Austria Proposes Controversial €2 Parcel Fee for Large Online Retailers

Originally, policymakers considered limiting the fee to parcels from non-EU countries, but this approach proved legally unworkable. As reported by the Austrian news program "Zeit im Bild," *"Der ursprüngliche Plan, nur für Sendungen aus Drittstaaten eine Paketabgabe einzuführen, ließ sich rechtlich nicht umsetzen"* ("The original plan to introduce a parcel fee only for shipments from third countries could not be implemented legally").

Economic and Sector Impact

The €280 million annual revenue projection represents a significant new income stream for Austria's federal and regional governments. The flat €2-per-parcel structure creates a predictable cost framework for affected retailers, though consumer groups anticipate potential pass-through effects on delivery prices.

By setting the €100 million revenue threshold, lawmakers aim to focus the measure on large-scale operators while protecting smaller domestic e-commerce businesses. The exclusion of B2B transactions ensures commercial supply chains remain unaffected.

Industry analysts note the regulation creates parity between international giants and major Austrian retailers, with all facing identical fee structures. The uniform application addresses previous concerns about competitive disadvantages for domestic firms relative to foreign platforms.