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Register For VAT In The EU: The 2026 Expansion Guide
Registering for VAT in the EU is one of the most important steps in empowering your global ambitions. While the landscape of cross-border sales has changed significantly since the pandemic, the EU’s VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) reforms, launched in 2025, continue to roll out in 2026, introducing additional e-invoicing and digital reporting requirements. Full implementation will take place over the coming years, requiring a proactive compliance strategy.
Regular readers will know we have provided guides for multiple countries; this article serves as a central hub for 2026 updates, including guidance on the July 2026 customs reform and the One Stop Shop (OSS) and Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) schemes.
From April 2026, non-EU sellers using IOSS are generally required to work with an intermediary. For specific guidance tailored to your business, please contact our team.
Registering For VAT In Germany
Germany remains one of the largest and most established e-commerce markets in Europe. As of 2026, the German market is valued at approximately €155 billion.
- The 2026 Requirement: UK and other non-EU sellers may need to register for German VAT when holding stock locally or exceeding certain sales thresholds. Requirements can vary depending on your setup, so we recommend contacting our team for personalised advice.
- Scrupulous Audits: The German tax authorities have intensified their “Tax Certificate” checks this year. It is vital to employ experts like J&P to manage these filings, as even minor errors can lead to immediate marketplace account blocks.
Registering For VAT In France
France’s e-commerce market has surged past €175 billion in 2026. With the average French shopper now spending over €4,000 annually, the opportunity is massive.
- E-Invoicing Readiness: From September 2026, VAT-registered businesses in France are expected to handle structured e-invoices. Transitional arrangements may apply, and our team can advise on the specific requirements relevant to your business.
- The 2026 Rule: Non-EU sellers may need to register for VAT when holding stock or shipping from France.
VAT Registration In Spain
Spain’s market has outgrown the old €30bn mark and is now valued at over €120 billion.
- The VeriFactu Mandate: In 2026, Spain is transitioning to the VeriFactu system. This means your invoicing software must be certified to prevent data manipulation. Invoices issued by VAT-registered businesses in Spain must now include a QR code for verification by the AEAT.
- Fiscal Representation: Spain strictly requires a local fiscal representative for non-EU sellers. At J&P, we act as your Spanish representative, ensuring your business meets these high-tech anti-fraud standards.
How To Register For VAT In Italy
Italy is now one of the fastest-growing markets in the world, worth over €110 billion in 2026.
- The €50,000 Guarantee: This is the most critical 2026 update. To maintain a VAT number for intra-EU trade (VIES), non-EU businesses must now provide a financial guarantee of at least €50,000. This can be a bank guarantee or an insurance bond.
- Mandatory Representative: Just as with Spain, a fiscal representative is mandatory. J&P is highly experienced in securing these guarantees and managing the complex Italian digital reporting (SII).
Conclusion – We Are Experts In EU VAT Registration
In 2026, VAT registration is increasingly a digital compliance process. With new customs and e-invoicing measures, working with an experienced partner ensures you meet both tax and technological requirements. Contact our team for tailored support.
Our experience with online marketplace sellers allows us to guide you through various EU VAT requirements, from financial guarantees to local digital compliance.
Do not let the 2026 reforms slow your growth. Contact J&P Accountants today.
How-To Guide: France VAT Registration 2026 Update for UK Sellers
France remains a key gateway into Europe for UK e-commerce businesses. In 2026, regulatory shifts are affecting how VAT is handled there, with a greater emphasis on digital reporting and invoicing. Two notable changes are shaping the landscape for UK and non-EU sellers: a shift away from certain simplified routes and an upcoming e-invoicing framework.
Why Register for VAT in France in 2026?
With strong online spending, France is a major market for cross-border commerce. France offers a VAT framework on imports that can affect cash flow, and UK sellers should consider how this interacts with their EU expansion plans.
Critical 2026 Updates for UK Sellers
- The End of Simplified Regime 42: The simplified route for moving goods through France without full VAT registration is being removed. If importing for onward distribution (Customs Procedure 42), you may need a French VAT registration and regular filings.
