Advisory Services

VAT is often treated as an administrative afterthought: something the accountant handles after the sale. For cross-border e-commerce, that is expensive. How you ship, where you hold stock and which scheme you use directly affect your margins, your customer experience and your exposure to disputes.

Our advisory service helps you make those decisions before they become problems.

Decisions where VAT advice pays for itself

DDP or DDU shipping

With DDP (delivered duty paid), you pay import VAT and duties and your customer receives the parcel without extra charges. With DDU (delivered duty unpaid, now usually called DAP), the customer pays on delivery. DDP gives a smoother customer experience, but it affects who the importer is and therefore your VAT position. DDU keeps VAT off your books, but it can lead to refused parcels and returns. The right choice depends on your products, price points and target markets.

Structuring cross-border supply chains

Shipping directly from a non-EU supplier, using an EU warehouse or combining both leads to different VAT outcomes. We map the options and their consequences before you commit to a logistics setup.

Exemptions and special schemes

Reduced rates, the OSS and IOSS schemes and customs procedures can lower your costs or your administrative burden, but only if they genuinely apply to your transactions.

Expanding into new markets

Before you launch in a new EU country, it is worth knowing whether it triggers a registration, which rate applies to your products, and what local invoicing rules require.

What our advisory service covers

• Structuring cross-border supply chains.
• Evaluating DDP and DDU shipping models.
• Guidance on VAT exemptions and special schemes.
• Strategic planning for market expansion.
• Ongoing advice on EU tax developments, including customs changes for low-value parcels and the VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) package.

How we work

Advisory work starts with a specific question: a new market, a new logistics partner, a change in shipping terms. We analyse the VAT consequences, give you a written answer with the options and trade-offs, and remain available as your plans develop.

Who this is for

E-commerce founders and finance leads who want to make logistics and growth decisions with the VAT consequences in view, rather than discovering them afterwards.

Frequently asked questions

Is DDP always better for conversion?

Often, but not always. It removes surprise charges for the customer, but it changes your VAT obligations and costs. We compare both options for your specific case.

Can you advise on a one-off question?

Yes. Advisory work can be a single question or ongoing support.

Do you also advise on customs duties?

We advise on the interaction between import VAT and customs procedures. For complex tariff classification questions, we tell you when a customs specialist is needed.

Have a specific question? Start the free VAT assessment or contact us.