NewsCase StudiesEvents

How to pay VAT when exporting to EU countries

Also in the news...

Cutting Administrative Burdens When Trading Abroad

From customs declarations to inventory tracking across borders, the paperwork and compliance requirements can quickly become overwhelming for growing companies.

Temporary agreement between the Swiss Confederation (Switzerland) and the UK on services mobility

Temporary agreement documents and the exchanges of notes extending the agreement.

Decision. UK-Central America committee documents

Decisions, documents and meeting minutes from UK-Central America countries committees.

Business Secretary calls for Investment, Innovation, and Regional Prosperity

Business Secretary Peter Kyle spoke at the Regional Investment Summit in Birmingham on 21 October 2025

Overseas Business Risk for Myanmar (Burma)

Information on key security and political risks which UK businesses may face when operating in Myanmar.

How to pay VAT when exporting to EU countries

Back to News

Under EU law, indirect taxes such as VAT, are broadly harmonised at EU level.

However,there may be different VAT regulations acrossthe 27 EU member states as they are able to apply VAT rules within the parameters of the EU VAT directive (Council Directive 2006/112/EC).​

Businesses exporting to theEU from GBshould ensure they are aware of the importing requirements, as these may differ across individual EU member states.

Do I need to register for VAT?

As a GB business, you may berequired to register forVAT in the EU, if you're:​

  • making taxable suppliesfrom and/or to an EU member state
  • importing goods into an EU member state
  • holding goods in warehouses or consignment stock in EU member states for customers
  • supplying and installing equipment in an EU member state

great.gov.uk

You are not logged in!

Please login or register to ask our experts a question.

Login now or register.