- Mandatory E-Invoicing: By autumn 2026, VAT-registered businesses should be able to receive e-invoices through the national platform. Ensure your accounting systems can connect to certified platforms in time.
When Do You Have to Register?
The requirements for 2026 are strict. You must register for French VAT if:
- You hold stock in France (e.g., using Amazon FBA or a 3PL in Lille or Lyon).
- You import goods into France under DDP terms to sell to local consumers.
- You use France as a gateway to ship goods to other EU countries (following the repeal of simplified Regime 42).
Do You Need a French Tax Representative?
The rules for UK businesses are unique. While most non-EU countries must appoint a “Fiscal Representative” (who is jointly liable for your tax), the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement allows many UK businesses to register directly without a full fiscal representative, provided they do not have a permanent establishment in France.
However, given the complexity of the new 2026 e-reporting and e-invoicing rules, most UK sellers find that working with a French-specialist agent is the most effective way to avoid heavy fines. (which can reach €15,000 per year for invoicing errors).
Working with J&P Accountants
The registration process can take several weeks. J&P offers structured guidance, document checklists, and coordination support to streamline the process.
Conclusion
France remains essential for UK sellers, but 2026 brings broader compliance requirements. J&P Accountants offers guidance to help you align with digital reporting and cross-border rules, and to position your EU trade for long-term success.
Contact J&P Accountants for French VAT registration and forward-looking cross-border compliance review.
How To Complete VAT Registration in Spain: The 2026 Guide
Spain has one of the most advanced digital tax environments, with a rapidly growing e-commerce market and a tech-savvy population using instant-payment systems. It remains a leading market for UK and international sellers.
However, registering for VAT in Spain in 2026 requires more than just paperwork. It now requires digital certification. Here is our updated guide on navigating the new Spanish tax landscape.
When Do I Need to Register for VAT in Spain?
You must register for Spanish VAT (IVA) if you:
Non-EU sellers importing goods into Spain to sell locally may need to register. Note: Voluntary registration is not typical; you must demonstrate intended or actual trade.
- Hold stock in Spain (e.g., via Amazon FBA or a local warehouse) may trigger registration.
- Exceeding EU distance selling threshold (€10,000) may trigger VAT obligations for EU-based sellers.
- Non-EU sellers importing goods into Spain to sell locally may need to register.
Note: Voluntary registration is not typical; you must demonstrate intended or actual trade.
New for 2026: The “VeriFactu” Mandate
From 1 January 2026, many VAT-registered businesses must use VeriFactu-certified invoicing. Invoices must be tamper-evident and include a QR code for verification by AEAT.
What You Will Need (The Hague Apostille)
The Spanish tax authority (AEAT) has rigorous documentation requirements. UK-based directors must provide:
- Power of Attorney (PoA): Allowing J&P Accountants to act on your behalf.
- Certificate of Incorporation: Proving your company’s legal status.
- The Hague Apostille: All UK documents must be notarised and carry an Apostille stamp from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Without this, your application will be rejected.
Fiscal Representation: A Legal Necessity
For UK and other non-EU businesses, appointing a Fiscal Representative in Spain is a mandatory legal requirement. Your representative is “jointly and severally liable” for your tax debts. At J&P Accountants, we provide full fiscal representation, taking on the legal responsibility for your filings and ensuring you meet the strict 2026 digital standards.
Postponed VAT Accounting (IVA Diferido)
Spain offers Postponed VAT Accounting for import VAT, allowing deferral on the same VAT filing. In 2026, REDEME expansion enables more SMEs to access deferral, subject to monthly SII reporting.
Conclusion
Spain offers significant commercial opportunities, but penalties apply for non-compliant invoicing software or processes, with amounts depending on the violation and regulation in force. Professional guidance is essential to ensure your business meets the required standards.
