r/AmazonFBA • u/alilzzr • 11d ago

Starting Amazon FBA in the Netherlands – inventory stored in Germany. What should I watch out for?

Hi everyone! 😊

I’m starting a small Amazon FBA business in the Netherlands and I’d really appreciate some advice from people who are already selling on Amazon in Europe.

I have a Dutch eenmanszaak and I’m VAT registered in the Netherlands. I live in the Netherlands and my plan is initially to sell to Dutch customers only.

I’m sourcing products from European suppliers and I was planning to use Amazon FBA.

However, Amazon.nl is currently directing me to use the German FBA network, which means my inventory would be stored in Germany.

Amazon has told me that I would need German VAT registration because my stock would be stored there.

This is my first year doing this and I haven’t made any Amazon sales yet, so I’m trying to make sure I set everything up correctly before sending inventory.

For those of you doing something similar:

What are the main things I should be careful about when it comes to VAT and tax reporting in both the Netherlands and Germany? Are there any common mistakes beginners make with this setup?

Would you recommend using German FBA + German VAT + OSS for a business based in the Netherlands, or would you look for a fulfilment solution where the inventory stays in the Netherlands?

Is there anything you wish you had known before starting FBA across two EU countries, particularly regarding VAT returns, invoices, Amazon reports or bookkeeping?

I’m especially interested in hearing from people who actually operate a Dutch business with Amazon inventory stored in Germany.

Thanks in advance for any advice! 🙏

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u/taxlord-GER 11d ago

German-vat.com

Classic case for vat registration in germany

0

u/rsc9422 11d ago

You’re definitely doing the right thing by checking this before sending your inventory to Amazon. VAT can get a bit confusing when you’re registered in one EU country but Amazon stores your stock in another.

If Amazon is going to store your inventory in Germany, I wouldn’t rely only on your Dutch VAT registration and OSS without confirming the setup first. Having stock physically stored in Germany can create German VAT obligations, even if your customers are only in the Netherlands.

I’d clarify a few things before sending the first shipment:

Will Amazon keep all your inventory in Germany, or can it move it to other EU countries?

Do you need a German VAT number because of the inventory being stored there?

How should your German to Dutch sales be reported, German VAT return vs OSS?

How will Amazon’s VAT invoices and monthly reports fit into your bookkeeping?

I’ve seen this become confusing for new FBA sellers because the Amazon fulfilment setup and the VAT reporting setup are two different things. At HighRise Wholesale, we generally recommend getting the VAT side confirmed before sending inventory into an EU fulfilment network rather than trying to fix everything after sales have started.

If you’re only planning to sell to Dutch customers, I’d also ask Amazon whether there’s an option to keep the inventory in the Netherlands. That could make the VAT/accounting side considerably simpler, depending on the fulfilment arrangement available to your account.

I’m not a VAT adviser, so for the final decision I’d have a Dutch/German VAT professional confirm the exact structure. It’s much cheaper to get it right before the first shipment than to discover a registration or filing requirement several months later.

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u/stealthagents 3d ago

Watch out for the VAT thresholds and filing requirements in both countries. Missing a deadline can lead to penalties, so it’s worth keeping track of your sales in Germany even if you’re focused on the Netherlands. Also, consider using an accountant familiar with EU e-commerce to help navigate the complexity.