EU eCommerce – How to boost your EU sales
March 28, 2023
IOSS Registration & Intermediary | Q&A
Here are the most common questions about the IOSS.
If you have more questions about IOSS registration, IOSS intermediary services, IOSS reporting, filing or eCommerce connection, we are here for you!
Questions
1. Does EAS register companies for IOSS?
Yes, EAS registers companies for IOSS. All EAS customers have their own unique IOSS number. EAS acts as an IOSS intermediary
EAS registers companies for IOSS without any registration fees, monthly fees or minimum volumes.
2. What is EAS IOSS service?
EAS IOSS service in an all-inclusive IOSS service.
EAS registers sellers for IOSS and acts as an IOSS intermediary. EAS collects automatically all EU sales data from eCommerce platforms and creates and files IOSS reports.
With EAS Shopify, Woocommerce and other platform apps, EAS makes sure sellers are collecting the right amount of taxes from their EU customers.
EAS offers free-of-charge installation and configuration service.
3. EAS IOSS pricing?
The all-inclusive IOSS service has a transaction fee of 1,25€ / EU order.
No registration fees, monthly fees or minimum volumes.
We add a 6€ invoicing fee (per invoice) once your monthly invoice exceeds 30€. The maximum invoicing fee is 6€ per month.
4. How to start with EAS?
You can start the process by registering at easproject.com/reg
Make sure you have at hand:
- A copy of a Company / sole trader registration document
- A copy of an official ID
- Copy of VAT registration (only if you have a VAT registration)
Once we have your registration, we can start the IOSS registration process and installation / configuration.
We can make you IOSS registered within one hour.
We highly recommend our free installation and configuration service. The installation and configuration are done within 24 hours.
You can choose the free installation in the registration form.
5. Which eCommerce platforms are supported by EAS?
EAS supports most of the popular eCommerce platforms.
Currently you can use EAS with:
- Shopify
- Woocommerce
- Magento
- Kickstarter
- Prestashop
- Wix
- SquareSpace
- Shopware
- Plentymarkets
Other platforms are supported too, if your eCommerce platform is not in the list above, please contact support@easproject.com
6. Do I get unique IOSS number with EAS?
Yes, EAS registers companies for unique IOSS numbers. We are a compliance solution provider we make sure you are 100% compliant.
7. How do I register for IOSS?
The easiest way to get IOSS number is by registering to EAS and let us handle everything. If you already have an IOSS number our solution is still usable for full automations.
If you want EAS to register you for IOSS, start by registering with us at easproject.com/reg
Any registered business can register for the IOSS through an EU-based IOSS intermediary. Businesses in the EU can register for the IOSS directly, or through an IOSS intermediary.
The most talked about EU VAT scheme is by far the IOSS. The IOSS allows for a simplified customs process and collection of VAT at the time of sale for goods delivered from outside of the EU.
The IOSS registration process depends on whether your company is registered in the EU or not. For an EU company it is a very straightforward process: go to your national tax administration online portal (yes, they all have it), login in, and find the place to register for the IOSS. Should take less than 10 minutes. In digitally advanced countries you will receive the IOSS number immediately, in some by mail.
For a non-EU company, the process looks very different. They will need an Intermediary to handle the IOSS registration. The IOSS number is as much the Intermediary’s as it is the online merchant’s as they are also responsible for the reporting and payment of VAT. This is also why most charge a hefty starting fee for the service. For non-EU companies, the registration country can be chosen by the Intermediary.
Mind you, you have to really be mindful about who and where you disclose the IOSS number: misuse is rampant and can result in you being responsible for someone else’s VAT. And once you register for the IOSS, also zero reports have to be filed.
Because we at EAS believe in automating the difficult, we don’t have to charge you for the IOSS registration or monthly filing. The shipments have to all go through our SaaS for full, credible compliance. Shipments can also be manually entered into the SaaS if they are placed by phone or email. This results in a stress-free, cost-efficient way to handle the scary international compliance.
8. What does IOSS registered mean?
Being IOSS registered means the company can utilise the lighter customs process in EU customs and collect VAT at checkout. It also means a liability to report and pay VAT monthly to the country of registration.
IOSS number tells the customs that there is a VAT liable company somewhere and that they don’t have to collect VAT on the shipment as it will be reported and paid.
