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ONVOYO

Shipping boxes to and from Italy

Boxes sent to Italy from another EU country move freely, with no customs and nothing to pay. From outside the EU, including the UK, IVA (VAT), usually 22%, is due from the first euro, and since July 1, 2026, customs duty can apply at any value because the EU's €150 duty relief has ended. Gifts from one private person to another worth up to €45 still arrive free, and so do your used belongings when you move your residence to Italy with ADM form F-01.

Typical transit
2-4 business days within the EU; 3-6 from the UK or North America; 4-8 from Asia
Currency
EUR
Duty-free up to
If you're sending from inside the EU, there is no customs clearance and nothing to pay
Receiver ID
Not usually needed

Price a shipment to Italy

Box size

Choose where it's from and where it's going.

What it costs to ship boxes from the US to Italy

  • 1 medium box (16 × 16 × 16 in, 20 lb)$137.75delivered in 3 to 5 business days
  • 5 medium boxes (30 lb each)$688.75 totalabout $137.75 a box

Includes pickup at your door, express delivery, fuel and prepared customs paperwork. Import duties and taxes, if any, are set by Italy and paid by the receiver. Prices updated November 2, 2026.

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Sending to Italy

Duties and taxes1234568

Duty-free threshold
If you're sending from inside the EU, there is no customs clearance and nothing to pay. From outside the EU (including the UK), IVA is due from the first euro: Italy's old €22 IVA exemption for small parcels ended in 2021. The EU's €150 duty relief ended on July 1, 2026, so duty can now apply at any value. An occasional gift from one private person to another worth up to €45 (about $53) in total is still free of both duty and IVA. Online purchases up to €150 pay a flat €3 (about $3.50) duty for each type of item until July 1, 2028. From December 1, 2026, Italy is also set to charge a €2 (about $2.30) administrative fee on every box from outside the EU worth up to €150, gifts included.
Import tax
IVA (imposta sul valore aggiunto) at 22% on most goods, charged on the customs value plus shipping to the destination and any duty. Reduced rates of 4%, 5%, and 10% cover listed goods, and books, newspapers, and magazines pay 4%. Duty follows the EU tariff, but for non-commercial goods sent from one private person to another worth up to €700 (about $820) per box, customs can apply a flat 2.5% instead. Livigno and Campione d'Italia are outside the Italian and EU VAT area.
How value is worked out
CIF. Duty is charged on the customs value of the goods, including shipping and insurance, and IVA is charged on that value plus any duty and the cost of delivery to the destination in the EU. The €150 and €700 limits are checked against the goods' own value, without shipping or insurance. Give each used item an honest value that reflects its age and condition, not the price when new. For moving relief, form F-01 asks for the total value of your belongings for customs purposes only. If you give values in another currency, customs converts them to euros.
Who pays
Shipments are sent DAP. If duty or VAT is due, the receiver pays it before or on delivery. The courier may add a clearance or disbursement fee for handling the payment.
Moving there?
If you lived outside the EU for at least 12 months in a row and owned and used your belongings there for at least 6 months, they can enter free of duty and IVA when you move your normal residence to Italy. Use ADM form F-01 A once you have moved (your Italian residence must be less than 12 months old), or F-01 B before you move, with a guarantee and a promise to move within 6 months. Attach a list of your household goods and personal effects, proof of residence abroad (for Italians, AIRE registration or a consular certificate works), proof of residence in Italy, and a copy of your ID. Declare the goods within 12 months of settling. Alcohol, tobacco, commercial vehicles, and work equipment (other than portable tools of a trade or profession) are excluded, and relieved goods can't be lent, pledged, rented, sold, or given away for 12 months without telling customs first. ADM has separate forms for goods brought in on marriage (F-02 A), inherited belongings (F-03), and students (F-04).

Worked example

Illustrative: a used winter coat worth €120 (about $140), sent as a gift by a relative outside the EU, with €40 (about $47) of shipping. Assumes customs applies the flat 2.5% duty for non-commercial boxes between private persons, that all the shipping counts toward the customs value, and that the coat is the only item, so the €45 gift relief can't be used.

