Wait… I have to pay European taxes even if I’m shipping from the U.S.?
Yes! If you’re shipping to EU backers in 2025, VAT isn’t optional—it’s part of doing things right.
Overwhelmed by Eurocracy?
Let our retail service handle the paperwork!
What’s VAT, and Why Does It Matter?
VAT stands for Value Added Tax. It’s a sales tax used across the EU. If you’re registered, you charge VAT on what you sell—and you can usually deduct the VAT you’ve paid on goods and services for your business. Every transaction is tied to at least one VAT ID—sometimes two, in the case of B2B sales.
For U.S.-based crowdfunding creators, this can be a surprise. In the U.S., sales tax is usually handled by the platform. But if you’re selling into the EU market, you’re required to file VAT like a local creator would. Skip that, and your goods may hit a wall at the border: like any market, the EU expects sellers to handle their taxes according to its laws. Until January 1, 2025, there were still some exceptions for small or infrequent sales, but those are now gone.
VAT applies in virtually all cases when shipping goods to EU customers, and definitely to all product categories found in the crowdfunding space. Rates vary by country—typically between 19% and 25%—and are calculated based on the full shipment value: product price, shipping, and any duties.
What Non-EU Crowdfunding Creators Need to Know
VAT is tied to the seller, not the product. It doesn’t matter what you’re selling—first, you need to take care of the formal requirements to gain access to the EU market.
As a non-EU creator, you’ll need to register for VAT in one EU country of your choosing—typically through that country’s Ministry of Finance or Tax Authority. After that, you’ll also need to register for the One-Stop Shop (OSS)—a system that lets you report VAT owed in other EU countries. In total, you’ll be filing two quarterly VAT returns: one for your registration country, and one through OSS.
If you don’t want to handle it yourself, you can hire a “fiscal representative”—essentially the EU version of a CPA (and definitely not a courier!)—to take care of registration and filing on your behalf.
Officially, you’re expected to register before making any EU sales, including during your crowdfunding campaign. In practice, the important part is being registered before fulfillment begins. That’s when VAT is applied, so your paperwork needs to be in order by the time you ship.
All of this is less daunting than it sounds. Just keep in mind: if you want to keep returning to the EU market, your filings and obligations need to be in order.
You’ll need to keep filing both returns for as long as you continue selling into the EU—meaning your entire career as a creator, not just the duration of a single campaign. Even if you have no sales during a given quarter, those filings are still required. Fortunately, zero-sales returns are quick and easy to file.
Support from AlpenCrowd (and What We Don’t Do)
Currently, AlpenCrowd can’t provide tax advice or complete your VAT registration for you. We’re actively seeking a local partner to offer better support for non-EU creators looking to sell in Europe.
That said, once you are registered, we’re ready to support your import process, help you prepare documents. And yes, you can reclaim VAT on our invoices. It’s often simpler than creators expect—especially if you’re used to U.S. tax systems.
Not ready to deal with VAT and taxes?
There is one more option…
AlpenCrowd could be your Retailer
If you’re not VAT registered, you can’t sell directly to EU consumers. But you can sell to EU businesses.
That’s where our retail option comes in. We buy from you in bulk, sell locally to EU backers, handle VAT, manage the paperwork, and take on most responsibilities. Your goods still reach EU customers—with far less hassle.