The Budget Law for 2026 introduces numerous tax changes that will directly impact consumers’ pockets. In addition to the expected relief and bonuses, increases are expected in several sectors, including diesel, tobacco, international shipping and financial transactions.
Tobaccos
One of the most affected areas will be tobacco. The new excise duties in fact provide for a progressive increase in taxes on tobacco. Cigarettes, for example, will undergo an increase which will lead to an increase in the price of the pack of around 60 cents over the three-year period, with an annual increase of 216 euros for those who smoke regularly.
Shredded tobacco and e-cigarettes will also see increases, albeit to a lesser extent. It is estimated that heated tobacco products and hybrid devices will increase by 8 or 10 cents in 2026, 10 or 12 cents in 2027, 12 or 15 cents in 2028. The cost of e-cigarette liquids will also skyrocket: those with nicotine by 10% more, while those without nicotine by 5%.
Fuels
On the fuel front, there is little good news. While the excise duty on petrol will see a reduction of around 4 cents per litre, diesel fuel, used by many commercial vehicles, will see an increase. The maneuver aims to rebalance the market, increasing the cost of diesel, which risks weighing on those who depend on road transport. The forecast is that the increase could cost those who own diesel vehicles over 100 euros a year, with possible repercussions on the prices of transported goods.
International shipments: fast fashion giants affected
Another particularly discussed measure is the tax on international shipping. From 2026, all shipments from non-EU countries with a value of less than 150 euros will suffer a fixed tax of 2 euros, particularly affecting Asian fast fashion e-commerce platforms such as Temu and Shein. The tax is expected to raise revenue of around 122 million euros in the first year.
Financial transitions
Finally, the tax on financial transactions (Tobin Tax) will increase, going from 0.2% to 0.4% for the unregulated market and from 0.1% to 0.2% for the regulated one. This could have an impact on small investors, as well as the increase in taxation on capital gains from cryptocurrencies, which will go from 26% to 33%.
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