Customs value: €120 + €40 = €160. Duty: 2.5% x €160 = €4. IVA: 22% x (€160 + €4) = €36.08. Total €40.08.

About €40.08 (about $47), plus any courier clearance fee. From December 1, 2026, Italy's €2 fee would bring it to about €42 (about $49). From inside the EU, or as part of a qualifying move to Italy, the same coat would owe nothing.

How customs clearance works in Italy12561011

Boxes from outside the EU are cleared electronically by the courier, usually acting as the receiver's customs representative. It pays the IVA and any duty to ADM and bills the receiver. ADM points out that charges labeled "oneri doganali" or "spese di sdoganamento" are the courier's own service fees, not customs duties. For moving or student relief, give the courier (or another delegate) the signed ADM form and your list so it can clear the boxes in your name.

Formal entry
Every box from outside the EU gets a customs declaration, which the courier files. Since July 1, 2026, boxes that don't fit a relief owe duty at any value: the flat 2.5% for non-commercial boxes between private persons worth up to €700, and the full EU tariff above that. Relief claims go in with the F-01 or F-04 form, and customs can clear moving boxes before you arrive if you give a guarantee.
How long it takes
Often 1-3 business days after arrival when values and paperwork are in order. Relief claims, food, and medicines can take longer, especially when the Ministry of Health's border office must approve a medicine first.
Inspections
Customs looks closely at food of animal origin, plants, medicines, protected species, possible counterfeits, and values that seem too low. Medicines not authorized in Italy need clearance from the Ministry of Health's border office (USMAF) before customs releases them, and relieved belongings can be checked against your list.
If duties go unpaid
The box stays with the courier until IVA, any duty, and fees are paid. If the receiver doesn't pay or respond, the courier holds it for a limited time, then usually returns it to the sender or abandons it to customs, and storage or return costs may be billed. Check the courier's holding period before you ship.

Moving to Italy: claiming duty relief167

  1. 01

    Check you qualify

    You lived outside the EU for at least 12 months in a row (or can show you meant to, for example with a job contract that ended early), owned and used the items there for at least 6 months, and will use them the same way in Italy.

  2. 02

    Leave out what's excluded

    Alcohol, tobacco, commercial vehicles, and work equipment (other than portable tools of a trade or profession) get no relief, and neither do goods that need a license from another authority.

  3. 03

    Write your list

    List your household goods and personal effects with values, including boxes that will follow later. The F-01 form asks for their total value for customs purposes.

  4. 04

    Pick your form

    Use F-01 A if your Italian residence is already set up (less than 12 months ago). Use F-01 B before you move: customs asks for a guarantee, such as an insurance policy or deposit, and you promise to move within 6 months.

  5. 05

    Gather proof

    Proof of residence abroad (an employer's letter, a lease or deed, or AIRE registration or a consular certificate) and in Italy (a self-certification of residence, or your residence application plus a lease, utility, or job contract), a copy of your ID, and your codice fiscale.

  6. 06

    Hand it over

    File the form yourself with the customs office, or have a delegate do it for you, such as a relative or the courier clearing your boxes. Declare everything within 12 months of settling.

  7. 07

    Keep the items 12 months

    Don't lend, pledge, rent, sell, or give away relieved goods for 12 months after they arrive without telling customs first.

Documents to have ready1679

  • Contents list with a plain description and a fair value for each item, marked as used personal effects or as a gift
  • For moving relief: ADM form F-01 A (after you move) or F-01 B (before you move, with a guarantee), plus a list of your household goods and personal effects
  • Proof of residence abroad (an employer's letter, a lease or deed, or AIRE registration or a consular certificate) and proof of residence in Italy (a signed self-certification of residence, or your residence application plus a lease, utility contract, or job contract)
  • Copy of the applicant's passport or ID card, and the codice fiscale
  • For students: ADM form F-04 with proof of full-time enrollment for the school year
  • The receiver's phone number and email, so the courier can arrange payment and delivery

Onvoyo prepares the commercial invoice from your contents list. You print three copies, sign them, and send them with your boxes.

