IOSS (Import One Stop Shop)

The Import One Stop Shop applies to distance sales of goods imported from a third country in consignments with an intrinsic value not exceeding EUR 150. The seller or its intermediary charges VAT at the rate of the customer's country at the moment of sale, and the parcel then clears customs without further VAT being collected on delivery.

The seller files a monthly IOSS return through the member state of identification and pays the VAT there. Sellers established outside the EU normally need an EU-established intermediary. IOSS is voluntary, but without it the carrier collects import VAT from the customer, which usually means fees and a worse buying experience. Marketplaces that facilitate such sales are often treated as the deemed supplier and use IOSS themselves.