KENNISBANK
Everything you need to know about VAT in international e-commerce.
Selling internationally offers huge growth opportunities for Web shops and e-commerce companies.
But once you make your first sale across the border, you have to deal with complex VAT rules.
OSS, import VAT, foreign registrations - mistakes are easily made and can cost you dearly.
In this guide, you'll discover exactly what to look out for and how IDENO helps you organize your VAT records flawlessly.
Why VAT on international sales is more complex than you think
Selling within your own country is straightforward: you apply the national VAT rate and remit to your own tax authority.
Once you sell across the border, everything changes:
Other VAT rates by country
Different threshold amounts For local VAT obligation
Input lines for sales outside the EU
Marketplace rules (e.g. Amazon or Bol collecting VAT for you)
Many business owners underestimate how quickly your VAT liabilities arise - and how complicated reporting can become if you use multiple platforms.
The biggest VAT mistakes in international e-commerce
A. Mishandling OSS (One Stop Shop).
OSS is only for consumer sales within the EU.
Companies must be treated separately - different rules apply there.
B. No proper threshold monitoring
If you sell more than €10,000 in a year within the EU, you must pay VAT in customer countries, not just the Netherlands.
Without OSS registration, you have to register locally, which can be a lot of work (and penalties).
C. Wrong invoice and declaration structure.
Incorrect invoices (wrong VAT rate, wrong buyer information) lead to corrections and penalties.
D. Failure to properly book import VAT
Selling outside the EU? Then you need to correctly book import duties and import VAT to avoid double taxation.
E. Insufficient alignment between platform and administration
Amazon, Bol and Shopify have their own VAT processes that often don't connect directly to your accounting.
What are the consequences of incorrect VAT handling?
Poor VAT compliance can lead to:
High fines and after-taxes
Blocking your webshop or platform account
Delays in tax refunds
Difficulties in scaling to new markets
In addition, you run the risk of severely straining your cash flow if you unexpectedly have to pay VAT that you had not factored in.
How IDENO fully manages your international VAT
✅ Complete OSS registration and management
We make sure you are correctly registered and that your quarterly reports are automatically submitted.
✅ Real-time threshold monitoring
We monitor your sales by country and alert you immediately if you reach a local obligation.
✅ Complete invoice control and archiving
Correct invoices and digital storage fully aligned with EU legislation.
✅ Correct accounting of import VAT
In cooperation with your customs clearance, we ensure optimal VAT recoveries.
✅ Automated links to platforms
Direct integrations with Shopify, Amazon, Bol.com and other marketplaces.
✅ Proactive tax advice
We continuously guide you in VAT optimization and compliance when growing into new countries or platforms.
Why choose an e-commerce specialist?
Standard accountants often do not sufficiently understand how OSS works, or how VAT behaves on platforms such as Amazon and Shopify.
At IDENO, we combine technical e-commerce knowledge with fiscal expertise, so that you:
No risk of errors or fines
Always have real-time insight into your VAT position
Smart and compliant can expand into new markets
Our approach not only prevents problems, but makes international growth a lot easier and safer.
Certainty in your accounting? Start here.
Smart numbers. Powerful choices. We take care of your accounting, tax and international compliance so you can focus on your growth.

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