard duty | Duty paid on re-entry | Export linkage + same-state evidence |
| VAT on re-import | VAT charged on re-entry | Same pack + finance proof |
| €3 fixed duty | Low-value parcels | Structured intake + linkage |
Eligibility and outcomes depend on authority rules and the completeness of evidence provided.
The workflow covers standard duty, VAT-related recovery routes where applicable, and the €3 fixed duty on low-value parcels — with EUR reporting and a structured exception queue.
The EU Returns Workflow turns returns into a controlled compliance lane.
Every return is traceable. Packs are checklist-driven; exceptions are surfaced early. One workflow covers standard duty, VAT, and €3 levy recovery, delivering a complete claim pack ready for submission via your chosen route (in-house, broker, or supported delivery).
What the EU Returns Workflow does.
Three capability groups purpose-built to eliminate the evidence gaps that cause EU duty recovery claims to fail.
Linkage
- Normalise data from returns platforms, WMS, and shipping records into a unified schema
- Link returns to export references using multi-layer matching (order IDs, tracking, shipment refs)
Evidence
- Capture intake evidence: photos, condition grading, and scan events at point of return
- Auto-assemble checklist-driven evidence packs covering standard duty, VAT, and €3 levy
Control
- Structured exception handling: gaps identified before a claim fails, with clear ownership and resolution paths
- Immutable audit trail and version-controlled packs, retained for the full review period
Status & delivery
Evidence pack building and claim-pack assembly for EU duty and VAT recovery. Handles GBP and EUR reporting.
Claim packs can be submitted by your team or broker. Meridian can support depending on route and setup.
Built for businesses managing EU returns at scale.
High-volume EU retailers
UK and EU retailers shipping cross-border in fashion, electronics, and home goods with significant EU return volumes. If you process 50+ EU returns per month, the workflow pays for itself quickly.
3PLs and returns hubs
Brands using third-party logistics or returns hubs where evidence capture needs standardisation across multiple sites and operators.
Lean operations teams
Teams that want recovery without adding headcount. The workflow automates the evidence assembly that would otherwise require dedicated compliance staff.
Compliance-first by design
Evidence packs are checklist-driven, version-controlled, and built to be retrievable on demand, with structured exception handling and an immutable audit trail. Actions are logged. Cases are defensible. The same engine can also build packs for standard import duty and VAT recovery if your operation requires it.
EU Returns Workflow: frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about the €3 levy, evidence requirements, and how the EU Returns Workflow fits your operation.
Start recovering duty on EU returns.
We'll map your EU returns flow, show what evidence is required, and quantify the recovery opportunity, including the impact of the €3 levy on your landed cost model. The workflow delivers a complete claim pack that can be submitted by your team or broker; Meridian can support depending on route and setup. If you also need evidence packs for standard import duty and VAT recovery, we can configure the workflow to cover that too.
“See an example claim pack” connects you with a specialist who will walk you through a sample pack.
€3 levy readiness: If you're shipping into the EU, your landed cost model is changing. The fastest way to protect margin is to make recovery evidence automatic.