Not always. Since July 2021, the EU’s One Stop Shop (OSS) scheme allows you to register in one EU country and report all your EU B2C sales there. However, this only applies to certain sales — for example, physical goods shipped from one EU country to another. If you’re holding stock in multiple EU countries (such as through Amazon Pan-EU FBA), you’ll need VAT registration in each country where stock is stored. At MWA Accounting, we assess your exact supply chain to determine where registrations are required and handle the process for you.

OSS (One Stop Shop): For EU-based or non-EU sellers making B2C sales of goods within the EU. It allows you to file one consolidated VAT return instead of registering in every country where you sell.
IOSS (Import One Stop Shop): For distance sales of imported goods valued under €150. It simplifies the declaration and payment of VAT at the point of sale, improving customer experience and avoiding surprise import charges.
Both systems reduce admin, but choosing the right one depends on your sales model. We help clients set up and manage both schemes.

Amazon may collect and remit VAT on your behalf in certain cases (for example, sales to EU consumers under €150), but this does not cover all scenarios. If you store goods in EU warehouses (via Amazon FBA), you are responsible for local VAT registrations and returns in each country. Many sellers assume Amazon takes care of all VAT, but that’s a common misconception. We work with Amazon sellers to stay compliant and avoid costly suspensions.

VAT obligations vary by country. In the UK, the domestic threshold is £90,000 (as of 2024), but for EU distance sales there is a €10,000 EU-wide threshold. Once your cross-border sales exceed this, you must charge VAT in the customer’s country (usually via OSS). For non-EU countries, thresholds differ again — in the US, for instance, each state can set its own sales tax rules. We monitor your sales volumes and advise when and where new registrations are required.

Since Brexit, UK import VAT applies on goods entering from the EU and beyond. Most e-commerce businesses benefit from Postponed VAT Accounting (PVA), which allows you to declare import VAT on your UK VAT return instead of paying it upfront at customs. This is a major cash-flow advantage, especially for high-volume sellers. We help businesses set up PVA correctly and ensure import VAT is claimed back efficiently.

Yes, in many cases. If you’re VAT registered in the UK and purchase stock from EU or non-EU suppliers, you may be able to reclaim VAT (or equivalent taxes) depending on the country’s rules. This requires correct invoicing and evidence. We help clients process claims, avoid double taxation, and recover VAT where eligible.

Non-compliance can lead to penalties, interest charges, and even account suspensions on marketplaces like Amazon and eBay. In some jurisdictions, fines can be backdated several years. Worse still, non-compliance can damage your reputation with platforms and customers. At MWA Accounting, we put compliance systems in place so your business can scale internationally without interruption.

Yes. Many businesses contact us after discovering they should have registered for VAT overseas earlier or have unknowingly breached marketplace or country-specific VAT rules. We can review your position, identify any compliance issues, work alongside overseas advisers where required and help bring your business back into compliance while minimising disruption and unnecessary penalties.