It is basically a facilitator for a faster, more cost-efficient delivery and better customer service via single action purchase.
9. How much does IOSS registration cost?
With EAS, the IOSS registration is free. You only pay 1,25€ per EU order. The transaction fee includes the IOSS registration, IOSS intermediary service, eCommerce plugin, VAT calculation, IOSS reporting, and filing.
If you are an EU company, you can do it yourself at no cost. You do have to generate the reports/data for the monthly filing even then so there is some cost to it.
The quality of the registration is measured as either it is or it is not. The services provided can include anything from actually getting things done to doing nothing. The more automation there is the cheaper it is for you. We believe that the price is not a reflection of the quality of service.
10. Is IOSS number the same as VAT number?
No, the IOSS number is not the same as VAT number. The IOSS allows suppliers selling imported goods to buyers in the EU to collect, declare and pay the VAT to the tax authorities, instead of making the buyer pay the VAT at the moment the goods are imported into the EU
IOSS is a unique number impossible to deduct from any other identifier due to its exposure to risks.
11. Is IOSS compulsory?
No, IOSS is not obligatory.
We do recommend it, however, if your goods fall under the 150€ threshold. Nothing wrong with faster and cheaper delivery and an easier shopping experience for customers.
12. What happens if I don’t register for IOSS?
If you don’t register for IOSS, your customers pay the VAT at the moment the goods are imported into the EU. It causes delays at customs, unexpected handling fees and an unpleasant customer experience.
If you are not registered for IOSS, you cannot take advantage of the simplified IOSS scheme.
Your deliveries cost more, take longer time and can require post-purchase actions from your customers.
13. What are the benefits of IOSS?
- Better customer experience
- VAT can be charged at checkout, not at arrival
- Lower delivery fees
- Faster deliveries
- Postal delivery possible
- No post-purchase actions are required from your customers
14. Does IOSS include shipping costs?
IOSS does not include shipping costs.
IOSS 150€ threshold is calculated from the zero VAT without shipping or other fees.
15. Do I need to be VAT registered to sell in EU?
No, you don’t need VAT registration to sell to the EU.
If you are located outside of the EU, IOSS registration is highly recommended. VAT registration is not required for IOSS registration.
You have to have a company registered in your country, also a sole entrepreneur or similar is sufficient.
As a non-EU company you can, have a VAT registration in the EU, but before you begin stocking goods in the EU you are not obligated to do so.
16. Can I have IOSS registration in UK?
After Brexit, no you can’t.
17. How do I register for IOSS in UK?
You cannot register for IOSS in the UK, you register for IOSS in an EU country
Remember Brexit?
Talk to EAS. We have hundreds of companies from the UK registered for IOSS.
18. What is an IOSS intermediary?
IOSS intermediary acts on behalf of its clients in order to perform all reports and VAT payments to the EU tax authorities.
If businesses are not based in the EU, they need to appoint an EU-established intermediary to fulfil their VAT obligations under IOSS.
19. What to concern about IOSS number?
If you get a random IOSS number from the internet, you will be able to get the goods through the customs and someone else VAT liable – until your tax fraud will be caught and you will be banned from selling to EU. The EU customs collect data on IOSS numbers and tax administrations and then compare the IOSS reporting data.
“Borrowing” IOSS number is also common while being specifically forbidden. The process goes as follows: A party along the delivery chain has registered themselves for IOSS. They insert the IOSS number into the shipping data and collect VAT due from the merchant. The reason why this is specifically forbidden is that the value data is falsified more often than not. In addition, seller data is wrong and does not serve the purpose. A very temporary solution and more expensive than actually being compliant with EAS.
Subscribe to newsletter
Top blogs
Changing your IOSS service provider
March 28, 2023
Shopify USA – How to sell to EU & UK
March 14, 2023
More articles
OSS
Union-OSS VAT filing (step 3) | EU VAT compliance guide
Submitting the OSS report and paying the VAT is done through the national tax office portal where you find your other taxation details and did the Union-OSS registration
January 13, 2022
Partnerships
Partnership: EAS x Easyship
If you have more questions about IOSS registration, IOSS intermediary services, IOSS reporting, filing or eCommerce connection, we are here for you!
October 18, 2022
VAT
VAT calculation | EU VAT compliance guide
Again there are good and bad news. Bad news is that you cannot sell at your domestic VAT rates anymore
January 11, 2022
