Cross-border e-commerce compliance
Selling into Europe means holding tax numbers in several countries, filing on different calendars and answering platform requests with documents rather than explanations. We handle the registrations and the filings, and tell you what is still missing.
What marketplaces actually ask for
VAT registration & filing
Registration in the countries where you hold stock or exceed thresholds, monthly or quarterly filing, EC sales lists and cross-border refunds.
- UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden
- Registration numbers issued and maintained
- Recurring filing with payment calculation
- De-registration when a market is closed
EU IOSS
For consignments under EUR 150 sold to EU consumers, IOSS collects VAT at checkout instead of at the border — fewer holds, fewer surprise fees.
- IOSS registration and monthly returns
- Scheme eligibility and intermediary arrangements
- Reconciliation with marketplace-collected VAT
- Switching between marketplace and own-website sales
EPR registration
Packaging, electrical equipment, batteries and textiles each have their own register and reporting cycle. Missing EPR is one of the most common causes of listing suspension.
- Germany LUCID packaging registration
- France, Spain and Italy EPR schemes
- WEEE and battery registration
- Annual volume reporting and recycling fees
VAT at a glance in six markets
Standard rates only — reduced rates apply to some product categories. Confirm the applicable rate for your goods before pricing.
| Country | Standard rate | Typical filing | Where sellers trip up |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 20% | Quarterly | Stock in the UK creates a registration obligation even without a UK entity |
| Germany | 19% | Monthly / quarterly | Strict deadline discipline; late filings trigger penalties quickly |
| France | 20% | Monthly / quarterly | French-language invoices and a local fiscal representative may be required |
| Italy | 22% | Monthly / quarterly | VAT group rules and e-invoicing requirements differ from other EU states |
| Spain | 21% | Quarterly | Local registration (ROI) needed for distance sales above the threshold |
| Netherlands | 21% | Quarterly | Often used as a gateway for imports; stock movements must be traceable |
Rates and thresholds change; this table is a starting point for a scoping conversation, not tax advice.
What gets sellers suspended
- Selling into a country with no valid VAT number
- Stock stored in a warehouse abroad without local registration
- Using a marketplace IOSS number for your own website
- Ignoring EPR until the platform freezes the listing
- Filing returns with sales that do not match platform reports
- Assuming a low declared value avoids import VAT
Understand the problem before you commit
Tell us how you trade, where you sell and how the group is held. You get a written list of issues and realistic options — the first conversation is free.