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To get started, simply complete the onboarding form and we will then be able to help you.

The team are on hand to talk through how to share key business and transaction details, select the jurisdictions and services required and set-up data access or integrations where applicable. Your account manager will then validate information, confirm scope and activate the platform and services for your VAT registration, calculation, submission and payment.

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The Tax Desk team have experience in indirect tax and regulatory compliance, strong professional backgrounds and practical knowledge of how rules are applied by local authorities. This enables them to combine technical expertise with a client-focused approach to deliver accurate, solutions in even the most complex jurisdictions.

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The Tax Desk portal provides a simple, intuitive way to manage global compliance through a single platform. It guides users through onboarding to then automate registrations, return preparation, submission and payment.

CFOs and finance teams can upload or integrate transaction data, validate results, monitor status and access dashboards for full visibility across all jurisdictions.

The built-in workflows, alerts and controls streamlines complex processes into an easy-to-use experience, reducing manual effort and risk enables teams to work efficiently, even when managing high volumes and multi-country obligations.

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VAT Registration
IOSS Registration
OSS Registration

Businesses who provide goods or services in a foreign jurisdiction with a VAT regime must comply with the relevant VAT laws of that country. There are several cases where it will be a legal obligation for a company to register for VAT in the country because they are undertaking taxable business activity. Such activity includes:

  • Importing goods into the country for sale or distribution
  • Buying and selling goods locally
  • Selling goods to individuals over the internet (revenue thresholds may apply)
  • Storing goods in a warehouse
  • Organising an event in the country (specifically if there is paid admission to the event)

It is the company’s responsibility to register for VAT prior to commencing taxable transactions and once registered, one must comply with the compliance and reporting requirements.

If you store goods in any European country, then you will be required to have a VAT number. It is mandatory by the law.

The length of time required to obtain a VAT number varies from country to country. You can typically expect to receive your VAT number within 4 to 6 weeks from the date when your documents are submitted to the tax authority. Tax Desk will keep in contact with the tax authorities to track the progress of your VAT registration and will keep you informed of any updates. Current timelines:

  • France: 7–9 weeks
  • Germany: 6–8 weeks
  • Spain: 1–2 weeks (VIES activation: 2–3 months)
  • Italy: 4–6 weeks
  • Poland: 4–6 weeks
  • Czech Republic: 4–6 weeks
  • UK: 3–4 weeks
While the VAT registration is a rather quick process in Spain, the activation of a VAT ID in the VIES system is a more complex and longer one. After your VAT ID has been issued, Tax Desk can start submitting declarations and you can pay VAT in Spain. Your activation needs to be requested separately from a proposal and can be done only if you carry out intra-community transactions. This means you have to submit an EC Sales List in Spain first. After a Spanish EC Sales List has been filed, the proposal can be submitted; however, it will be automatically refused if you have any outstanding liability (e.g. VAT payments, VAT returns, penalties). If your proposal is refused it will have to be submitted again starting from the beginning. This process usually takes 2–3 months.

You will have to fill out your company’s details, therefore it is suggested that you have the following with you:

  • Company Extract
  • Articles of Association
  • ID of the legal representative
  • A Bank Certificate of the company
If all information and documents are correctly provided, Tax Desk can prepare the registration package in a couple of days and send it to the Tax Authority.

Some European tax offices will require that your company documents and registration forms are ‘notarised and apostilled’ before you can submit them to the authorities to apply for a VAT registration.

A notarised document is one carrying authenticated signature(s) of the person(s) authorised or required to sign it, and the signature of a notary public witnessing the signature(s), accompanied by an impression of his or her official notary seal. If a tax office requests it, the authorised signatory will need to visit a Notary Public and sign the required documents in his/her presence. The notary will certify the documents after witnessing the signature.

An apostille is the authentication of a document for use in another country. The apostille certificate confirms the signature, seal or stamp on a document to be genuine so that it will be accepted when presented in another country within the European Union. It is permanently glued to another document and then an embossing mechanism is used to emboss the document with a government crest.

Usually the notary public you engage for the witnessing service will be able to arrange the apostille as well.

