Two identical boxes of the same cigar can carry very different price tags depending on where in Europe they are sold. The reason is tax, not the tobacco. Every EU country applies its own standard VAT rate on top of a shared EU minimum excise framework for cigars and cigarillos โ here is how it actually works, with real, sourced figures.
The EU-Wide Excise Floor for Cigars
Under the EU Tobacco Taxation Directive, cigars and cigarillos carry a minimum excise duty of 5% of the retail selling price (VAT included), or โฌ12 per 1,000 items or per kilogram โ whichever amount is higher. This is a floor, not a fixed rate: every member state must charge at least this much, and several charge more through additional national duties. Cigarettes are taxed far more heavily than cigars almost everywhere in Europe, which is one reason cigars remain comparatively better value.
Standard VAT Rates by Country
On top of the excise floor, standard Value Added Tax applies to the full retail price. VAT is the single biggest driver of price differences between countries โ a cigar taxed at 23% VAT will simply cost more at the till than the identical cigar taxed at 19%, before any excise duty is even considered.
| Country | Standard VAT Rate | We Ship Here? |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 19% | Yes |
| Austria | 20% | Yes |
| Belgium | 21% | Yes |
| Czech Republic | 21% | Yes |
| Poland | 23% | Yes |
| Switzerland | 8.1% | Yes |
| France | 20% | No โ tobacco distance-selling prohibited by national law |
| Italy | 22% | No โ tobacco distance-selling prohibited by national law |
| Spain | 21% | No โ tobacco distance-selling prohibited by national law |
| Netherlands | 21% | No โ online tobacco sales banned nationwide since July 2023 |
VAT rates are set nationally and can change; figures shown are standard rates as of 2026. Switzerland is not an EU member and sets VAT independently.
Why Some Countries Simply Arenโt on the Map
Tax is only half the story. Under Article 18 of the EU Tobacco Products Directive, member states may individually choose to prohibit or restrict cross-border distance sales of tobacco to their residents. France, Italy and Spain have long maintained state tobacco monopolies that make any online purchase from outside the licensed network illegal, and the Netherlands banned all online tobacco sales โ domestic and cross-border alike โ from 1 July 2023. It is not a shipping limitation on our end; it is the law in those countries, and we will not ship an order there regardless of the address entered at checkout.
What This Means for Your Order
Our prices are shown in euros, VAT and duty already accounted for in what you pay โ there are no surprise charges on delivery within our served countries. If your delivery address is in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, the Czech Republic or Poland, your order is fully compliant with local tax and tobacco law from checkout to delivery.