E-commerce outside the European Union

Requirements for webshops vary from country to country. Think about the security of your website and customer privacy protection. Inside the EU, the rules are often the same. Outside the EU, countries have their own rules. Some non-EU countries are nearby, such as the United Kingdom and Switzerland. You should check in advance which rules apply in the country where you are selling.

Product requirements

Do you intend to export goods outside the Netherlands or the EU? If so, your customer’s country will often have different product requirements to those of the Netherlands or the EU. Check what this means for your product. Look at the rules for packaging and labelling as well.

Sometimes there is an import ban. For example, certain products may not be imported into some countries Carriers and countries (in Dutch) may impose restrictions, which means you may not be able to export everything you would like.

Online shop and domain name

You can set up your own online shop for another country. In that case, you will need to ensure you comply with the relevant regulations yourself. Alternatively, you can sell your products via international marketplaces such as Amazon or eBay. These platforms allow you to reach customers in many countries outside the EU. The platform often handles the logistics, marketing and payments.

If you decide to run your own online shop, make sure that all your copy and product descriptions are translated properly. This will prevent misunderstandings and ensure customers understand what they are buying. If you are unable to do this yourself, hire a professional translator. Adapt your online shop to your overseas customers as much as possible. They will only buy something if they like what you have on offer and feel they can trust your shop. An e-commerce trust mark for your online shop can help with this.

Domain name

With an international .com domain name, customers all over the world will be able to find your online shop. If you want to focus more on Europe, you can consider using the .eu extension. Do you want to target a specific country? Then choose a country code. For example, .ch for Switzerland or .us for the USA.

Payment methods

Dutch customers like to pay with iDEAL/Wero. In other countries, customers often use different payment methods. Research what payment method your potential overseas customers prefer. Setting up a sound ordering and payment process is paramount and will save both you and your customers a lot of headaches.

PayPal is used in many countries. It allows customers to pay online easily. Your customer will need a credit card to use it.

You do not need to sort everything out yourself. There are businesses that can handle international payments for you. They combine payment methods from different countries into a single system.

Worldwide shipping

Customers want to receive their orders on time and undamaged. International parcels take longer to arrive. And they go missing more often than domestic parcels. So do consider taking out transport insurance. Package your parcel properly to ensure that your customer receives it in perfect condition. And make sure you put the correct address on the parcel.

Excellent service will get you even more satisfied customers. Here is how:

• Send your customers a track & trace email so they can track their order.
• Clearly explain how overseas customers can return their orders.
• Include a pre-filled return form.
• Provide a pre-paid self-adhesive return label. If necessary, you can deduct postage from the return amount afterwards, depending on your terms of delivery.

Customs

Do you export your products to a country outside the EU? If so, you will need to submit an export declaration to the Customs Administration of the Netherlands. Every country has its own rules when it comes to customs and import duties. In many countries, customs authorities carry out strict checks on products upon arrival.

To ship goods to a non-EU country, you need certain documents. Are you sending parcels via a postal or courier business? If so, they will provide you with customs documents from that business. Which form you need varies from one shipment to the next. It also depends in part on the weight and value of your parcel.

Import duties and VAT

Usually, your customer pays the import duties, VAT, or other import taxes on their order.  In that case, you do not need to register your business in your customer's country. This depends on the terms of delivery you use. Mention this very clearly in your webshop. That way, your customer knows the costs in advance. And you avoid problems later on. The amount of the additional import tax depends on your product. Sometimes countries use exemptions up to a certain value.

Export rules

Would you like to know more about the rules for exporting your products? In this video, you can see how to make the most of Access2Markets – and what to do with the results. This EU system provides information on national laws and regulations, import duties and any documents you might need.

Postal and courier companies also give advice on import duties, VAT, and other import taxes. These companies charge so-called 'handling fees' for arranging customs matters. Agree in advance the amount and who will pay it. The recipient of the shipment or yourself.

VAT on exports

When exporting goods to non-EU countries, you charge 0% Dutch VAT to your customer. This is regardless of whether they are a business owner or consumer. Your records and documents must prove that you exported the product.

The customer pays national VAT and other import taxes to their national Customs Administration. This is done at the time of import into the country.

An example of VAT in Switzerland

You supply products to Swiss consumers via your online shop. Switzerland is not an EU country. And you do not have a VAT number in Switzerland. This therefore constitutes an export outside the EU. You export your goods from the Netherlands and charge 0% VAT to your Swiss customer. Your customer pays Swiss import VAT and any import duties.

Switzerland has two VAT rates for the supply of goods and services:

• a standard rate of 8.1%
• a reduced rate of 2.6%

When do you need a Swiss VAT number? 

You need a Swiss VAT number if:

• your online shop is based outside Switzerland, and
• your annual worldwide turnover exceeds CHF 100,000. This is also the case if you only send small parcels.

Will you be exceeding the CHF 100,000 limit? Then you are required to register your online shop for Swiss VAT. This registration applies from the month following the month in which you exceed this threshold amount. For example, if you exceed the threshold amount in October, your online shop should be officially registered for Swiss VAT starting in November.

You can also choose to register earlier. For example, if you expect to you will be reaching the limit soon. By anticipating, you can ensure that you meet your VAT obligations and that you are perfectly prepared for charging Swiss VAT.

If you do not have a business in Switzerland, you will need a Swiss tax representative to register for Swiss VAT. You have to register for VAT online.