Rapid growth of e-commerce means current EU VAT policies are inappropriate, and favor non-EU merchants who are not subject to the same VAT rules. Non-EU merchants therefore enjoy an unfair pricing advantage over EU merchants under the current regulations. It is estimated that the EU loses out on billions of lost VAT revenue every year.
To close €7 billion VAT loophole, the EU introduced customs regulatory changes starting from 1st July 2021. All EU e-commerce transaction will be subject to VAT and will require an official customs declaration.
As a shipper to the European Union, it is critical that you have a clear understanding of the new changes to Customs Regulations.
What is VAT?
Value-added tax (VAT) is a consumption tax on goods and services. It is levied at each stage of production, distribution or sale to the end consumer and it is charged equally on every purchase. VAT is introduced in more than 160 countries.
Why VAT?
By imposing VAT, the country can protect its businesses and avoid unfair competition and distortion for their companies. It is considered as a simpler and more standardized tax system than a traditional sales tax.
New EU Customs Regulations Starting from 1st Jul 2021
1. VAT exemption on low-value goods (€22 or below) is removed
All goods importing to EU will be charged with VAT, regardless of their value.
2. Introduce Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) to simplify customs clearance procedures
With IOSS, non-EU sellers can collect VAT from their consumers on B2C goods imported into the EU not exceeding €150.
Once registered, the seller could pay VAT in the IOSS for all of their EU sales via a quarterly declaration, and the IOSS system would transmit that VAT remittance to the respective Member State.
3. E-marketplaces are liable for collecting, reporting and paying VAT
The e-marketplace must first register for the IOSS with an IOSS intermediary. It will then be responsible for collecting the VAT on e-commerce transactions made on marketplaces.
4. Complete a formal customs declaration for all commercial imported goods
To minimize unnecessary transit time and clearance days, customs authorities are now requesting complete and accurate goods descriptions in order to perform security/safety screening before shipments leaving the origin country.
Who are affected?
- Online B2C transactions of goods with a value of €150 euro max
- B2C E-commerce sellers
- All online e-marketplaces selling goods to EU customers
What should shippers do?
1. VAT Payment
VAT collected by the online seller at the moment of purchase and online seller then pays to EU tax authorities via monthly VAT return in the country where you IOSS is registered. If you are not a VAT established seller, you must appoint a VAT intermediary to fulfill VAT obligatory on your behalf.
2. Formal customs declaration
You need to provide accurate Commercial / Pro Forma invoice data, such as goods descriptions, customs tariff code, itemized values and items quantity. Generic description such as “samples” or “spare parts” are not allowed.
Final Reminders for Shippers
- Shippers can either register and file your own tax returns and find an intermediary to act for you.
- The customs regulatory changes are not applicable to consignments valued over €150
Ivy Tse - the Co-Chief Executive Officer & Co-founder of FreightAmigo,
Ivy Tse has 15 years of regional management experience in several Fortune Global 100 companies, including ICT, cloud services & the logistics industry. She is also an ISO 9001 auditor, awarded as 2021 Deloitte Tech Fast Female Award Winner and a member of the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council since 2021. With the mission “Make Trade Easier”, FreightAmigo is a one-stop supply chain finance eMarketPlace pioneer in Asia founded in 2017, connecting over 300+ global shippers, financial institutions, insurance companies and logistics service providers in one platform.
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