If your business is involved in cross-border trade with the European Union, there are two numbers you’re almost guaranteed to encounter: the VAT number and the EORI number. Both are essential for compliance, but they serve entirely different purposes. One is for tax while the other is for customs. Unfortunately, this distinction isn’t always clear. This is especially true if you’re a non-EU seller, a first-time importer, or managing logistics on behalf of clients. At Global T

There is no denying that selling across borders opens up new revenue streams. However, it also exposes your business to a maze of tax rules, deadlines, and reporting obligations. In particular, VAT compliance can become one of the most time consuming and error prone aspects of international trade. Each country may have its own filing frequency, document requirements, and even language barriers when dealing with tax authorities. If you're based outside the EU and plan to sell

Germany stands at the heart of the European Union, both geographically and economically. With over 80 million consumers and a high average purchase value per order, Germany is an essential market for any non EU ecommerce business looking to grow in Europe. The country hosts major Amazon and Zalando fulfillment hubs making it a logistics powerhouse for pan European sellers. If you're shipping goods to customers in Germany from outside the EU (whether from the UK, the US, China

While there are many lucrative markets in the European Union, France stands out as one of the largest and most digitally mature e-commerce markets. With over 50 million active internet users, a high rate of online shopping adoption, and strong logistics infrastructure, it presents an attractive opportunity for global sellers. Major platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Shopify have a significant footprint in the French market. This makes it a natural expansion target for internati

If you are registered for VAT in the Netherlands and you import goods from outside the European Union (EU), you can defer payment of import VAT. This is called the Import VAT Deferment Option (Article 23). The Dutch authority allows importer to defer VAT which makes Netherlands such an attractive importing destination. Who Can Use Import VAT Deferment Under Article 23? To be eligible for the deferment, you must: - Be registered for VAT in the Netherlands; - Import goods from

Since 1 January 2022, the reverse charge system for import VAT has been mandatory in France, pursuant to Law n° 2019-1479 of 28/12/2019, Article...

The EORI number, used in the EU since 1 July 2009, is needed for almost every customs declaration. This article explains some of the...

A bonded (customs) warehouse is a customs-authorised facility where goods from outside the EU can be stored without paying import duties or VAT until they are released, while a consignment warehouse holds a supplier's stock until the customer takes it...