Ecommerce Accountants

Accountants for Ecommerce & Online Sellers

Selling online comes with accounting challenges most high-street accountants don't understand — marketplace fees, multi-channel sales, international VAT and fast-moving stock. Accutax Services works with Amazon FBA sellers, Shopify stores, eBay and Etsy businesses and SaaS founders across the UK to keep the numbers clean and the tax bill efficient.

We work remotely with ecommerce clients nationwide, integrating directly with your sales channels and cloud accounting software so you always know exactly where you stand.

VAT for Online Sellers

For a UK business, VAT registration becomes compulsory when VAT-taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over £90,000, or when you expect to exceed £90,000 in the next 30 days alone. Because ecommerce margins are often thin, a store can pass the threshold on sales while profit is still modest, so it is worth watching your rolling turnover every month and planning for how VAT will affect your prices.

Once you are registered, we help you choose the right VAT scheme, check how VAT on marketplace fees and advertising is treated, and submit returns through Making Tax Digital compatible software. Overseas businesses selling goods into the UK may need to register regardless of turnover, and we can advise on that too.

Marketplace VAT Rules

Online marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay are responsible for accounting for VAT in certain cases: where an overseas seller sells goods that are already in the UK, and on imported consignments of £135 or less. For UK-established sellers, the VAT on your sales remains your responsibility once you are registered. Payout reports can make it hard to see which sales the marketplace has already dealt with, so we reconcile these carefully to avoid paying VAT twice or missing it.

Platforms Now Report Seller Income to HMRC

Digital platforms that connect sellers with customers must now collect and report information about sellers and the amounts paid to them to HMRC. Sellers with fewer than 30 sales of goods and €2,000 (about £1,700) or less in a year are generally not reported.

No new tax has been introduced, but HMRC can now compare platform data with what sellers declare. If you have been trading without declaring your income, we can help you put things right with HMRC and register for self assessment or corporation tax going forward.

Stock, Cost of Sales and True Margins

Payouts from marketplaces are net of selling fees, fulfilment charges, advertising, refunds and reserves, so the amount in your bank rarely matches your sales. We record gross sales and every deduction separately so your accounts show what you actually earned.

Profit is based on the cost of goods you sold, not everything you bought, so stock needs to be tracked and valued properly at the year end, including stock held in fulfilment centres or in transit. With accurate bookkeeping and monthly figures you can see margins by product and channel and make better buying decisions.

Sole Trader or Limited Company?

Many sellers start as sole traders and incorporate as the business grows. The right time depends on your profits, how much you need to draw and your plans for the business. We compare the options using your own figures. See our pricing or book a call to talk it through.

Ecommerce Accountant FAQs

The information on this page is general guidance only and does not constitute tax advice for your specific circumstances.

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