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.
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. Every EU return that re-enters the UK with duty or VAT paid is potentially recoverable, regardless of parcel value.
Standard import duty, VAT on re-imported goods, and the €3 fixed charge all follow the same principle: if you can prove the goods were originally exported from the UK and returned in the same state, the duty is recoverable. The challenge is producing that evidence consistently, at volume.
Duty paid on goods re-entering the UK that were originally exported. Recoverable via RGR with correct MRN linkage.
VAT charged at re-import on returned goods. Recoverable alongside duty when the evidence pack is complete.
Baseline cost on low-value EU parcels. Recoverable with structured evidence capture built into the workflow.
The problem isn't eligibility. It's evidence. Most operations can't produce the documentation at scale.
The EU Returns Workflow turns returns into a controlled compliance lane.
Every return is traceable. Every pack is complete. Every exception is visible. One workflow covers standard duty, VAT, and €3 levy recovery, delivering a complete claim pack ready for EU authority submission.
What the EU Returns Workflow does.
Six capabilities purpose-built to eliminate the evidence gaps that cause EU duty recovery claims to fail.
Automates evidence pack assembly
Checklist-driven packs built for every EU return, covering standard import duty, VAT, and €3 levy recovery. Every pack is consistent, complete, and audit-ready before filing.
Normalises data across platforms
Data from your returns platform, warehouse/3PL, and shipping records is standardised into a unified schema. No more mismatched references or format inconsistencies between systems.
Links returns to export references
Order IDs, shipment references, tracking numbers, and supporting documents are matched automatically using the same multi-layer algorithm that powers our UK recovery workflow.
Captures intake evidence
Photos, condition grading, and scan events captured at intake to support same-state controls. This is the evidence layer that most operations lack, and the reason most claims fail.
Structured exception handling
Gaps are identified before a claim fails, not after rejection. Every exception has clear ownership, severity, and a documented resolution path in an auditable trail.
Multi-currency, multi-route ready
Handles GBP, EUR, and USD reporting. Supports standard duty recovery, VAT recovery, and €3 levy recovery from a single workflow, with no separate processes needed.
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. Every action is logged. Every case is 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, authority-ready claim pack for submission to the respective EU customs authority. If you also need evidence packs for standard import duty and VAT recovery, we can configure the workflow to cover that too.
€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.