At J&P Accountants, we do not simply handle your registration; we ensure your invoicing software is VeriFactu-certified and your B2B processes meet the Crea y Crece digital standards.
Expand into Spain with confidence. Contact J&P Accountants today.
Loan Guidelines
Are you planning to take out a loan to buy a house recently?
Living and working in peace and contentment is everyone’s yearning. With the current high property prices in the UK, many buyers will prefer to use loans to purchase properties. This article hopes to let everyone know the documents that need to be prepared in the early stage of the loan and how to prepare these documents to help you go smoothly on the road to buying a house.
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We will make different plans according to each person’s assets and income.
Loan Type
Fixed interest mortgages
A fixed-rate mortgage is one that guarantees your interest rate will remain the same for a period of time.
This gives you peace of mind because, unlike a variable-rate mortgage, you’ll know exactly how much you’ll need to pay back each month during this period.
Variable interest mortgage
A variable rate mortgage is a type of home loan in which the interest rate is not fixed. Instead, interest payments will be adjusted at a level above a specific benchmark or reference rate, such as the Prime Rate + 2 points.
Apply for a personal loan
For personal loans, the loanable amount is generally 3-4 times of my income. For example, with an annual income of £20K, the loanable amount is between £60-80K.
So what kind of proof materials need to be prepared in advance?
Banks or other credit institutions will require the borrower to provide proof of income for 1-2 years, such as P60, SA302, Tax Calculation and Tax Overview, Year-End account, bank statement, if the borrower has other properties, they need to provide their real estate prove.
Proof of income
If you are an ordinary office worker and have no other proof of income or assets, the documents you need to provide are: P60, recent pay stubs, and bank statements.
If you are self-employed (i.e. self-employed), you need to provide Tax Calculation and Tax Overview or SA302 documents to the bank or lender for review
For the legal person or shareholder of the company, in addition to Tax Calculation and Tax Overview or SA302, the company’s annual account may also be required for reference
Generally speaking, a legal person or shareholder only needs to provide Tax Calculation and Tax Overview to a bank or other credit institution when making a loan; however, in a few cases, an additional SA302 will be required.
Our Customers
“It is a pleasure to work with a company we trust, and their service makes me truly experience the customer first.”
“My wife and I were planning to buy a house for a long time, but we didn’t know English law or how to get government help to apply for a loan. It seemed harder than making money, and it wasn’t that hard until we discovered this company. We got our bank loan and put in a down payment, and happily we’ll be moving into a new house soon.”
“We work everywhere to earn money, and after ten years we are finally starting to plan our first home. I checked a lot of information on the Internet and even called the bank and didn’t get a satisfactory result. Thank you for letting me know the loan strategy clearly, I trust you and choose you.”
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Personal tax returns are very complicated, the above is just a very simple introduction. If you have other income, such as rental income, stock income, foreign income, interest income, etc., these income must be included in your personal tax return. If you have any questions or other considerations, we welcome you to contact us at any time.
Amazon To Unveil New Belgian Delivery Centre
Amazon have announced plans to open its first logistics centre in Belgium this year. The centre will be used to receive, sort and send packages across the country and will be stationed in Antwerp. Whilst this is great news for Amazon, their announcement comes amidst a storm of disagreement in Belgium as to the value of ecommerce. This article will take a look at the new Amazon delivery centre, but will also discuss the state of ecommerce as a whole in Belgium.
The New Amazon Delivery Centre In Belgium
The new centre will be located in Antwerp, one of the most prominent cities in Belgium, and will be primarily concerned with sorting parcels that are sent from France and Germany to Belgian consumers. From here, Amazon will use couriers to fulfil the orders. The building should be operational in late 2022 and is planned to create 50 jobs. In addition, more than 200 chauffeurs from local couriers will deliver parcels, the company says.
This news is indicative of Amazon’s expansion into Europe. Last year Amazon opened a similar centre in the Netherlands, and they have already announced plans to create 8 more in Germany over the coming months. Whilst this does seem a very positive thing for the Belgian people, the news does come with a backdrop of some serious disagreements over ecommerce in the country.