Official forms167

What you can pack, category by category168101112

What you can pack, by category
CategoryStatusWhat to know
Clothing and shoesMore on clothesAllowedUsed clothing is fine. From outside the EU it's free under moving or student relief, or as a gift worth €45 or less; otherwise 22% IVA and duty apply.
Books and papersMore on booksAllowedBooks are welcome. When IVA is due, books pay 4%. Old books worth more than €13,500 need export papers to leave Italy.
ElectronicsMore on electronicsConditionsUsed personal devices are fine with batteries installed. In a moving-relief shipment, TVs and computers don't need a CE mark. Loose or spare lithium batteries are refused.
MedicationMore on medicineConditionsOnly medicines authorized abroad but not in Italy, requested by the patient's doctor through the Ministry of Health's border office (USMAF), for up to 90 days of treatment. Leave other medicines out.
FoodMore on foodConditionsNo meat or dairy from outside the EU, except from a few European countries. Fish up to 20 kg and honey up to 2 kg. Bread, biscuits, chocolate, sweets, and pasta without meat are exempt. Couriers refuse perishables.
Cosmetics and toiletriesMore on cosmeticsConditionsNo aerosols or nail polish. Perfume can be refused as flammable. A gift can include up to 50 g of perfume or 0.25 liter of eau de toilette within the €45 relief.
Alcohol and tobaccoMore on alcohol or tobaccoNot allowedDon't pack them. Couriers generally refuse them, and they're excluded from moving relief.
Sports and outdoor gearMore on sports and outdoor gearConditionsGear is fine. Clean off soil and plant matter. No gas canisters, flares, or pepper spray.
Children's items and toysMore on toys and baby gearAllowedUsed toys are fine. Remove loose batteries and leave out realistic toy weapons.
Documents and photosMore on documents and photosAllowedPersonal papers and photos are fine and carry no duty. Old private archives of cultural interest need export authorization to leave Italy.
OtherConditionsPlants and seeds need phytosanitary certificates, protected-species items need CITES papers, and art or antiques leaving Italy may need a Ministry of Culture certificate.

Quantity limits11011

Quantity limits for Italy
ItemLimit
Gifts between private personsUp to €45 (about $53) per box in total, free of duty and IVA, if the gift is occasional, for the receiver's personal or family use, and not paid for in any way.
Tobacco in a gift boxWithin the €45 gift relief: 50 cigarettes, 25 cigarillos, 10 cigars, or 50 g of smoking tobacco. Couriers generally refuse tobacco.
Alcohol in a gift boxWithin the €45 gift relief: 1 liter of spirits over 22%, or 1 liter of drinks up to 22% or sparkling wine, plus 2 liters of still wine. Couriers generally refuse alcohol.
Perfume in a gift boxWithin the €45 gift relief: 50 g of perfume or 0.25 liter of eau de toilette.
Flat-rate dutyNon-commercial boxes from one private person to another, with goods worth up to €700 (about $820), can be charged a flat 2.5% duty instead of the tariff rate. IVA is added on top.
MedicinesShipped medicines need the doctor-request route: medicines authorized abroad but not in Italy, up to 90 days of treatment, cleared by USMAF. Travelers may carry medicines that match the length of their stay, with a prescription in at least English where one is required.
Animal products from outside the EUNo meat or dairy, except from Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino, and Switzerland. Fish up to 20 kg; honey and other animal products up to 2 kg; infant milk and special medical foods up to 2 kg.
Tobacco and alcohol (travelers only)Travelers 17 and over arriving from outside the EU: 200 cigarettes (or 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars, or 250 g of tobacco), plus 1 liter of spirits or 2 liters of drinks up to 22%, 4 liters of still wine, and 16 liters of beer. Does not apply to shipments.
Goods in baggage (travelers only)Up to €300 (about $350) by land, €430 (about $500) by air or sea, and €150 for children under 15. Does not apply to shipments.
Cash (travelers)Declare €10,000 (about $11,700) or more in cash to customs when entering or leaving Italy. Couriers won't carry cash.

