Amazon VAT Germany: What Every FBA Seller Must Know in 2026

Vaytax Editorial Team

Licensed tax advisor · files with the Finanzamt

Vaytax is operated by FRADECO GmbH tax advisory firm, a Franco-German tax advisory firm specialising in cross-border German VAT compliance for international businesses. The firm holds both German tax advisor and French Expert-Comptable qualifications and files via the Finanzamt.

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In October 2024, Amazon shut down its free "VAT Services on Amazon" programme. Over 200,000 third-party sellers who relied on this service now need to find, and pay for, an alternative provider. If you sell on Amazon.de, here's everything you need to know.

What Changed in October 2024?

Amazon's VAT Services programme handled VAT registration and monthly filing for sellers in up to 7 EU countries, for free. It was offered through third-party tax service providers embedded in Seller Central.

As of October 31, 2024, this programme no longer exists. Every seller who was enrolled now needs to:

• Find their own VAT compliance provider
• Transfer their existing VAT registrations
• Ensure uninterrupted monthly filings

Do You Need German VAT Registration?

If you answer "yes" to any of these, you need a German VAT number:

• You use Amazon FBA in Germany, If Amazon stores your products in German warehouses (which is the default for Pan-EU), you must be VAT-registered
• You sell to German customers from another EU country and exceed the €10,000 combined EU distance selling threshold
• You're enrolled in Pan-EU or CEE programmes, Amazon distributes your inventory across multiple countries, each requiring registration

What Amazon Requires From You

Amazon's compliance team will ask you for:

1. VAT registration certificate, The official Bescheinigung from the Finanzamt, uploaded to Seller Central
2. Valid VAT number, Your DE-prefixed USt-IdNr.
3. Ongoing compliance, Amazon may periodically verify that your VAT filings are current

Failure to provide valid VAT documentation can result in listing suppression or account suspension.

Your Options: Choosing a VAT Provider

What to Look for in a Provider

• Licensed tax advisor involvement, In Germany, only licensed tax advisors can file VAT returns on your behalf. Make sure your provider actually has one.
• Finanzamt filing by a licensed Steuerberater, the regulated professional channel German tax authorities expect. Filings on this path are less likely to trigger inquiries.
• Transparent pricing, Beware hidden per-transaction fees, mandatory annual contracts, or surprise renewal charges.
• Language support, Can you actually communicate with your provider in your language?
• Speed, How quickly can they submit your registration and start filing?

Monthly Filing: What's Involved?

Each month, you need to:

1. Report your German sales (net amounts at 19% or 7% VAT)
2. Report any intra-community deliveries (0% VAT to other EU businesses)
3. Report any input VAT (Vorsteuer) from German purchase invoices
4. File the return by the 10th of the following month

With our service, you fill out a simple multilingual form with your data. We handle the rest.

Amazon Transaction Reports

Amazon provides several reports that help with VAT compliance:

• VAT Transactions Report, Download from Seller Central > Reports > Tax Document Library
• Date Range Report, More detailed, available under Reports > Payments
• Amazon VAT Calculation Service (VCS), Generates VAT invoices automatically for your orders

Your VAT provider should be able to work with these reports to prepare your filings.

Frequently asked questions

Do Amazon FBA sellers need a German VAT number?

Yes, if your inventory is stored in a German Amazon fulfilment centre. The moment your stock arrives at DE1 (Werne), DE2 (Rheinberg), DE3 (Graben), DE4 (Bad Hersfeld) or any other German warehouse, you have a taxable presence in Germany. Pan-EU FBA and the EFN trigger the same obligation when inventory lands in Germany. Amazon will request your German USt-IdNr. and can suspend listings without it. Country-specific guidance: UK sellers, China sellers, Poland, Italy, France, Netherlands, Switzerland.

Can Amazon still file my German VAT return for me?

No. Amazon ended its free VAT Services on 31 October 2024. Sellers are now responsible for finding their own tax advisor or VAT compliance service. Amazon still provides transaction reports, but no longer prepares or files your USt-Voranmeldung.

What happens if I sell on Amazon.de without a German VAT number?

Three compounding risks: Amazon can suspend your listings under marketplace compliance; the Finanzamt can impose back-taxes, interest, and penalties retroactively; and under §25e UStG, marketplaces can be held jointly liable for unpaid VAT, which is why Amazon polices this aggressively. The cheapest path is to register before you start selling.

Do I need a Steuernummer or a USt-IdNr. for Amazon FBA?

Both, and they are different numbers. The Steuernummer is your domestic German tax number (Finanzamt-issued, used for filing your USt-Voranmeldung). The USt-IdNr. (DE + 9 digits) is the EU VAT identification number from the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern, used for cross-border EU transactions and shown to Amazon. See our Steuernummer vs USt-IdNr. guide.

How much does German VAT compliance cost for Amazon sellers?

With Vaytax: €1,199/year all-in for German VAT registration plus your first year of monthly USt-Voranmeldung and the annual return, handled by a licensed tax advisor. Competitors often bundle per-transaction fees or “fiscal representation” surcharges that push real costs to €2,400–€5,000+, even though most foreign sellers don’t actually need fiscal representation in Germany. See our hellotax alternatives breakdown.

What Amazon reports do I need for German VAT filing?

Three main reports: VAT Transactions Report (Seller Central → Reports → Tax Document Library), Date Range Report (Reports → Payments), and VAT Calculation Service invoices if enrolled. A licensed Steuerberater can process these directly. With Vaytax, you enter monthly totals into the dashboard and we handle the filing with the Finanzamt.