Industries
E-commerce & online retail
We support online shops and marketplace sellers with bookkeeping and VAT, looking at sales countries, warehouse locations and payment flows together.
Industry
What matters to you
Online retail quickly gives rise to cross-border tax issues. We clarify which rules apply to your products and sales countries, and how orders, fees and payouts can be recorded in a traceable way.
We advise South Tyrolean retailers, manufacturers and service providers who sell through their own shop or via marketplaces. Our goal is accounting that grows with the business and VAT that is correctly declared in every country.
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Distance selling in the EU and OSS
For cross-border sales to private customers, it must be checked whether the VAT of the customer’s country applies. An EU-wide turnover threshold and specific conditions may be relevant. We assess sales of goods and digital services together and determine which procedure suits your business.
Instead of having to register in each country separately, you can use the OSS scheme (One-Stop-Shop). You then declare and pay the foreign VAT quarterly via a portal in Italy. We set up the scheme, configure the correct tax rates for each country and handle the returns.
- Monitoring the EU sales threshold
- Registration and quarterly OSS returns
- Tax rates by country and product group
Sales via Amazon and other marketplaces
Marketplaces change the tax position. In certain cases, the platform itself is treated as the seller to the end customer, for example for goods from sellers outside the EU. Platforms also report their sellers’ sales to the tax authorities, so your returns should be consistent with this data.
You should pay particular attention if the marketplace stores your goods in warehouses in other countries. A warehouse abroad may require a separate VAT registration there, which the OSS scheme does not cover. We review your storage and shipping model and clarify where obligations arise.
Invoices, receipts and payment flows
In Italy, invoices are generally issued electronically via the government exchange system (Sistema di Interscambio, SdI). Special documentation rules apply to distance sales to private customers, but recording sales correctly remains mandatory. Fee invoices from foreign marketplaces and payment providers must also be correctly recorded and reported.
A major challenge is reconciliation: orders, returns, credit notes and payouts from PayPal, Stripe or Amazon rarely match the bank account one to one. We help you use interfaces and exports so that the bookkeeping remains complete and traceable.
Sales outside the EU and digital services
Supplies to Switzerland or other non-EU countries are exports, for which customs evidence and, where applicable, import duties in the destination country are relevant. A dedicated scheme (IOSS) exists for low-value goods delivered into the EU from non-EU countries.
Digital services and online courses are not all treated the same for tax purposes. Key factors include the type of service, the degree of automation and the customer base. We determine the place of supply and the appropriate reporting procedures for your specific offering.
Step by step
How we work together
Understanding the business model
We clarify what you sell, through which channels and to whom, and where your goods are stored.
Tax classification
From this, we determine in which countries obligations exist and which procedures you should use.
Connect systems
Together we set up data exports from your shop, marketplaces and payment providers so that we can post them regularly.
Ongoing filings
We handle bookkeeping, VAT and OSS returns and let you know when new thresholds or countries come into play.
Frequently asked questions
Answers on foreign sales, marketplaces and payment reconciliation.
Do I have to register in every EU country I sell to?
Usually not. For distance sales to private customers, the OSS scheme is generally sufficient, allowing you to declare foreign VAT collectively in Italy. A separate registration abroad may, however, become necessary if you store goods there or carry out certain other transactions.
What happens if I exceed the 10,000 euro threshold?
If the threshold rule applies to your business, exceeding it generally results in taxation in the country of destination. We check the relevant turnover, the changeover date, use of the OSS scheme and any special schemes.
How do I correctly book Amazon payouts?
An Amazon payout is not revenue but a balance of sales, fees, refunds and returns. For correct bookkeeping, these components must be recorded separately. To do this, we work with the marketplace’s reports.
Can I run an online shop under the flat-rate regime (regime forfettario)?
Yes, the flat-rate regime (regime forfettario) is also available to online retailers, provided the requirements are met. However, sales to other EU countries involve VAT specifics that should be checked in advance. We clarify with you whether the regime suits your business.
Let’s talk about your plans.
Arrange a no-obligation initial meeting in Merano, Laces or online.