The Import One Stop Shop lets you charge EU VAT at the point of sale on low-value parcels, so your customer is not hit with a bill at the door. This page covers who can use it, whether you need an intermediary, what the monthly return involves, and the €3 customs duty that now sits alongside it.
IOSS covers distance sales of imported goods in consignments up to €150. Answer four questions to see whether a sale fits.
A guide only. Customs duty is separate from VAT, and a €3 duty now applies to many eligible parcels.
Goods outside the EU when sold, consignment up to €150, sold to EU consumers, and not subject to excise.
A seller established outside the EU, other than in a mutual-assistance country, must appoint an EU intermediary.
Register in the member state of identification. In Ireland, that is through Revenue Online Service.
Show the VAT in the price, at the rate of the customer’s country.
It must appear on the customs declaration so VAT is not charged again at the border.
Report all IOSS sales for the month, including a nil return if there were none.
| IOSS | Union OSS | No scheme | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covers | Imports up to €150 | Distance sales within the EU | Anything outside the schemes |
| Return | Monthly | Quarterly | Customs and local returns |
| Customer sees | VAT in the price | VAT in the price | VAT and fees at delivery |
| Best when | You ship low-value parcels from outside the EU | You sell from EU stock to EU consumers | Occasional large consignments |
Short, plain answers to what people ask us most.
The Import One Stop Shop. It lets you charge VAT at checkout on distance sales of imported goods in consignments up to €150, and report it on one monthly return.
Sellers of goods located outside the EU at the time of sale, in consignments up to €150, to EU consumers, excluding excise goods.
A seller established outside the EU needs one unless established in a country with a VAT mutual-assistance agreement with the EU.
Through Revenue Online Service.
Monthly, by the end of the following month. A nil return is due for months with no sales.
From 1 July 2026 a flat €3 duty applies per item category on most parcels up to €150 from outside the EU. It is separate from VAT.
VAT and handling fees are usually collected from the customer at delivery.
Yes. We register you, arrange an intermediary where needed and file the monthly returns.
Distance sales, the OSS and the €10,000 threshold.
E-COMMERCERoutes into the EU and what each triggers.
E-COMMERCEMarketplace fees, stock and profit.
VATReturn periods, deadlines and late interest.
Tell us where they ship from and what they are worth. We will tell you whether IOSS fits and register you.
Adopting the Import One-Stop Shop model offers powerful operational advantages for modern e-commerce sellers:
File one consolidated monthly digital return for all your consumer sales across the entire European Union.
Pre-collected tax data allows shipping carriers to clear packages digitally before they even touch the tarmac.
Eliminate nasty surprises at the door so customers return eagerly for their next purchase.
Automatically apply the correct destination-country VAT rate based on your buyer’s precise European location.
Before launching an IOSS registration, ensure your product catalog meets official European tax guidelines:
The total intrinsic value of the parcel must not exceed €150, excluding shipping and insurance.
Applies strictly to business-to-consumer (B2C) sales. Commercial-to-commercial transactions are excluded.
Restricted items like alcohol, tobacco, and certain perfumes cannot use the IOSS scheme.
Goods must be imported from outside the European Union and Northern Ireland at the point of sale.
We take the friction out of tax compliance so you can focus entirely on scaling your store:
We review your e-commerce setup, sales channels, target countries, and catalog structure.
If your business is based outside the EU, we arrange certified EU intermediary representation.
We submit your formal application via Revenue Online Service (ROS) to secure your unique IOSS identification number.
Plug your credentials into Shopify, WooCommerce, or custom platforms and start shipping seamlessly.
Compare our plans and choose the ideal level of ongoing tax administration support for your store:
Designed for EU-established merchants looking to set up their initial Revenue portal and configure basic reporting.
Fully managed service including non-EU intermediary assignment, monthly return filings, and audit readiness support.
Select a service pathway below to review registration rules, filing cycles, and cross-border compliance guides.
Register for the Union One-Stop Shop scheme to report cross-border B2C services and intra-EU digital sales from Ireland.
Essential Economic Operators Registration and Identification code required for clearing commercial shipments through customs.
Specialized legal representation for global merchants outside the European Union needing access to the IOSS scheme.
Outsource your monthly reporting deadlines to our tax professionals to avoid late fees and compliance audits.
Maintain mandatory 10-year digital audit trails and address-verification evidence required by European tax bodies.
Understand how selling via Amazon, eBay, or Shopify impacts your platform liability and tax collection duties.
Register your local Irish business entity for standard domestic tax obligations if your turnover exceeds statutory thresholds.
Clear fixed-fee pricing structures covering initial setup, intermediary representation, and monthly return maintenance.
Ensure your e-commerce store accurately applies standard and reduced tax rates across all 27 EU member states.
Expert articles on EU tax compliance, digital storefront configuration, and customs clearance.
A complete guide to appointing an authorized EU intermediary and securing your unique identification number.
Learn how electronic transmission of VAT data eliminates postal delays and unexpected courier handling fees.
Practical tips for tracking multi-country European VAT rates and submitting accurate monthly returns to Irish Revenue.
Step-by-step instructions for mapping customer locations, collecting correct VAT at checkout, and saving audit evidence.