What you can't send to Italy1681011

Not allowed

  • Aerosols, spray cans, and compressed gas cylinders
  • Flammable liquids and solids: fuel, lighter fluid, paint, nail polish, matches
  • Loose or spare lithium batteries and power banks not installed in a device
  • Cash, gift cards, checks, and other negotiable items
  • Firearms, ammunition, replicas, and weapon parts
  • Perishable food, and meat, dairy, or fresh produce
  • Cannabis, CBD, and THC products, even where they are legal at origin
  • Meat, milk, and products made from them, including filled pasta and pet food, sent to private persons from outside the EU (except from Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino, and Switzerland)
  • Counterfeit goods, such as fake designer items
  • Cultural goods taken illegally out of the country where they were created or found

Allowed with conditions

Medicines
The official route for having medicines sent from abroad covers medicines authorized in another country but not in Italy. The patient's doctor requests the import and sends the details to the Ministry of Health's border health office (USMAF) and to customs, for no more than 90 days of treatment. Other medicines in a box may be held, so leave them out or check with USMAF before you ship.
Fish, honey, and other animal products from outside the EU
Fish up to 20 kg (or one fish), and honey, live shellfish, snails, and similar products up to 2 kg. Infant milk and special medical foods up to 2 kg, branded, unopened, and needing no refrigeration. Food that doesn't comply can be seized and destroyed.
Plants, seeds, bulbs, and cuttings from outside the EU
Not allowed without a phytosanitary certificate from the country of origin, even in small amounts. Leave them out.
Gifts worth more than €45
Pay IVA and duty. To count as a gift at all, the box must be occasional, for the receiver's personal or family use, and sent free of charge. Non-commercial boxes with goods worth up to €700 can get the flat 2.5% duty.
Alcohol and tobacco
Excluded from moving relief. Only small amounts count toward the €45 gift relief, and couriers generally refuse them.
Work equipment
Excluded from moving relief, except portable tools and instruments used in a trade or profession.
Items from protected species
Ivory, furs, coral, and other products of CITES-listed species need a CITES certificate when they are imported. Check before sending.
Antiques and archaeological items from outside the EU
Since June 28, 2025, some cultural goods created or found outside the EU need a Ministry of Culture import license (for sensitive items such as archaeological finds) or a signed statement that they left their country of origin legally.
Boxes to Livigno or Campione d'Italia
Both are outside the Italian and EU VAT area, so the usual IVA rules don't apply. Check the rules with ADM before you ship.

Sending from Italy

Shipping boxes out of Italy1112

Sending boxes from Italy to another EU country involves no customs formalities. For destinations outside the EU, including the UK, the courier handles the export formalities from your contents list, and the destination's rules decide what the receiver pays. Italy guards its cultural heritage closely, so art, antiques, old books, and archives may need Ministry of Culture paperwork before they leave.

Documents

  • Contents list with a plain description and value for each item
  • Sender's passport or ID, and codice fiscale if the courier asks
  • Any moving-relief forms the destination country requires
  • For qualifying cultural goods: an attestato di libera circolazione (certificate of free circulation) from a Ministry of Culture export office and, to leave the EU, an EU export license
  • For older cultural items below the value limits: a formal self-declaration filed with the export office

Can't leave the country

  • Things of cultural interest by an author no longer living and made more than 70 years ago need an attestato di libera circolazione to leave Italy for good if they are worth more than €50,000 (about $58,500), or more than €13,500 (about $15,800) for books.
  • Archaeological finds, parts of dismembered monuments, incunabula and manuscripts, and archives need export authorization whatever their value, and so do privately owned archives and documents of cultural interest.
  • Below those limits no authorization is needed, but you must prove it to the export office with a formal self-declaration.
  • Cultural goods formally declared of cultural interest can't leave Italy permanently.
  • To leave the EU, listed cultural goods also need an EU export license.
  • Items from protected species, such as ivory, furs, or coral, may need CITES documents.
  • Couriers refuse cash. Travelers must declare €10,000 (about $11,700) or more in cash when leaving Italy.

Before pickup

  • Check the destination's personal-effects rules before you pack. Many countries have their own forms.
  • Describe items plainly, such as "used clothing" or "books", and give realistic values.
  • Sending art, antiques, or old books? Contact a Ministry of Culture export office before you book the pickup.
  • Keep receipts or photos of valuable items, so you can show what they are and what they're worth.

