Selling everywhere means owing tax everywhere.
Ecommerce and direct-to-consumer brands rack up tax obligations one order at a time — a sale into a new US state, VAT on a cross-border shipment, inventory in a fulfilment centre. We work out where you actually owe and keep you compliant as you scale.
Sector snapshot
The quick read on where DTC and ecommerce brands meet cross-border tax.
Every state can be its own tax jurisdiction
US sales tax is a patchwork of state and local rules. Economic nexus means enough sales into a state creates an obligation — and marketplace and inventory rules add more, fast.
Cross-border VAT is easy to get wrong
Shipping between the UK, EU and US pulls in VAT registration, place-of-supply and import rules. Getting registration wrong carries penalties on top of the tax.
Fulfilment and inventory create presence
Stock held in a warehouse or fulfilment centre — including third-party ones — can create a taxable presence you didn’t intend, in places you don’t operate from.
The cross-border friction in this sector
Three places online brands most often trip over the two tax systems.
The services this sector leans on
VAT & US sales tax
Nexus reviews and registrations where you genuinely owe — not everywhere.
Corporation tax (both sides)
Keep UK and US corporate tax aligned as the business grows.
Payroll & accounts
Books and payroll kept consistent across both entities as you scale.
UK & US market entry
Set up the right entity and avoid an accidental taxable presence.
What this sector asks first
How many US states will we have to register in?
Only the ones where you have nexus — physical or economic. That depends on your sales, where inventory sits and which marketplaces you use. We review it rather than register you everywhere.
Does storing stock in a US fulfilment centre create tax?
It can. Inventory in a state — including third-party fulfilment — may create nexus there. We’ll check where your stock actually sits and what that triggers.
What about VAT on shipments between the UK, EU and US?
Cross-border sales bring in VAT registration, place-of-supply and import rules that differ by route. We map the flows so you’re registered where required and not caught out at the border.
Growing into new markets?
A free consultation, no obligation. Tell us where you sell, ship and hold stock and we’ll map your exposure — with a fixed price before any work begins.
