How to resolve IOSS number issue with a Netherlands-registered store shipping from outside Europe?

Payments + Shipping & Fulfilment

Topic summary

Issue: A Netherlands-registered Shopify store shipping goods from Thailand to EU customers cannot enter its Dutch IOSS (Import One‑Stop Shop) number. Shopify blocks IOSS setup because the store address is in the EU, despite goods being shipped from outside the EU.

Context: IOSS is for collecting/remitting EU VAT on low‑value imports from outside the EU; OSS (One‑Stop Shop) is for intra‑EU distance sales by EU sellers.

Key explanation offered: One participant states Shopify supports only one scheme per store via a single native method—enabling IOSS only for non‑EU stores and OSS only for EU stores—so EU‑registered stores cannot use IOSS in Shopify. They call this limitation incorrect but current behavior.

Workarounds suggested: Use a third‑party VAT compliance app (EAS Project) to handle EU VAT/IOSS outside Shopify’s native settings.

Status/outcome: No official Shopify fix or confirmed resolution in-thread. Latest post asks whether a solution was found, indicating the issue remains open.

Summarized with AI on December 17. AI used: gpt-5.
1

Hi,

I have a problem with IOSS and Shopify since I’m shipping from outside of Europe, but my store is registered in The Netherlands. I requested an IOSS number from the Dutch tax services and received one.

However, Shopify keeps telling me that I can’t put an IOSS number in my account because my store address is in The Netherlands. That is true, my address is in The Netherlands because my official registration is there, but I’m shipping the products to customers from Thailand and thus I need to use my IOSS number for customers from the EU.

Shopify support doesn’t seem to have a clue what they’re talking about. I’m allowed to get an IOSS number from The Netherlands, but then Shopify doesn’t allow me to use it because my address is located in The Netherlands (even though I’m shipping from outside of the EU)?

I’m super confused. Does anyone have a similar experience or a solution?

1 Like
2

Hi! talk to us at www.easproject.com,

we have the only shopify app out there for the full EU VAT compliance, our tech should have an answer for you.

3

It is very simple. IOSS is one of the 2 (actuall 4 , but still ) special VAT schemes, the other one is OSS (which is mostly for EU based shops) . Shopify can only accomodate one - either IOSS or OSS and since the rules are different and they basically use the same native method they simply can not aacomodate both system, hence is the solution - they allow IOSS only for non EU companies and OSS only for EU registered comapnies , which is both seriously wrong, but they do not care. Do talk to us we will have a solution for you at www.easproject.com or via robert@easproject.com

1 Like
4

Hi Toonick,

Did you already find a solution?