Notaries can authenticate signatures or documents for use abroad. If you need to notarize documents or a Power of Attorney, you must visit a local notary public (or lawyer).
Apostilles can usually be arranged by National certified notary offices or the National Public Notary office itself. Spain does not accept a simple notarization and therefore a further authentication/legalization is required – an Apostille Stamp. If your country is not a member of the Apostille Convention, please arrange the local notarization of the required documents and contact the Spanish Consulate in your country to request consular legalization.
These documents are requested by the respective tax authorities in each country and are kept by them. Therefore, they cannot be returned to you. To keep the original copies with you, Tax Desk can also provide notarized copies to the Tax Authority.
An EORI number is a European Union registration business identification number. This number is issued when importing or exporting goods in and out of the EU. A business or individual must obtain an EORI number from a national customs authority before beginning customs activities within the European Union.
E-commerce sellers only need one EORI number, and in fact can only have one EORI number issued to them. The EORI number can be used in all the EU member states, therefore one number is enough and the Customs services will reject your application if you already have a number issued. Please note that after Brexit, European sellers have to apply for an EORI in the UK if they want to import goods in the UK. UK-based sellers need to apply for an EORI in the EU if they want to import goods in the EU.
For EU-based companies, an EORI number in the country of establishment. For non-EU companies, the country where you import the most to will be the best country to have an EORI number.
If the data you provided is not accurate and correct, your account manager will contact you until all the details are clarified. This might prolong the time needed to prepare the registration documents. If the data filled out on the registration documents is wrong, the Tax Authority will contact Tax Desk and will not issue the VAT number until all information is accurate and up to date.
Tax Desk specializes in the European Union; however, they can refer you to local Tax Desk offices in those countries. They would be happy to prepare an offer for you and, in the case of an agreement, assist you in your business expansion.

For companies providing goods or services in foreign European countries, there may be a requirement to register for VAT as a non-resident VAT trader. Some countries permit the non-EU established company to register ‘directly’ with the tax office, without having to appoint a local representative.

However, under certain circumstances, the tax authorities will require the company to appoint a Fiscal Representative in the destination country. This company must be tax registered and willing to act as the local representative of the company, managing queries and filing obligations for dealings with the tax authorities. In most cases, the fiscal representative may be jointly liable for all VAT payments of the company.

The tax authorities regard a fiscal representative as the local agent of the foreign trader – which leads to several compliance obligations. Additionally, if the fiscal representative is jointly liable for the trader’s taxes, it is industry practice to require a security deposit or bank guarantee in favour of the fiscal representative to mitigate against potential risks if the company reneges on any liabilities.

US-based clients are required to provide a 6166 form, issued by the IRS to complete the German registration. The 6166 form can be requested using an 8802 form that can be downloaded from the website of the IRS. Please note that the German Tax Authorities only accept original forms and the issuing time can take up to 3 months for this document.
For registering in most European countries, the tax authority requires a document that details the company’s shareholder structure, the company’s registered capital, as well as the director and legal representative’s information. The document is also known as Articles of Organization or Articles of Incorporation.
A Company Extract or Business License (the name may vary by state) is essentially a document issued by the state in which the company was founded that certifies the legitimacy of the business, that it has been legally registered. It will typically include the company’s date of incorporation.

From the IRS. Tax authorities will require documentation from the IRS regarding the issuing of your company’s Employer Identification Number (EIN).

Businesses who provide goods or services in a foreign jurisdiction with a VAT regime must comply with the relevant VAT laws of that country. There are several cases where it will be a legal obligation for a company to register for VAT in the country because they are undertaking taxable business activity. Such activity includes:

  • Importing goods into the country for sale or distribution
  • Buying and selling goods locally
  • Selling goods to individuals over the internet (revenue thresholds may apply)
  • Storing goods in a warehouse
  • Organising an event in the country (specifically if there is paid admission to the event)

It is the company’s responsibility to register for VAT prior to commencing taxable transactions and once registered, one must comply with the compliance and reporting requirements.

If you store goods in any European country, then you will be required to have a VAT number. It is mandatory by the law.

The length of time required to obtain a VAT number varies from country to country. You can typically expect to receive your VAT number within 4 to 6 weeks from the date when your documents are submitted to the tax authority. Tax Desk will keep in contact with the tax authorities to track the progress of your VAT registration and will keep you informed of any updates. Current timelines:

  • France: 7–9 weeks
  • Germany: 6–8 weeks
  • Spain: 1–2 weeks (VIES activation: 2–3 months)
  • Italy: 4–6 weeks
  • Poland: 4–6 weeks
  • Czech Republic: 4–6 weeks
  • UK: 3–4 weeks
While the VAT registration is a rather quick process in Spain, the activation of a VAT ID in the VIES system is a more complex and longer one. After your VAT ID has been issued, Tax Desk can start submitting declarations and you can pay VAT in Spain. Your activation needs to be requested separately from a proposal and can be done only if you carry out intra-community transactions. This means you have to submit an EC Sales List in Spain first. After a Spanish EC Sales List has been filed, the proposal can be submitted; however, it will be automatically refused if you have any outstanding liability (e.g. VAT payments, VAT returns, penalties). If your proposal is refused it will have to be submitted again starting from the beginning. This process usually takes 2–3 months.

You will have to fill out your company’s details, therefore it is suggested that you have the following with you:

  • Company Extract
  • Articles of Association
  • ID of the legal representative
  • A Bank Certificate of the company
If all information and documents are correctly provided, Tax Desk can prepare the registration package in a couple of days and send it to the Tax Authority.

