IOSS number is the tax identification number of the marketplace (eBay, Etsy, etc.), through which the customs authorities of EU countries see that VAT for orders up to 150 euros (including shipping) has already been paid by the buyer on the marketplace.
Who this guide is for
- For sellers on eBay and Etsy, who ship goods to EU countries from non-EU countries.
- For Western Bid customers, who arrange shipments via UPS, FedEx, Ukrposhta, DPD and others to the EU and want to avoid double taxation.
- For those who sell to Australia, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Singapore, Chile and work with marketplaces’ local tax codes.
Details about IOSS
From July 1, 2021, the rules for selling goods to EU countries have changed. There is no longer a VAT-free threshold. For all goods valued up to 150 euros (including shipping), shipped from non-EU countries, VAT will be charged. The amount of VAT depends on the recipient country.
If the value of the goods plus shipping exceeds 150 euros, VAT, duties, and broker fees will be charged according to the customs rules of the recipient country.
In the case where the item was sold on eBay or Etsy, in the order (Orders section in the store) a tax code will be indicated, by which the customs authorities of EU countries will know that VAT has already been paid.
Examples of IOSS codes
| Country / Region | Code for Etsy | Code for eBay |
|---|---|---|
| EU | IM3720000224 | IM2760000742 |
| Australia | 300009207152 | 064652016681 |
| New Zealand | 122669181 | 126101678 |
| Norway | VOEC2021137 | VOEC2024926 |
| United Kingdom | GB370600428 | GB365608576 |
| Switzerland | UID VAT: CHE-373.086.513 | — |
| Singapore | SGM90373362R | — |
| Chile | 592553600 | 592553600 |
Marketplaces eBay and Etsy will immediately charge VAT on the value of the goods + shipping. Reminder: VAT is automatically removed by the platforms if the cost of goods+shipping is up to or equal to 150 euros. If the cost of goods+shipping is more than 150 euros, VAT, customs duties and broker services will be charged at customs regardless of where the goods were sold. That is, in such a case the order will not have a tax number specified. Delivery is processed as usual and all duties will be charged at customs.
Example of an order with the number specified on eBay.
An example of an order with the number shown on Etsy.
In the Western Bid personal account, when processing delivery, the function to add the marketplace IOSS number has already been implemented. You can find this number in the sales order in your seller’s dashboard on the marketplace. Tax payment information will be displayed on the shipping label, and will also be transmitted electronically to the customs of the recipient country. Detailed information about the IOSS code is available at the link.
Please note, that the value of the goods (the value of the contents), which you specify when shipping parcels to EU countries, must match the value of the goods on your invoice from the marketplace or website, i.e., correspond to the amount your customer paid for the goods.
If the value of the goods in the transaction in the Western Bid cabinet does not match the marketplace invoice, you should adjust it when creating the shipping label to avoid additional questions from customs authorities.
If the goods are sold on Lavky or on any other marketplace that does not automatically collect VAT, and consequently does not provide an IOSS number, this number does not need to be specified when arranging the shipment.
Some courier services currently do not ship parcels to EU countries without an IOSS number – for example, UPS Ground and FedEx Regional Economy. So, if the number is not available, you need to choose another delivery method.
Правила оформлення доставки товарів в ЄС через Укрпошту можна вивчити тут.
Useful tip: to shorten the time a parcel spends through customs, you can affix to the parcel a label with a large black IOSS mark, on which you need to indicate the site where the goods were sold and the IOSS number of the goods. Such labels are issued at some European post offices when accepting parcels from sellers, and, as practice shows, they really help customs officers to expedite the processing of parcels. You can download such labels for your parcels. Then you need to print them, specify on them the place of sale and the IOSS number, and then stick them on the parcel.
Also for parcel deliveries to European Union countries you must specify the customs code of the goods (HS code). The customs code helps determine the amount of tax on imported goods. Based on the customs code, customs officers determine exactly which product is being imported. The amount of tax may vary depending on the type of goods. The standard code is a six-digit number, but in some countries it can be 8 digits or 10. For goods costing more than 150 euros, you must specify 10 digits of the code.
When arranging delivery to EU countries via the Western Bid Personal Account, a field for specifying the customs code will appear.
Please note, for creating shipments you must indicate the customs code of the product for any destination country.
For independently determining customs product codes you can use the Code search tool on the unified export web portal.
Also, in July 2021, new rules for selling toys to EU countries came into effect (these rules do not apply to selling toys to other countries).