Addresses, delivery and timing

Writing the address

Write the street name before the house number. Add the staircase (scala) and apartment (interno) if there are any. Put the 5-digit CAP postal code before the town, then the 2-letter province code. Give a phone number, and make sure the receiver's name is on the doorbell.

Giulia ExampleVia dei Glicini 14, Scala B, Interno 550125 Firenze FIITALY

Example only; not a real address.

Delivery coverage

Fastest to: Rome, Milan, Naples, Turin, Florence, Bologna, Genoa, Palermo, Venice, Bari.

Remote areas: Sardinia, Sicily, and small islands such as Capri, Elba, or the Aeolian Islands can add a day or more, and so can villages in the Alps and Apennines. Venice deliveries go by boat. Livigno and Campione d'Italia are outside the Italian and EU VAT area and follow special rules.

Cities in the north and center are usually fastest once boxes clear customs. Make sure the receiver's name is on the doorbell (citofono) or mailbox, and give a phone number.

When things slow down

Expect slower handling around public holidays: January 1, January 6, Easter Monday, April 25, May 1, June 2, August 15 (Ferragosto), October 4 (a national holiday again from 2026), November 1, December 8, December 25, and December 26. Each city also closes for its patron saint's day. Much of Italy slows down in August, and late November through December is peak season for couriers.

Advice for your situation

Students

Students coming from outside the EU to study full time can bring clothing and linen (even new), study materials such as a computer, and used furniture for a student room free of duty and IVA, with ADM form F-04 and proof of enrollment. The relief can be granted at least once per school year. Otherwise, boxes from outside the EU pay IVA and duty.

Returning home

Italians coming home after at least 12 months outside the EU use the same F-01 relief as anyone else. AIRE registration or a consular certificate proves your time abroad, and it helps to ask your comune for a certificato storico di residenza AIRE, which shows both your residence abroad and your move back. Apply within 12 months after your move, or up to 6 months before it with a guarantee (F-01 B).

Expats and relocations

Moving to Italy from outside the EU? Claim relief with ADM form F-01 and a full list, and declare everything within 12 months of settling. Get a codice fiscale early: the Agenzia delle Entrate issues it, as do the immigration desk or police headquarters when you apply for a permit, and Italian consulates abroad. Leaving Italy? Boxes to other EU countries need no customs; outside the EU, prepare a clear contents list and check the export rules for art and antiques.

Tips for a smooth delivery

  • Sending from inside the EU? There's no customs and nothing to pay. A clear contents list still helps.
  • Moving to Italy? Fill in ADM form F-01 A (or F-01 B before you move), list every item with a value, and keep proof of your 12 months abroad and of your new Italian residence.
  • Mark gifts clearly and value them honestly. Up to €45 they're free; above that, IVA and duty apply.
  • Have the receiver's codice fiscale ready. ADM's moving form asks for it, and the courier may too.
  • Leave out meat, dairy, plants, and medicines unless you've checked the rules. They can be held or destroyed.
  • Put the receiver's name on the doorbell (citofono) and give a phone number. Couriers need both to deliver.

Shipping to and from Italy: questions

Do I have to pay customs on boxes sent to Italy?

Not from another EU country. From outside the EU, including the UK, IVA is due from the first euro and duty can apply at any value. The main exceptions are gifts between private persons worth up to €45 and used belongings covered by moving or student relief.

Is there still a €150 duty-free limit in Italy?

No. The EU ended the €150 duty relief on July 1, 2026. Online purchases up to €150 now pay a flat €3 duty for each type of item. Other boxes pay duty at the EU tariff rate, or a flat 2.5% for non-commercial boxes between private persons worth up to €700, plus IVA. From December 1, 2026, Italy is also set to add a €2 fee on boxes worth up to €150.

Do I need a codice fiscale to receive a package in Italy?

It's wise to have one ready. The courier may ask for the receiver's codice fiscale to file the customs declaration, and ADM's moving-relief form F-01 asks for it. Foreign nationals can get one from the Agenzia delle Entrate, or through an Italian consulate abroad.

Can I bring my belongings to Italy tax-free when I move?

