Comprehensive IOSS business registration services from Ship24

How do I register my business for IOSS?

There are two options for IOSS registration, which will depend on whether your business is established in the EU or outside of the EU.

If your business is within the EU, you have the choice of either registering for the Import One-Stop-Shop system directly with the EU tax authority of the country you are in, or through an IOSS intermediary.

If your business is not established within the EU but wants to access IOSS solutions, it must register through an IOSS intermediary, which will perform services between the company and the IOSS. Ship24 offers premium fiscal intermediary service with the guarantee of EU VAT compliance and registration in as little as 3 working days. Find out more about Ship24's complete IOSS solution today and unrivaled shipping, logistics, and VAT services on your side.

Please note that businesses in the UK are considered outside of the EU, and they will need to get an IOSS intermediary in order to register for the IOSS scheme.

Is IOSS registration mandatory?

No. IOSS registration is optional, and you can still sell services or goods to EU consumers without registering for IOSS or registering with an IOSS intermediary.

However, once a business registers for the scheme, it must conduct all business and sales to EU customers through the IOSS system. This means you cannot sell to customers in one EU member state under an IOSS number and another EU member state via a different VAT system. All VAT owed when making sales in the EU will be paid in a single EU member state through a single IOSS number (which will be done on behalf of a company by an IOSS intermediary if a business is not registered for the scheme directly).

Furthermore, the scheme offers the fastest possible delivery times as due to the fact IOSS sales VAT will be prepaid, they will be instantly released by customs in the EU and immediately dispatched for delivery. Offer your customers the best post-purchase experience and fastest delivery times under the IOSS by registering today and get your unique IOSS number in as little as 2 days. (IOSS numbers must be shared with the customs declarant (courier) in order for customs to recognize them as IOSS packages for instant release.

Who can register for IOSS?

Any business can register for the IOSS system through an IOSS intermediary, but only businesses established within the EU will be able to register for the One-Stop-Shop directly. Although the scheme is optional, the new EU VAT tax rules are not, and all businesses selling to consumers in the EU must follow these rules from July 1, 2021 onwards.

The scheme will come into effect on 1 July 2021. If businesses are not registered by this point, they will still be operating under the new EU taxation rules, but without the advantages of the Import One-Stop-Shop (IOSS) system. Businesses, especially eCommerce and online marketplace based outside of the EU, are positioned to benefit from registration to the IOSS due to the advantages it provides, should they decide to. For more information about seamless transition to the new IOSS system, check out our very own IOSS intermediary solutions on our dedicated IOSS solutions page.

Which businesses should use IOSS?

The EU Import One-Stop-Shop system is designed for online and electronic interface sellers, such as those on eCommerce marketplaces, online platforms, and so on. The IOSS scheme will apply to any imported goods that are worth 150 euros or less and dispatched from outside the EU at the point of sale. If you are a distance seller who sells to the EU, chat to one of our expert teams to know the full benefits your business can take advantage of under IOSS today either in the chatbox on screen or via email. we look forward to hearing from you and getting your business IOSS optimized!

Why should my business register with IOSS?

The IOSS is designed to make importing low-value goods easier and more efficient, both for businesses and consumers. This is because it will standardize EU VAT solutions across the bloc.

In the long run, it also should save businesses money, which in turn can be passed on to customers. Equally, customers should not get any unexpected import tax bills after the sale, improving customers' post-purchase experience, which is proving especially important to major eCommerce sites for customer loyalty and retention. Such sites include Shopify, Woocommerce, Magento, and so on. The idea is that dealing with VAT declarations and payments on cross-border transactions and imports at the point of sale will be a more stress-free shopping experience for customers, ultimately boosting sales.

Finally, IOSS registration will ensure more transparency, for not only buyers and sellers, but over the entire process, which will make it easier for EU authorities to manage and aims to reduce VAT fraud, which would ideally see the transition to the IOSS scheme pay for itself. Finally, IOSS registration should reduce administration costs for everyone involved in selling and delivering goods within the EU.

How will the IOSS work for my business after I register?

To give an example, say you are a small hardware e-tailer based in China, and you are selling computer mouses for 20 euros each.

Under the previous system, your imports would have been exempt from tax due to the 22 euro import tax threshold, meaning that any product valued at 22 euros or less could be imported to any EU state tax-free. Therefore, the customer would pay 20 euros plus shipping. However, the new EU VAT rules in 2021 will mean that all imported goods, regardless of the price, will be subject to customs fees.

