VAT number

When annual sales exceeds €40,000.

A company must register for VAT in Estonia once its annual taxable turnover exceeds €40,000 within a calendar year.

However, voluntary VAT registration is also possible before reaching this threshold—for example, to reclaim input VAT or enhance business credibility.

You can apply for a VAT number immediately after your company is registered in the Estonian Commercial Register.

The Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) is an EU-wide electronic system.

The IOSS platform enables suppliers and electronic interfaces that sell imported goods to buyers in the EU to collect, declare, and pay VAT to the relevant tax authorities. This eliminates the need for buyers to pay VAT at the moment the goods are imported into the EU, which was previously required for goods valued over 22 EUR.

Launched on to simplify VAT compliance for businesses involved in distance sales of imported goods to EU consumers.

Through the IOSS, sellers and online marketplaces can collect, declare, and pay VAT for goods imported into the EU—directly to the relevant tax authorities—at the point of sale. This eliminates the previous requirement for buyers to pay VAT upon importation (which applied to goods valued over €22).

Benefits for sellers:

• Centralised VAT registration for all EU countries.

• Simplified VAT reporting and payment.

• Improved customer experience by avoiding customs delays and unexpected charges.

Benefits for buyers:

• VAT is included upfront in the purchase price.

• No hidden fees or customs handling charges at delivery.

• Faster and smoother shipping process.

If a seller is not registered with the IOSS, the buyer must pay VAT upon delivery, and may also face customs clearance fees from the courier or postal service.

Identification methods.

The following forms of electronic identification are accepted for digital signing and access to Estonian e-services:

• Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, and Belgian ID cards

• Estonian e-Residency cards

• Estonian Smart-ID

• Estonian and Lithuanian Mobile-ID

For the most up-to-date list and technical requirements, visit www.id.ee.
Please note that accepted identification methods may change over time, so it’s important to stay informed of any updates.

Additional info:

An authorisation sets the limits for a representative’s actions.

An authorisation is a defined set of rights that determines the scope within which a representative may legally act on behalf of the principal. It outlines what actions the representative is permitted to take and under what conditions, ensuring legal clarity and accountability for both parties.

It is essential for the Estonian Tax and Customs Board that the content of authorization would be understandable and the person granting the authorization and the authorized person would be identifiable.

The main and also the most convenient and practical way to transfer the right of representation is to do it through a suitable digital identification channel. These are Mobile ID, Estonian ID, e-resident ID, and Smart ID. European Union country ID cards are also suitable. It is important to have the right to log in to the systems of the Estonian state.

If necessary, other less convenient and more expensive methods can also be used: power of attorney, lawyer’s client agreement, etc.

Additional info:

Yes, a foreign company can register for VAT in Estonia.

To do so, the company must submit a VAT registration application along with an extract from the commercial register of its home country.

The application must include a clear explanation of the company’s business activities and their connection to Estonia—for example, the sale of goods or services in Estonia, or having a fixed establishment or taxable presence.

Documents can be submitted in one of the following ways:

• By a legal representative or

• By an authorised person holding a notarial power of attorney, either:

  • in person at the Estonian Tax and Customs Board (ETCB) service office,

  • by post, if the signature is notarised, or

  • by e-mail to emta@emta.ee with a valid digital signature (e.g. Estonian ID-card, e-Residency, Smart-ID).

Once approved, the company will receive an Estonian VAT number and must comply with local VAT rules, including invoicing, reporting, and periodic declarations.