Completing a One Stop Shop VAT return

HMRC’s guidance on how to complete and submit a One Stop Shop (OSS) VAT Return from 1 October 2021 has been updated. The special VAT return should only be completed by businesses registered for the OSS Union scheme.

The OSS Union scheme can be used by businesses selling goods from Northern Ireland to consumers in the EU under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol. In order to use the scheme, sales must be above the distance selling limit of £8,818 (€10,000). The scheme is only for the sale of goods. Supplies of digital services to consumers in the EU should not be reported.

Using the OSS saves affected businesses from having to register for VAT in up to 27 EU countries where they make distance sales of goods from Northern Ireland. The OSS Union scheme can be used to manage the VAT on distance sales of goods from Northern Ireland to the EU in one place.