📦 Everything you need to sell on Amazon
Global Marketplace · US, UK, DE, FR, ES, IT, NL, JP, AU, CA, MX, BR, IN, SG, SA, AE, PL, SE, BE, EG, TR
Amazon is the world's largest online marketplace, operating in 20+ countries. It acts as a marketplace facilitator in most US states and many EU jurisdictions, collecting and remitting sales tax/VAT on behalf of third-party sellers. Sellers must still handle income tax, corporate tax, and import duties independently.
💰 Fee Structure
Referral fee: 8-45% (category dependent, most categories 15%). FBA fees: $3.22-$10+/unit. Professional seller account: $39.99/month. Variable closing fee: $0-$1.80/item.
📋 Seller Requirements
Government-issued ID, business registration (for Professional account), tax ID (EIN/SSN for US, VAT for EU), bank account, credit card, phone verification. Additional documentation for restricted categories.
Compliance Topics
💰 Tax Collection
Amazon acts as marketplace facilitator in most US states, collecting and remitting sales tax on behalf of sellers. In the EU/UK, Amazon is a 'deemed supplier' for VAT on low-value imports and certain B2C sales — but sellers must still register and file VAT returns in countries where inventory is stored.
- •US: Amazon collects sales tax in all 45 states with sales tax plus DC as a marketplace facilitator
- •EU (≤€150 imports): Amazon is the deemed supplier — collects and remits VAT via IOSS at point of sale
- •EU (intra-EU B2C): Amazon collects VAT on distance sales where seller is NOT established in the EU
- •EU (seller obligations): Sellers MUST still register for VAT in countries where inventory is stored (FBA/AWD warehouses), file domestic VAT returns separately from Amazon's OSS/IOSS
- •EU (B2B & >€150): Sellers handle VAT themselves — Amazon does NOT collect on B2B or high-value imports
- •UK: Amazon collects VAT on goods ≤£135 sold by non-UK sellers; UK sellers must register and file their own VAT returns
- •Japan: Amazon does NOT collect consumption tax — sellers must register and file JCT themselves
- •Amazon's VASA (VAT Services on Amazon) was discontinued in 2024 — sellers need third-party tax advisors
📋 Seller Requirements
Amazon requires business verification including government-issued ID, business registration, tax identification, and a bank account in a supported country. Professional seller accounts require additional documentation.
- •Individual or Professional seller account options
- •US: EIN (business) or SSN (individual), bank account, credit card, phone
- •EU: VAT number required for FBA storage in EU countries
- •KYC verification may include video call for new sellers
- •Brand Registry requires registered trademark
🚚 Fulfillment Options
Amazon offers FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon), AWD (Amazon Warehousing & Distribution) for upstream bulk storage, and FBM (Fulfillment by Merchant). AWD stores inventory in bulk and auto-replenishes to FBA centers. FBA provides Prime eligibility.
- •FBA fees: $3.22-$10+/unit depending on size and weight; monthly storage $0.87-$2.40/cubic ft
- •AWD (Amazon Warehousing & Distribution): upstream bulk storage, ~30% cheaper than FBA storage, no peak season surcharges, auto-replenishes FBA centers
- •AWD also supports direct-to-customer fulfillment (multi-channel), not just FBA replenishment
- •AWD tax impact: storing goods in a country via AWD creates VAT registration obligation in that country, even if not selling there directly
- •AWD inventory movements between countries trigger intra-Community transfers that must be reported for VAT (EC Sales Lists)
- •FBM: seller handles all shipping and returns, no storage fees to Amazon
- •Remote Fulfillment (NARF) allows selling across North America from one inventory pool
- •Amazon Global Logistics (AGL) for direct shipping from China to FBA warehouses
✅ Product Compliance
Amazon enforces strict product compliance including category-specific certifications, safety testing, and restricted product policies. Sellers must provide compliance documents before listing in regulated categories.
- •FDA registration required for food, cosmetics, and medical devices sold in US
- •CE marking required for electronics sold in EU
- •REACH/RoHS compliance required for EU chemical products
- •Amazon requires Compliance Reference (DOC) for many categories
- •Amazon Brand Registry and Transparency program for anti-counterfeiting
🌍 Cross-Border Selling
Amazon Global Selling enables sellers to list and sell on Amazon marketplaces worldwide. Amazon handles currency conversion, international returns, and provides tools for translation and pricing in local currencies.
- •Amazon Global Selling covers 20+ marketplaces worldwide
- •Unified accounts for EU (UK separate post-Brexit) and North America
- •Build International Listings (BIL) tool for cross-marketplace listing sync
- •Amazon Currency Converter for seller payouts in local currency
- •Export Central for enabling FBA export to 100+ countries
Official Sources
This information is for general reference only and does not constitute legal, tax, or compliance advice. Platform policies may change; always check official sources for the latest requirements.