If your product could be mistaken for a toy, to avoid it being detained at customs, we recommend that when processing the shipment you check in the special checkbox that your product is not a toy. In this case in the product description in parentheses there will be the phrase “This not a toy”. In the description we recommend writing that this is an item for decor or a souvenir with a detailed description of what it is, but without specifying the material.
If your product is absolutely not similar to a toy, then you do not need to tick the checkbox. For example, a painting, a dog collar, a mug.
If you do not tick the checkbox, then after your product description nothing else will be written.
In case you are selling toys for children, you need to comply with all EU requirements for the sale of toys and attach all necessary documents to the shipment. If you do not have all the special documents, and you are selling toys, we recommend excluding EU countries and selling to those countries where such permits are not required. For example, in the United States, Canada, etc.
How to use the IOSS number when arranging shipment through Western Bid
- In your seller account on eBay or Etsy, open the order and find the IOSS number or local tax code that the marketplace indicated for the order.
- When creating the shipment in the Western Bid account, fill in the fields for the item, value, and destination country; in the special IOSS-number field insert the corresponding code from the order.
- Attach the invoice/order from the marketplace to the shipment as an attachment so customs can verify the amount, the value of the goods, and the fact of VAT payment.
- Manually adjust the value of the goods in the shipment if the transaction in the Western Bid account shows a net amount after PayPal and Western Bid fees — indicate the amount the buyer actually paid for the goods.
- Enter the HS code of the goods in the appropriate field; if necessary determine it using the search tool on the export web portal.
How to use the IOSS number when processing delivery through Western Bid
- In the seller’s account on eBay or Etsy, open the order and find the IOSS number or the local tax code that the marketplace indicated for the order.
- When creating the parcel in the Western Bid dashboard, fill in the fields for the item, value, and destination country; in the dedicated field for the IOSS number paste the corresponding code from the order.
- Attach to the parcel the invoice/order from the marketplace as an attachment so that customs can verify the amount, the value of the goods, and the fact of VAT payment.
- Manually adjust the value of the goods in the shipment if the transaction in the Western Bid dashboard shows an amount after deducting PayPal and Western Bid commissions — indicate the amount the buyer actually paid for the goods.
- Specify the customs code of the goods (HS code) in the appropriate field; if necessary determine it using the search tool on the export web portal.
Why you should not underprice or overprice a product
If the value of the goods stated in the shipment does not match the amount on the marketplace order, customs may request additional documents, delay the shipment, or levy taxes. To avoid questions, always indicate the amount that the buyer paid specifically for the goods, without commissions and with the exact IOSS number, if it exists.
Frequently asked questions about the IOSS number and customs codes
What is an IOSS number in simple terms?
The IOSS number is a special tax number of the marketplace, by which EU customs understands that VAT for orders up to 150 euros has already been charged at the moment of purchase on eBay or Etsy.
Do you need to provide the IOSS number if the order total is over €150?
No. For orders over 150 euros, VAT, duties and brokerage fees are charged by customs, the IOSS code is not indicated in such orders, and it does not need to be entered at checkout.
What should you do if the product is sold not on eBay/Etsy, but, for example, on Lavky?
If the platform does not automatically collect VAT and does not provide an IOSS number, when processing the shipment in your Western Bid account, leave the IOSS field empty, and taxes will be charged by the customs of the recipient’s country.
Why do some courier services not accept parcels to the EU without IOSS?
Services such as UPS Ground and FedEx Regional Economy, at the time of publication, do not ship packages to EU countries without an IOSS number, so if you don’t have one (for example, sales not through eBay/Etsy), you need to choose another shipping method.
Why specify the product's customs code (HS code)?
The customs code helps the customs authorities determine the type of goods and the correct tax rate. For goods valued at over 150 euros, a 10-digit code is required; for others — at least 6 digits; the field for the code appears when arranging delivery to the EU in the Western Bid account.
How to minimize risks when shipping to the EU
- For every order from eBay or Etsy up to 150 EUR, locate the IOSS/tax code in the order and correctly transfer it to the Western Bid account.
- Always verify the value of the item in the shipment against the value on the marketplace invoice, and specify the product’s customs code for all shipments.
- Use IOSS-labeled stickers on shipments and follow the guidelines for «This not a toy» for potentially toy products to avoid delays at customs.
If you are not sure whether you need to specify the IOSS number for a particular order, check the marketplace order or contact Western Bid support.