If a company not established in Estonia is providing ‘taxable supplies’ of goods or services in Estonia, it may have to obtain a non-resident VAT registration. In accordance with the EU VAT Directive, foreign traders are legally obligated to register for VAT in certain circumstances in order to report taxable transactions and declare VAT that must be charged.
What you need to know
There are various scenarios that would trigger an obligation to register for VAT in Estonia. Some of the most common examples are:
- Importing goods into Estonia from outside the European Union.
- Buying and selling goods in Estonia.
- Selling goods from Estonia which are delivered to customers outside of Estonia (business or private customers).
- Acquiring goods in Estonia from another EU country (Intra-community acquisitions).
- Holding inventory in Estonia for sale, distribution or consignment.
- E-commerce sales of goods to consumers, subject to Distance Selling VAT registration thresholds.
- Organising events in Estonia where attendees or delegates must pay admission.
If you are currently, or plan to conduct any of the above (or similar) transactions in Estonia, you should contact us immediately for a complimentary consultation.