VAT Registration Thresholds 2020:
When to register for VAT?

To stay tax compliant is always one of the most important things for online businesses. To ensure compliance, getting a VAT nmber is usually one of the first steps and there are several reasons that require having this number, one reason is reaching the annual distance selling threshold limit.

Which VAT thresholds are there in Europe?

Here is a short overview of the annual threshold limits of the big Amazon marketplaces in Europe followed by an example.

Country	Threshold Limit
Germany	€ 100,000
United Kingdom	£ 70,000
France	€ 35,000
Spain	€ 35,000
Italy	€ 35,000

Example:
A seller based in the UK sells to various countries in Europe and the products he has sold to Germany within the first year had a total value of € 50,000. That means the threshold limit wasn’t reached and no actions are required as the annual threshold limit for distance sales to Germany is € 100 000. As soon as this limit is reached, or 100 000. As soon as this limit is reached (or preferably shortly before), you need to register for VAT

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Naturally, all countries in Europe have their own threshold limits and the popularity of an article can vary. It often depends on the market of the country, the climate, the trends – the people in general. Therefore, here a list of threshold limits in Europe.

Expecting a VAT-taxable turnover exceeding the threshold limit within a 30-day period also leads to the obligation of a VAT registration!

What is VAT?

The value-added tax is assessed on the value that is added to goods and services bought and sold in the EU. It applies to all commercial activities involving the production and distribution of goods and the provision of services.

There are several reason that makes a business or seller have to register for VAT, like reaching the VAT registration threshold or storing in a country.

Each and every European country has its own VAT rates and for different product categories, there are also different rates that can apply.

Are all sales liable to VAT?

Briefly speaking: no. There are some sellers that are not registered for VAT because the turnover is too low, however, FBA sellers for example have to be registered anyways as storing in and selling from a country are also reason that make having a VAT Identification Number obligatory.

How to calculate your prices

By keeping in mind that every country can set its own rate and by taking a look at the graphic below, setting the prices right and calculating with VAT shouldn’t be too difficult, it’s not rocket science.

You can also use Amazon’s VAT Calculation Service.

When to register for VAT?

There are several reasons that lead to the need of a VAT registration. If you are storing in and selling from a European country or setting up a business in a country, you need to register for VAT and take care of filings and returns.

However, there is a third reason that legally obliges you to apply for a VAT Identification Number in a foreign country: reaching the annual threshold limit for distance selling.

If you are selling abroad via distance selling in Europe, the VAT number of the country of residence of your business is used as long as you don’t reach the annual threshold limit of a country of import.

What is a VAT registration threshold?

The VAT registration threshold is a limit value, different in all European countries, and sellers need to register for VAT in the country they are selling to when when this limit is reached. So distance selling, e.g. via online mail orders, or rather the turnover of the distance sales, is something that needs to be monitored.

To sum it up, it’s a limit whose exceeding leads to tax obligations and duties, and the turnover is what counts.

The turnover is decisive

The thresholds are clearly defined, and the turnover is the number that can reach the limit. But in some cases, there is a way to at least reduce the actual turnover a little bit. The VAT born on stock that was purchased for resale is the amount by which you may reduce the value of the turnover.

This can make sense if the amount of incurred VAT reduces your turnover to a level which is below the annual threshold limit.

All VAT Threshold in Europe

Austria	€ 35,000
Belgium	€ 35,000
Bulgaria	BGN 70,000
Croatia	HRK 270,000
Cyprus	€ 35,000
Czech Republic	CZK 1,140,000
Denmark	DKK 280,000
Estonia	€ 35,000
Finland	€ 35,000
France	€ 35,000
Germany	€ 100,000
Greece	€ 35,000
Hungary	HUF 8,800,000
Ireland	€ 35,000
Italy	€ 35,000
Latvia	€ 35,000
Lithuania	€ 35,000
Luxembourg	€ 100,000
Malta	€ 35,000
Netherlands	€ 100,000
Poland	PLN 160,000
Portugal	€ 35,000
Romania	RON 118,000
Slovakia	€ 35,000
Slovenia	€ 35,000
Spain	€ 35,000
Sweden	SEK 320,000
United Kingdom	£ 70,000

Summary: VAT threshold limits in Europe

Keeping an eye on threshold limits when your sales numbers to a specific country are rather high is definitely recommended to make sure to avoid penalties and unnecessary paperwork.

When you act in time, the one-time processes can be ticked off rather quickly, but VAT registrations always mean future duties like regular filings and returns.

The hellotax vat automation software, the digital registration process and our team of local tax accountants ensure a proper handling of the all processes involved and to get back to the VAT threshold limits, you can monitor all current sales, goods movements and how far you are away from reaching threshold limits in the countries you are selling to – easy and directly in our software.