Some European tax offices will require that your company documents and registration forms are ‘notarised and apostilled’ before you can submit them to the authorities to apply for a VAT registration.

A notarised document is one carrying authenticated signature(s) of the person(s) authorised or required to sign it, and the signature of a notary public witnessing the signature(s), accompanied by an impression of his or her official notary seal. If a tax office requests it, the authorised signatory will need to visit a Notary Public and sign the required documents in his/her presence. The notary will certify the documents after witnessing the signature.

An apostille is the authentication of a document for use in another country. The apostille certificate confirms the signature, seal or stamp on a document to be genuine so that it will be accepted when presented in another country within the European Union. It is permanently glued to another document and then an embossing mechanism is used to emboss the document with a government crest.

Usually the notary public you engage for the witnessing service will be able to arrange the apostille as well.

Notaries can authenticate signatures or documents for use abroad. If you need to notarize documents or a Power of Attorney, you must visit a local notary public (or lawyer).
Apostilles can usually be arranged by National certified notary offices or the National Public Notary office itself. Spain does not accept a simple notarization and therefore a further authentication/legalization is required – an Apostille Stamp. If your country is not a member of the Apostille Convention, please arrange the local notarization of the required documents and contact the Spanish Consulate in your country to request consular legalization.
These documents are requested by the respective tax authorities in each country and are kept by them. Therefore, they cannot be returned to you. To keep the original copies with you, Tax Desk can also provide notarized copies to the Tax Authority.
An EORI number is a European Union registration business identification number. This number is issued when importing or exporting goods in and out of the EU. A business or individual must obtain an EORI number from a national customs authority before beginning customs activities within the European Union.
E-commerce sellers only need one EORI number, and in fact can only have one EORI number issued to them. The EORI number can be used in all the EU member states, therefore one number is enough and the Customs services will reject your application if you already have a number issued. Please note that after Brexit, European sellers have to apply for an EORI in the UK if they want to import goods in the UK. UK-based sellers need to apply for an EORI in the EU if they want to import goods in the EU.
For EU-based companies, an EORI number in the country of establishment. For non-EU companies, the country where you import the most to will be the best country to have an EORI number.
If the data you provided is not accurate and correct, your account manager will contact you until all the details are clarified. This might prolong the time needed to prepare the registration documents. If the data filled out on the registration documents is wrong, the Tax Authority will contact Tax Desk and will not issue the VAT number until all information is accurate and up to date.
Tax Desk specializes in the European Union; however, they can refer you to local Tax Desk offices in those countries. They would be happy to prepare an offer for you and, in the case of an agreement, assist you in your business expansion.

For companies providing goods or services in foreign European countries, there may be a requirement to register for VAT as a non-resident VAT trader. Some countries permit the non-EU established company to register ‘directly’ with the tax office, without having to appoint a local representative.

However, under certain circumstances, the tax authorities will require the company to appoint a Fiscal Representative in the destination country. This company must be tax registered and willing to act as the local representative of the company, managing queries and filing obligations for dealings with the tax authorities. In most cases, the fiscal representative may be jointly liable for all VAT payments of the company.

The tax authorities regard a fiscal representative as the local agent of the foreign trader – which leads to several compliance obligations. Additionally, if the fiscal representative is jointly liable for the trader’s taxes, it is industry practice to require a security deposit or bank guarantee in favour of the fiscal representative to mitigate against potential risks if the company reneges on any liabilities.

US-based clients are required to provide a 6166 form, issued by the IRS to complete the German registration. The 6166 form can be requested using an 8802 form that can be downloaded from the website of the IRS. Please note that the German Tax Authorities only accept original forms and the issuing time can take up to 3 months for this document.
For registering in most European countries, the tax authority requires a document that details the company’s shareholder structure, the company’s registered capital, as well as the director and legal representative’s information. The document is also known as Articles of Organization or Articles of Incorporation.
A Company Extract or Business License (the name may vary by state) is essentially a document issued by the state in which the company was founded that certifies the legitimacy of the business, that it has been legally registered. It will typically include the company’s date of incorporation.

From the IRS. Tax authorities will require documentation from the IRS regarding the issuing of your company’s Employer Identification Number (EIN).

Goods returned and shipped out of the EU will qualify for a VAT refund. Provide Tax Desk with the necessary information using the data template and Tax Desk will adjust your IOSS return accordingly.
If IOSS is not used, import VAT is due upon importation of the goods into the EU. Your logistics/customs agent will pay the import VAT to the customs authorities, and then recover it from either the customer or you. Additional handling fees will then usually arise. Additional VAT compliance burden may also arise if the seller sells goods under Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) terms.

Low value goods which qualify for the IOSS are goods in shipments whose intrinsic value at import does not exceed EUR 150 (except products subject to excise duties).

