POSTING RULE

Send Alcohol / Spirits → 🇩🇪 Germany

Q: Can I post Alcohol / Spirits to Germany?

EU standard rules; excise duties apply from non-EU Deutsche Post / DHL accept domestic parcels containing spirits up to 5 litres total per parcel under the IATA limited-quantity exemption. International outbound parcels require IATA dangerous-goods classification and shipper's declaration when alcohol content exceeds 24% ABV. Personal-gift shipments to private addresses within the EU are duty-free up to EUR 45 between private senders; commercial parcels attract the German Branntweinmonopol-Spirits-Excise (EUR 13.03 per litre of pure alcohol).

Q: What are the restrictions for sending Alcohol / Spirits to Germany?

Quantity/weight limits: No limit within EU; non-EU faces duties. Documentation required: Customs declaration for non-EU.

ANSWER

Can I post Alcohol / Spirits to Germany?

RESTRICTEDVERIFIED · 2026-05-13

EU standard rules; excise duties apply from non-EU

QUANTITY / LIMITS

No limit within EU; non-EU faces duties

DUTY / TAX

Excise + 19% VAT from non-EU

DOCUMENTS

Customs declaration for non-EU

DECLARATION

Required at the destination customs authority

SOURCE

zoll.de

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Full Details

Deutsche Post / DHL accept domestic parcels containing spirits up to 5 litres total per parcel under the IATA limited-quantity exemption. International outbound parcels require IATA dangerous-goods classification and shipper's declaration when alcohol content exceeds 24% ABV. Personal-gift shipments to private addresses within the EU are duty-free up to EUR 45 between private senders; commercial parcels attract the German Branntweinmonopol-Spirits-Excise (EUR 13.03 per litre of pure alcohol).

PENALTIES

Fine: 100–50000 EUR
Statute: Abgabenordnung §378 (leichtfertige Steuerverkürzung); Zollkodex EU 952/2013
Deutscher Zoll levies duty + 19% MwSt at Frankfurt or Leipzig postal hubs on parcels above EUR 150 IOSS threshold. Undeclared or misdeclared parcels trigger administrative-offence penalty under AO §378.

PRACTICAL ADVICE

Standard duty-free allowance applies (typically 1L spirits + 1-2L wine + beer). Declare any quantity above; excise + 19% VAT computed at Zollkriminalamt / Zoll (German Customs — Federal Customs Administration) Red Channel. Bring purchase receipts.

OFFICIAL SOURCES

zoll.de zoll.de deutschepost.de

POSTING DETAILS

QUANTITY / WEIGHT LIMITS

No limit within EU; non-EU faces duties

DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

—Customs declaration for non-EU

DUTY / TAX RATE

Excise + 19% VAT from non-EU

LEGAL REFERENCE

German Excise Tax Law, EU Directive

DESTINATION CUSTOMS

Zollkriminalamt / Zoll (German Customs — Federal Customs Administration)

COUNTRY POSTING NOTES

Deutsche Post DHL and customs coordinate for international parcel clearance. VAT applies to all imported goods. Items above €150 customs value require payment of customs duty. Prohibited items are seized by customs.