Hello, I have just begun a new ecommerce business in which I will only be targeting US customers. I am located In Australia and am directly drop shipping from China. Before I begin running ads, I want to know if there are any legal forms I have to fill out, regarding like taxes or shipping. I am new to this so I just need some clarification. Thank-you
Topic summary
An Australian entrepreneur is launching a dropshipping business targeting US customers, with products shipped directly from China. They’re seeking clarity on legal requirements, tax obligations, and necessary forms before running ads and beginning operations.
Key guidance provided:
- Shopify requires compliance with their Acceptable Use Policy and Terms of Service, with no additional platform-specific legal requirements
- Strongly recommended: consult a tax expert or legal professional regarding international tax obligations and country-specific regulations
- Important to ensure compliance with both Australian and US requirements for cross-border e-commerce
Follow-up questions:
Multiple users in similar situations (Australia-based, targeting US/UK markets with print-on-demand or dropshipping) have asked whether they can use a single Shopify store for multiple target countries and what specific requirements apply.
Status: The discussion remains open with no definitive answers on specific legal/tax requirements, as these depend on individual circumstances and jurisdictions.
Hi @FlameGlove .
Ivy here from Shopify - great question!
Firstly, congratulations on beginning your journey with e-commerce. We’re delighted to have you onboard with us here.
In terms of what we require here at Shopify - as long as you are in line with our Acceptable Use Policy and Terms of Service, we do not have any legal requirements outside of this for you to use our platform to begin selling. In terms of other legalities like inter-country taxes etc I would definitely advise seeking out advice from a Tax or legal expert to ensure you are meeting all requirements for your particular region or country.
I would love to hear more about your plans for your store - do you have a target market in mind? Have you built out a marketing plan yet?
Looking forward to hearing back from you soon!
Thanks, Ivy.
Hi! I know your questions was long time ago, but right now I am in a similar situation. I opened a print on demand store, I live in Australia but I want to target the US. Can you give me any insights of how to do it? Should I use the same shopify store for both? Is there anything I need to know?
Thank you in advanced
is there any solution for that, i am also sailing in the same boat.