Yes, if you lived outside the EU for at least 12 months in a row and owned and used the items for at least 6 months. Fill in ADM form F-01 A after you move (or F-01 B before, with a guarantee), attach a list of your things and proof of both residences, and declare them within 12 months. Italians coming home can use AIRE registration or a consular certificate as proof of residence abroad.

Can I send medicine to Italy?

Only in limited cases. The official route is for medicines authorized abroad but not in Italy: the patient's doctor requests the import through the Ministry of Health's border health office (USMAF), for up to 90 days of treatment. Leave other medicines out of your boxes or check with USMAF first.

How long does shipping boxes to Italy take?

Express door-to-door usually takes 2-4 business days within the EU, 3-6 from the UK or North America, and 4-8 from Asia, plus any customs time.

How do I ship boxes from Italy to another country?

Within the EU, just pack, label, and send: there are no customs formalities. For the UK, the US, or anywhere else outside the EU, give the courier an itemized contents list with values so it can handle the export formalities. The destination's rules decide what the receiver pays.

What can't I ship from Italy?

Couriers refuse aerosols, flammables, loose lithium batteries, cash, and weapons. Art, antiques, and other cultural items by an author no longer living and made over 70 years ago need an export certificate if worth more than €50,000 (€13,500 for books), and archaeological finds need one at any value. Items formally declared of cultural interest can't leave Italy for good.

Official help in Italy

Official sources

Every section above is checked against these official pages. Rules change, and customs in Italy makes the final decision on every shipment. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

  1. 1.

    Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM)

    FAQ - Le risposte alle domande più frequenti sulla materia doganale (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 26, 2026

  2. 2.

    Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM)

    Spedizioni di modico valore da Paesi extra-UE: le novità dal 1 luglio 2026 (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 26, 2026

  3. 3.

    Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM), Direzione Dogane

    Avviso: Data di avvio della contabilizzazione e riscossione del contributo amministrativo a copertura delle spese collegate alle importazioni di piccole spedizioni di valore inferiore ai 150 euro (Legge 30 dicembre 2025, n. 199). Differimento dell'applicazione del contributo (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 26, 2026

  4. 4.

    FiscoOggi (Agenzia delle Entrate)

    Contributo spedizioni extra-Ue: partenza rimandata al 1° ottobre (opens in a new tab)

    Tax authority · checked September 26, 2026

  5. 5.

    Official Journal of the European Union (EUR-Lex)

    Council Regulation (EU) 2026/382 of 11 February 2026 amending Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009 as regards the elimination of the threshold-based customs duty relief (opens in a new tab)

    Legislation · checked September 26, 2026

  6. 6.

    Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM)

    Mod. F-01 A: Importazione in franchigia doganale. Beni personali appartenenti a persone fisiche che trasferiscono la loro residenza normale da un Paese terzo nell'Unione Europea (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 26, 2026

  7. 7.

    Consolato Generale d'Italia a Edimburgo (Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale)

    Customs exemption in case of repatriation (opens in a new tab)

    Embassy · checked September 26, 2026

  8. 8.

    Normattiva (Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato)

    Decreto del Presidente della Repubblica 26 ottobre 1972, n. 633: Istituzione e disciplina dell'imposta sul valore aggiunto (opens in a new tab)

    Legislation · checked September 26, 2026

  9. 9.

    Agenzia delle Entrate

    Il Codice Fiscale - Che cos'è e come si ottiene (opens in a new tab)

    Tax authority · checked September 26, 2026

  10. 10.

    Ministero della Sanità (text published by the Ministero dell'Interno, Direzione Centrale per i Servizi Antidroga)

    D.M. 11 febbraio 1997: Modalità di importazione di specialità medicinali registrate all'estero (opens in a new tab)

    Legislation · checked September 26, 2026

  11. 11.

    Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM)

    Carta doganale del viaggiatore (luglio 2025) (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 26, 2026

  12. 12.

    Normattiva (Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato)

    Decreto legislativo 22 gennaio 2004, n. 42: Codice dei beni culturali e del paesaggio (art. 65, Uscita definitiva, and Allegato A) (opens in a new tab)

    Legislation · checked September 26, 2026

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