On the 1st of March, France introduced a Small Parcel Tax (SPT), known in French as the Taxe sur les Petits Colis (TPC). It applies to all parcels imported into France from outside the EU that are worth €150 or less. The tax is €2 per HS6 code per parcel. For example, you ship a parcel worth €100 to a customer in France. It contains a hardhat and two wool beanies in different colours. Between the three products there are two HS6 codes, so the total SPT to pay on this parcel would be €4.
This tax is in addition to the two upcoming EU-level fees: the Small Parcel Levy in July and the handling fee, which, whilst not yet confirmed, is expected to be implemented in November. France will transition to the EU-wide handling fee when it is in effect.
France isn’t the only EU nation to implement a parcel tax or handling fee. However, it stands apart from them for a major reason: you’ll need a French VAT registration to pay it. Instead of being collected at the border, the tax needs to be paid through the digital system that we pay French VAT through. That means, you will need to register for VAT in France, just to pay the SPT. Think of the VAT number as the account number that allows you to access the filing system.
If you have an IOSS number that’s not registered in France, you’ll need to get VAT registered if you want to keep selling there. The current guidance states that you should specify that the VAT registration is to meet the SPT reporting requirements. We believe this means you won’t need to file a regular VAT return, but at the moment we can’t confirm this. The guidance doesn’t specify either way and that could change in the future.
There are alternatives. You could pause selling to France for the meantime. Doing so could buy you time to see what happens with the proposed EU-wide parcel charges. Once the rules are clearer, you can decide the best way forward.
The other option is to look into storing your goods in the EU. France is just one of the EU countries to introduce a tax like this, plus at least one EU-wide fees being introduced later this year. Right now, sending parcels from within the EU can help you avoid SPT in France. In the long run, it might be easier and more cost effective to fulfil orders from within the EU.
Amazon has rolled out a major expansion of its Amazon Seller Wallet. Sellers in more markets access to an easier way to view and transfer their earnings. Originally launched in 2022 for US sellers, Amazon Seller Wallet is now available in seven EU stores:
Designed as a simple, hassle‑free funds management solution, Seller Wallet allows sellers to schedule transfers on their own timeline without needing third‑party services. There are no enrolment costs or maintenance fees, and sellers can convert and transfer funds using Amazon’s volume‑based currency conversion and international transfer rates.
As the conflict in the Persian Gulf intensifies, global supply chains have scrambled to adapt. The result is a ripple effect of increasing costs for businesses. Largely these issues stem from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the airspace over most of the Middle East.
In the short term, you can expect longer shipping times. Major shipping companies like CMA CGM are rerouting all traffic that would have gone through the Suez Canal around the Cape of Good Hope. Doing so adds thousands of miles and several weeks to delivery timelines. It also adds thousands of dollars in surcharges. In the long run, however, these closures represent more cost increases.
In calmer times, the Strait of Hormuz carries a large portion of the world’s supply of crude oil and liquified natural gas. The obvious consequence of blocking it is that fuel and energy prices are rising, but paired with the longer shipping routes, the problem compounds.
The first phase of mandatory e-invoicing in Poland has begun. It started 1 February 2026 for large taxpayers exceeding PLN 200 million in 2024 turnover and will expand to all other VAT‑registered businesses from 1 April 2026. It will become mandatory for micro-businesses by the 1st of January 2027.
All taxpayers in Poland must now be able to receive invoices through KSEF (the National e‑Invoice System), regardless of when their obligations to issue them begins. This marks the final shift away from paper and PDF invoices toward structured XML files processed directly through the platform.
The new rules introduce several important exceptions and transitional allowances:
These transitional measures are designed to ease the shift, but after December 2026 all structured invoicing must pass through KSeF. Taxpayers should also note that certain exemptions - defined in December 2025 regulations - specify when structured e‑invoicing is not required.
What does this mean for you if you’re registered in Poland but not established there? Here’s an example of how a transaction will go from now on:
The Chemnitz South German Tax Office has introduced enhanced verification checks. These checks apply specifically to Romanian companies selling on Amazon, including existing and new VAT registration cases.
This change will affect:
If your business is affected, the tax office will contact the managing directors of your business directly. They will receive a letter from the tax office which will include a reply form. Managing Directors must fill in the form and return it via email to the tax office as soon as possible. These measures are expected to add an estimated 2-3 weeks to the registration timeline for Romanian businesses.
Are you a SimplyVAT client who’s received one of these letters? We can’t fill the form in for you – the Managing Director has to sign it themselves.