Under the new IOSS scheme, this will be very different. For example, if the mouse is imported by a business that is IOSS registered, the customer will only have to pay the EU VAT surcharge fee (which is 21%) meaning they only need to pay 4.20 euro on top of the 20 euro product fee for the same transaction. This would mean the total bill would be 24.20 euros for the buyer.

Without IOSS registration, the business selling the mouse to a buyer in an EU country will be charged a customs fee (usually around 15 euros, but which varies from country to country). Then, the 21% VAT surcharge will also be added to the total amount, costing the buyer another 7.35 euros, meaning a total bill of 42.35 euros.

Please find all the relevant information about VAT costs and what is included on the EU website.

Please note, VAT rates and customs fees vary depending on the country in which the buyer is located.

How do I prepare my business for IOSS?

The first step is registering your business, which can be done with Ship24 in as little as two days. Don't worry, our registration system is designed to be as easy as possible and only includes a couple of steps to get an IOSS number. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out!

Please note, all non-EU-based businesses can only access the Import One-Stop-Shop scheme via an IOSS intermediary, which is a taxable representative based in the EU, which can operate on your behalf, such as Ship24. The intermediary's role will be to fulfill any VAT obligations using an IOSS VAT number which will be applied to all your business transactions with customers in the EU. They will be responsible for filing monthly value-added tax returns and paying the correct amount to tax authorities of the member state they are based in.

What are the shipping processes and requirements for IOSS?

Businesses signed up to the IOSS scheme must adhere to certain requirements, such as displaying the amount to VAT to be paid before and during the point of sale.

As well as displaying the owed VAT at the point of sale on your products, you should also inform customers of the benefits of the service. The good news about the IOSS VAT rule changes is that they are designed to benefit both businesses and customers, which should make it easier for businesses to explain the changes. If customers know ordering through businesses registered with IOSS is the fastest and cheapest option, they are more likely to be happy with upfront charges. Furthermore, it utilizes the enhanced transparency that the scheme provides.

Finally, shipping packages with IOSS will be slightly different, with 6 digits HS code needing to be applied to inform of the contents of the parcel, in line with new IOSS rules. Any shipment from a sale that will be made after July 1, 2021, will need to include this code so shops and businesses should prepare in advance for these changes. They need to provide their IOSS number to the customs declarant if they are not delivering the product themselves.

Do I need to register for IOSS to track a parcel?

Whether businesses register with IOSS or not, Ship24 can still track most parcels internationally, because they track packages using a tracking number or waybill which will be attached to parcels regardless of whether they are sent under the new EU VAT rules (IOSS) or not. Whether your parcel is being sent under using the IOSS system by 4PX in China to Royal Mail in the UK or being shipping by FedEx in the USA to CCT in Portugal, you can track any parcel end-to-end with Ship24.

Businesses who are looking for more comprehensive, professional tracking - including up to 1.5 million tracking calls per month or active pushed tracking event data integrated into their system within minutes - view our Tracking API and Webhook pages,

Do I need to register for IOSS if I sell on an online marketplace?

Some marketplaces have their own IOSS number that merchants who operate on their site can use. Businesses that have shown an interest in registering for an IOSS that can be used include Amazon, eBay ETSY, and NOTHS. Check with your marketplace to see if you can use their IOSS number first.

The way this would work is that Amazon would be responsible for charging, collecting, and paying the VAT for the seller, through the Amazon IOSS number. When the parcel arrives in the destination country, they will know the VAT has been paid because of the IOSS details on the package.

What are the main benefits for retailers with IOSS registration?

The benefits of registering with the IOSS system can be found listed below:

• Fast-track customs clearance: With all VAT prepaid before shipping from overseas to Europe, customs clearance should be quicker and cheaper for all involved, with imports by IOSS sellers only being checked for a valid IOSS number before dispatch. Whereas goods sold through unregistered businesses will be held until VAT is paid.
• Reduced administration: Once registered, sellers can use this registration to do business across the EU, reducing paperwork and overheads. However, please note that IOSS VAT returns and payments are to be done in the country where the company is registered (or IOSS intermediary).
• System transparency: The IOSS system aims to offer complete transparency for businesses and consumers, as well as levelling the market for EU imports.

How will customers benefit from businesses registering with IOSS?

• End to surprise taxes and customs fees: With the total price able to be shown at the point of purchase online, the purchasing process will be simplified for consumers.
• All-in-one transactions: Customers will not have to pay for their product than pay for the VAT separately, but instead have the total payment consolidated, making for an easier shopping experience.
• Speedy delivery: IOSS-registered goods will be processed faster by customs because of the standardized IOSS system, unlike non-registered orders.