Guidance

Register for the VAT Import One Stop Shop Scheme

How to register for the VAT Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) Scheme to report and pay VAT due on imports of low value goods to consumers in the EU, Northern Ireland, or both.

The VAT IOSS Scheme in Northern Ireland is not yet available for intermediary registrations. HMRC will give more information when this is available.听

You can choose to register for the VAT Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) Scheme to report and pay VAT due on imports of low value goods to consumers in the EU, Northern Ireland, or both.

The availability of IOSS in Northern Ireland will not impact Northern Ireland鈥檚 place in the UK VAT system.

You must not report the VAT on your sales of low value goods that are located in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) at the point of sale to consumers in Northern Ireland on your IOSS VAT Return.听The VAT due on these sales must be reported on your UK VAT Return. This includes sales from the Isle of Man to Northern Ireland.

Before you register听

Before you register, you鈥檒l need to:听

You鈥檒l also need:

  • the Government Gateway user ID and password you used to register for UK VAT听
  • your name, permanent place of business address, telephone number and email address 鈥� we鈥檒l only contact you by email or through your business tax account听
  • the name of any EU country your business is registered for VAT or tax, your business address in that country and the VAT registration number and tax ID number 鈥斕齣f you have one听
  • the name of any EU country your business has previously registered for the VAT Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) or One Stop Shop (OSS)听
  • your bank details including:听
    • the name of your bank or building society听
    • your name as it appears on your account or bank statement听
    • your Bank Identifier Code (BIC) and International Bank Account Number (IBAN)

How to register听

You must:听

  • register for the VAT IOSS Scheme yourself, if you have an agent or intermediary, they will not be able to register for you听or act on your behalf for the scheme
  • use the Government Gateway user ID and password you used when you registered for UK VAT听

You can save your progress as you complete your registration.

Online services may be slow during busy times. Check if there are any听problems with this service.

Continue a registration in progress听

You must use the Government Gateway user ID and password you used when you registered for UK VAT to鈥� .听

What to do after you鈥檝e registered

After you鈥檝e registered you will be issued with a unique 12-digit IOSS VAT identification number. This number will be included in your HMRC business tax account.

Your registration for the scheme will start on the day you receive your IOSS VAT identification number.

From this date you must:听

Importing low value goods into the EU and Northern Ireland using IOSS

Your unique 12-digit IOSS VAT identification number must be included on the declaration for each consignment of low value goods that are imported to consumers in the EU and Northern Ireland.

If you get someone to transport the goods on your behalf, such as an express, parcel or postal operator, you must give them your IOSS VAT identification number. This is to make sure they can complete the customs declaration process.

How to access your VAT IOSS Scheme account

You can access the scheme through your HMRC business tax account. You can use your business tax account to:听

  • submit and pay the VAT due on your monthly VAT IOSS Return
  • view your VAT IOSS Return and payment history听
  • cancel or make changes to your registration听

Updates to this page

Published 19 February 2024
Last updated 19 March 2025 show all updates
  1. Information on what you need to do with your IOSS VAT identification number when importing low value goods has been added.

  2. You can now register for the VAT Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) Scheme.

  3. First published.

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