Intrinsic value means the price of the goods themselves when sold for export to the EU. The price should exclude transport and insurance costs (unless they are included in the price and not indicated separately on the invoice) and exclude any other taxes and charges which can be proved to the customs authorities from any relevant document.

Where goods sold are paid for in a currency other than the Euro, you should always make the calculation at the time of supply in order to determine whether the sale of goods can be declared under the IOSS. To avoid any potential issue at importation due to exchange rate fluctuations, it is recommended that you indicate on the invoice accompanying the shipment the price in EUR, as determined at the moment of acceptance of payment.
Tax Desk has designed a questionnaire which is available on the Portal to collect the necessary information and documents required from you for your IOSS registration.

After successful registration, you will be able to download a data template from the Portal. You need to provide your sales (including returns) data regarding the eligible transactions in the required template on a monthly basis. Tax Desk will prepare the IOSS return for your review.

The IOSS VAT return will contain the total value of the goods sold, their VAT rate and the total VAT amount to be paid, broken down for each EU Member State where the goods are transported to, as well as broken down in terms of standard and reduced rates.

Upon your approval, Tax Desk will then submit the return.

You will need to submit a monthly IOSS return to the tax authorities in the country of identification (registration). The deadline for submitting your IOSS VAT return is the end of the calendar month following the reporting period.
The deadline for these payments is the end of the month following the reporting month, the same as the return deadline. As you are established outside the EU, you are registered through a VAT intermediary. You should make a monthly payment of VAT due as declared in the IOSS VAT return to the VAT intermediary at least a few working days prior to the payment deadline as instructed. The VAT intermediary will make the payment to the Member State of registration on your behalf.
No, IOSS can only be used for B2C sales of eligible goods.

The UK left the EU VAT regime on 31st December 2020. At the same time, the UK withdrew its £15 low-value consignment relief and introduced a new VAT-at-point-of-sale regime (similar to the EU’s IOSS regime) for goods imported into the UK with a shipment value not exceeding £135.

For sales to EU consumers, British resident sellers are now considered as non-EU residents. From 1 July 2021, they are able to use the EU IOSS as non-EU sellers, for sales of eligible goods which will be imported into the EU.

Once you have subscribed to the Tax Desk services, you will be assigned a dedicated Tax Desk account manager who will answer your questions regarding the IOSS registration and the compliance process. You can contact your account manager by email or telephone in the following languages: English, German and Chinese.

You should do the following:

  • Apply the VAT rate of the Member State where the goods are dispatched to or where the services are supplied
  • Collect VAT from the buyer on intra-EU distance sales of goods or on supplies of services
  • Submit quarterly VAT returns to the Member State where you are registered for OSS
  • Make quarterly payment of VAT declared in the VAT returns to the Member State where you are registered for OSS
  • Keep records of all eligible OSS sales for 10 years
Tax Desk has designed a questionnaire which is available on the Portal to collect the necessary information and documents required from you for your OSS registration.

After successful registration, you will be able to download a data template from the Portal. You need to provide your sales (including returns) data regarding the eligible transactions in the required template on a monthly basis. If you trade on Amazon, you can also provide the Amazon VAT Transaction Report and use the data template only for transactions outside of Amazon. Tax Desk professionals will prepare the OSS return for your review on a quarterly basis.

The OSS VAT return will contain the total value of the goods sold, their VAT rate and the total VAT amount to be paid, broken down for each EU Member State where the goods are transported from and transported to, as well as broken down in terms of standard and reduced rates.

Upon your approval, Tax Desk will then submit the return.

You will need to submit a quarterly OSS return to the tax authorities in the country of identification (registration). The deadline for submitting your OSS VAT return is the end of the calendar month following the reporting period.
The deadline for these payments is the end of the month following the reporting quarter, the same as the return deadline.
No, OSS can only be used for B2C sales.
Once you have subscribed to the Tax Desk services, you will be assigned a dedicated Tax Desk account manager who will answer your questions regarding the OSS registration and the compliance process. You can contact your account manager by email or telephone in the following languages: English, German and Chinese.
If the OSS is not used, you will need to register in every EU Member State where VAT is due on distance sales of goods. You will need to submit separate VAT returns in these countries in the frequency required by the local Member States and make the corresponding VAT payments to the tax authorities in these Member States.
EU-based businesses must register in the country where their business is established. Non-EU based businesses must register in the EU country where they ship from. If you ship from multiple EU countries, then choose one of them.

The information provided does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal and/or tax advice; instead, this information is for general informational purposes only. This information may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. Readers of this information should contact their own advisor to obtain advice with respect to any particular legal and/or tax matter. All liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on the contents of this site are hereby expressly disclaimed. The content on this posting is provided “as is”; no representations are made that the content is error-free.

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