Belgian Ecommerce Topic Of Hot Debate
According to data from BeCommerce, the ecommerce industry in Belgium was worth 10.26 billion euros in 2020. There are some big online players from abroad, like Zalando (Germany) or Bol.com and Coolblue (both from the Netherlands). As a matter of fact, in 2017, the whole top five of biggest online stores in Belgium consisted of foreign players. You might think this would mean that Belgium had a positive view of ecommerce, but this is not wholly true.
The Belgian government currently deliberating over market reform measures that would see ecommerce companies become allowed to ask their wokers to work between 8pm and midnights. As it stands, many ecommerce companies have to outsource these operations to Dutch companies. Some, such as the leaders of the Belgium Party, believe that this is a negative thing to happen to Belgium. Their argument is that consumers should just wait longer for parcels. Whilst this may be the case in an ideal world, it is simply not industry standard and will mean that Belgium will continue to lag behind the rest of Europe when it comes to ecommerce if their rules are not updated.
We Can Help You Register For VAT In Belgium
Obviously, VAT registration is an unavoidable step when it comes to expanding your business. Whilst registering for VAT in Belgium can be a stressful registration process, we are here to complete the process for you.
Our long history of working with ecommerce sellers, especially those who use Amazon and eBay, means we can guide you through every step of the registration process – so please do not hesitate to send us an e-mail at enquiries@jpaccountant.com or contact us through social media to receive a quote today. In addition, we would be more than happy to help you register for UK & EU VAT and file your UK & EU VAT returns, and help you comply with VAT in case your account faces any issues.
B2B Businesses Set To Invest Heavily In Digitalization
It seems that B2B companies are starting to follow the trend being set by their B2C counterparts and are about to delve deeper into the digital world. Over 80% of businesses have said that they are planning to increase their investment into the digital side of their business as they look to explore new revenue streams. Obviously, we specialize in supporting ecommerce sellers, but we also support many B2B business. Lead generating companies can really benefit from moving more of their operations online, and here’s how.
The Survey On B2B Digitalisation
The findings that this article are going to centre around come from a survey carried out by Copperberg. They surveyed over 50 European B2B manufacturers with a turnover of at least 250 million euros. The survey is very enlightening since, whilst much has been made about B2C shift to ecommerce, B2B has not had the same attention.
The research found that the main reason these businesses feel that they need to expand their scope is to access new revenue streams. This was found to be the case for 41% of respondents. 24% felt that they had invest into their digital operations to keep up with the global shift to digital solutions that we have seen since the pandemic.
The Conclusion? Heavy Investment Imminent
The fact that these B2B companies are willing to invest in digitalization becomes apparent when looking at their budget for investments into digital business strategies. At least 83 percent of manufacturers will increase their budget up to 20 percent this year. A smaller group will maintain the same budget as last year (15 percent), while 2 percent of manufacturers will decrease their budget with 1 to 20 percent.
It is interesting when one compares the different ways in which B2B and B2C businesses can use digitalization. Of course, both should invest in their website and ensure their customers can communicate with them easily. However, there are some differences.
For example, a B2B manufacturer might add more automation to their production process. Also, when it comes to marketing, a B2B company might use platforms such as LinkedIn to generate leads, whereas a B2C business might use Instagram as it might allow them to make their products look more visually appealing.
Contact Us Today
If you are a business who participates in cross border e-commerce, or exporting of any kind, we would be more than happy to help you register for UK VAT, the UK VAT deferral scheme, gain an EU and UK EORI number, file your UK and EU VAT returns, and help you comply with VAT in case your account faces any issues. This obviously goes for any B2B businesses as well.
At J&P, helping your business is our passion, and we understand that companies across the UK are at risk now more than ever. We are here to support you through Brexit, so please do not hesitate to give us a call on 0161 637 1080 or send an e-mail to enquiries@jpaccountant.com.
