VAT Rate Review Service for Ecommerce Products

Give us the commodity codes of your products and we’ll determine the right VAT rate in the EU, UK and Norway.

Not sure which VAT rate applies to your products? SimplyVAT reviews your commodity codes, product details and target countries to help you charge the correct VAT, GST, HST or PST rate and reduce the risk of overpaying, underpaying or correcting past returns.

What Is a VAT Rate Review? & When Should You Check VAT Rates?

A VAT rate review checks whether your products or services are using the correct tax rate in each country you sell in. The review looks at product descriptions, commodity codes, country rules, reduced rates, zero rates and exemptions, so your business can apply the right VAT rate with more confidence.

You should review VAT rates before launching new products, expanding into a new country, changing commodity codes, selling bundles or correcting historical VAT returns. This is especially important for ecommerce businesses selling across the UK, EU, Norway or Canada, where tax rates can depend on the exact product and local rules.

Which VAT Rate do I apply to my products?

Did you know there are more than 85 VAT rates across the EU and the UK? Plus, every rate applies to different things. In the UK, for example, the VAT rate on biscuits depends on the amount of chocolate on them. Most biscuits (cookies, if you’re American) are zero-rated in the UK, meaning there’s no VAT applied. But if you’re making gingerbread men, and they have more than “a couple of dots for eyes” you’ll need to add 20% VAT to your prices.

VAT Rate Reviews happen in three simple steps

Talk to us about your products

We’ll need you to provide the commodity codes for your goods, and which countries you are selling them in.

We’ll research the rates

Determining which rate applies looks like going through tax law, judicial precedent and tax authority guidance. We’ll go through this process for every commodity code in every country.

Get the VAT Rates

We’ll put together a report with all the rates with citation to the relevant evidence. We can send you this report or go through it with you over a call if you’d like.

What happens if I’m charging the wrong VAT rate?

Getting the VAT rate wrong means you’re either over or under paying VAT. If you’re overpaying, then you might be able to reclaim some of the money you’ve paid.
Underpaying is more complicated. You’ll need to submit corrections to previous VAT returns and pay the difference of what you owe. Most tax authorities charge interest on unpaid VAT, calculated from the original due date. Depending on the scale of the mistake and how you handle correcting it, you might also be penalised.

Avoid all the stress with a guarantee you’re charging the right rates. We’re so sure we’ll get it right, we’ll cover any VAT you have to pay if we get it wrong.

Let’s get started

GST, HST and PST Rate Reviews

Selling in Canada? Avoid over or underpaying the Goods and Services Tax. Whether you’re exporting your goods to Canada for the first time or expanding into new provinces, we’ll help you work out what rates to apply to your products.

What rates should I charge in Canada?

Have all the VAT rates for the EU and UK to hand (there’s more than 85)

The UK and every country in the EU have a standard VAT rate. Most have reduced rates, and many of them have more than one. Keep track of them all with our downloadable list – we'll even update you if anything changes.

Download the list now

VAT Rate FAQs

What is a VAT Rate?

Value Added Tax (VAT) is a tax applied as a percentage to goods and services. For example, the standard rate of VAT in the UK is 20%.

What is Zero Rated VAT?

When goods and services have the Zero Rate applied to them, no VAT is added during the sale. Zero rates are different to VAT exemption.

What’s the difference between VAT Exempt and Zero-Rated?

Zero rated and VAT exempt products don’t have VAT applied to them at checkout. The difference is that the supplier can reclaim input VAT related to the supplies of Zero-rated products, and not those that are VAT exempt.

How do I calculate VAT?

Once you know what VAT rate you need to apply to your goods or services, you apply that percentage to the net price of your product. For example, you’re selling a handbag to a customer in the UK. The net price of the handbag is £100. You need to 20% VAT (the standard rate in the UK), making the gross price £120.

What is a standard VAT Rate?

The standard rate of VAT is the highest rate applied to goods and services in a country. Standard rates are applied to the majority of goods and services in a country.

Everything you need to know about VAT in the EU

We wrote a guide to EU VAT just for ecommerce sellers. It covers all the basics to get you started in Europe, and defines all the acronyms: IOSS, OSS, DAP, DDP (and more!).

Download it now

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Customer Reviews

Vincent, Switzerland

A very professional firm

A very professional firm that has taken the pain away from our monthly EU VAT filings. I can only vouch for their high level of service

A very professional firm that has taken the pain away from our monthly EU VAT filings. I can only vouch for their high level of service and quick response time to our various questions. What a difference from our previous provider (VatGlobal). Do not hesitate to use them.

James Hole, Portugal

Making life simpler

The world of EU VAT registration is fraught with complexity and unseen hurdles. SimplyVAT navigated all of this for us

The world of EU VAT registration is fraught with complexity and unseen hurdles. SimplyVAT navigated all of this for us efficiently and effectively, indluding extracting refunds!
Communication was excellent!

David, GB

"Simply VAT helped us do business"

Simply VAT helped us negotiate the EU VAT regulations and thus enabled us to transact business.Farha, our account manager, has been very good-

Simply VAT helped us negotiate the EU VAT regulations and thus enabled us to transact business.
Farha, our account manager, has been very good - quick to respond with the answers and the advice we needed.

Michael

“Their tailored advice streamlined our VAT processes significantly.”

SimplyVAT provided exceptional service from day one. Their team took the time to understand our business needs and offered tailored advice

SimplyVAT provided exceptional service from day one. Their team took the time to understand our business needs and offered tailored advice that streamlined our VAT processes. Communication was always prompt, and their support made a complex task feel straightforward.

Emma

“SimplyVAT’s expertise helped us expand confidently into new markets.”

As a small business looking to expand internationally, we were overwhelmed by VAT regulations. SimplyVAT’s team guided us through every step

As a small business looking to expand internationally, we were overwhelmed by VAT regulations. SimplyVAT’s team guided us through every step with confidence and professionalism. Their expertise gave us the assurance to enter new markets without worrying about compliance issues.