Articles on: FAQs

EU Import Policy


Overview


Here are some frequently asked questions on EU Import Policy.


  1. What has changed in the EU import policy?


Earlier, sellers didn’t have to pay import VAT (Value Added Tax) for commercial goods having value up to EUR 22. However, from 1 July 2021, sellers will have to pay the VAT irrespective of the goods’ value. Simply put, no exemption will be given from 1st July 2021.


  1. What is the benefit of IOSS?


The IOSS (Import One-stop Shop) was introduced to facilitate the declaration and payment of VAT for the goods that get sold from a distance by sellers belonging to either the EU or non-EU country/territory.


  1. What do I need to take into consideration?


You have to share the VAT number when your shipments have a value of over 150 Euros. On the other hand, share the IOSS number for the shipments having a value lower than 150 Euros.


Note: This is meant for DDP users, not for DDU ones.


  1. How can I share the VAT or IOSS number with the AfterShip Shipping team?


  • For API users:


Mention the IOSS or VAT number in the ship_from.tax_id field. If it’s missing, we will use the value entered in the shipper_account.tax_id field.


However, if we find both ship_from.tax_id and shipper_account.tax_id fields are null, we won’t be able to send the IOSS or VAT number to the carrier. It will put you or your customer in a spot of bother later on, so always make sure that you share the correct data with us.


  • For non-API users:


Just specify the IOSS or VAT number in the shipper_account.tax_id field. In the event of no value, we won’t be able to share the IOSS or VAT number with the carrier.


  1. How should I set my IOSS in AfterShip Shipping?


  • For API users, please include your IOSS number in each shipment’s ship_from.tax_id
  • For non-API users, please include your IOSS number in each shipper account’s tax_id



Have another question regarding the EU import policy? Feel free to contact our support team via live chat or email us at support+shipping@aftership.com.




Updated on: 05/05/2025