IOSS Intermediary Comparison 2026 — EAS, SimplyVAT & More
As a non-EU seller, you cannot register for IOSS directly — you must appoint an EU-established intermediary. The intermediary registers you, files your monthly returns, makes VAT payments to EU tax authorities, and is jointly and severally liable for any VAT you owe. Choosing the wrong provider causes real problems: missed deadlines, opaque fees, poor support when things go wrong at customs.
This guide covers the most popular services in detail, what each one actually costs, and which type of seller each one suits best.
For a broader overview of what IOSS is and whether you need it, see the EU Selling Setup Checklist. This article is specifically about comparing intermediary providers once you have decided to register.
What to Look for in an IOSS Intermediary
Section titled “What to Look for in an IOSS Intermediary”Before comparing providers, these are the factors that actually matter:
Pricing model. Some charge a flat monthly fee regardless of volume. Others charge per transaction. Flat fees favour high-volume sellers; per-transaction pricing suits low-volume or seasonal sellers. Watch for hidden costs: setup fees, late payment fees, cancellation fees, and data upload fees can add significantly to the headline rate.
Platform integrations. If you are on Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, or similar, you want a provider with a native integration. Manual CSV uploads work, but automation saves time and reduces errors.
Contract terms. Some providers require a 12-month minimum. Others are rolling monthly. This matters if you are testing the market or your EU volume is uncertain.
What is included in filing. Does the intermediary actually pay the VAT to the tax authority on your behalf? Or do they file the return and expect you to transfer funds separately? Confirm this before signing up.
Country of registration. Your IOSS registration will be in the country where your intermediary holds their licence. This makes no practical difference to how IOSS works across the EU — choose based on service quality, not registration country.
Switching cost. Your IOSS number is tied to your intermediary. Switching means deregistration by your current intermediary and re-registration through the new one. If your current provider is slow or unresponsive, this can be painful. Factor this in before signing.
The Providers
Section titled “The Providers”EAS Project
Section titled “EAS Project”Website: easproject.com Best for: Shopify and WooCommerce sellers wanting full automation at competitive prices Trustpilot: ~4.2/5
EAS is a European compliance automation company and one of the most widely used IOSS intermediaries for international ecommerce sellers. Their model is built around platform integrations — once connected, VAT calculation, reporting, and payment all happen without manual intervention.
Pricing:
| Plan | Monthly fee | Transactions included |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | €9.90 | 10 |
| Basic | €79.00 | 100 |
| Plus | €329.00 | 1,000 |
| Enterprise | €590.00 | 5,000 |
Overage fees apply per additional transaction (€1.50 on Starter down to €0.11 on Enterprise). You can change plans monthly — no lock-in.
What is included: IOSS registration, automated reporting and filing, VAT payments to the tax authority, corrections for returns, automated exchange rate handling, platform setup and configuration support.
Platform integrations: Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, Shopware. API available for custom stores or ERPs. Manual upload also supported.
Watch out for: Late payment fees — EAS charges 11% interest plus a late payment fee if monthly invoices are not settled within 10 days. Card payments attract a 3% surcharge. On low-volume months, the cost-per-order can be high relative to the flat fee (e.g., 10 orders on the Basic plan = €7.90 per order).
Setup time: approximately 2 business days.
SimplyVAT
Section titled “SimplyVAT”Website: simplyvat.com Best for: Sellers who want human-led support and a dedicated account manager Trustpilot: 4.7/5 (200+ reviews)
SimplyVAT is a VAT compliance firm registered as an intermediary in Ireland. They handle IOSS alongside a broader suite of services — local VAT registrations in individual EU countries, OSS, EORI registrations, and audit support. Their compliance platform is called Tribexa, which connects to Shopify, WooCommerce, and Amazon to pull sales data automatically.
Pricing: Quote-based. Pricing is based on a minimum 12-month contract. IOSS Express registration is offered for fast turnaround (IOSS number within three working days is the claim).
What is included: Registration, monthly filing, and VAT payments. Tribexa platform access for data management. Dedicated account manager.
Platform integrations: Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon (via Tribexa). API available.
Contract terms: Minimum 12-month contract. This is the biggest practical drawback — some negative reviews centre on difficulty exiting. If you are testing EU sales volumes, this is a risk.
Watch out for: Confirm deregistration costs and process before signing. Reviews are generally strong but some mention slow responsiveness after initial onboarding.
Setup time: IOSS Express claims 3 working days. Standard registration may take longer.
Website: avask.com Best for: Amazon sellers and businesses wanting a full-service EU compliance partner Trustpilot: 3.6/5 (1,000+ reviews — polarised, with strong positives and notable negatives)
AVASK is one of the largest e-commerce tax compliance firms globally, with a strong footprint among Amazon sellers. They offer IOSS and OSS alongside VAT registrations in individual EU countries, EPR compliance, customs support, and international tax services. If you are scaling into multiple EU markets and need a single partner for the full compliance stack, AVASK can handle it.
Pricing: Starts with VAT registration fees from €150 and ongoing compliance fees from €93/month. IOSS-specific pricing is quote-based.
What is included: Full IOSS/OSS service, dedicated account manager, EU VAT registrations, tax authority correspondence in local languages.
Platform integrations: Amazon Seller Central. Other platforms via their compliance team.
Watch out for: The Trustpilot picture is mixed. Strong reviews from sellers with good account manager relationships; sharp negative reviews citing poor communication and errors. Best suited to sellers with enough volume or complexity to justify the relationship — not someone shipping 20 parcels a month.
Hellotax
Section titled “Hellotax”Website: hellotax.com Best for: Amazon FBA and multi-marketplace EU sellers Trustpilot: 3.7/5 (270+ reviews)
Hellotax was founded by Amazon sellers in 2016 and is built specifically for European marketplace sellers. They combine automated tools with a network of local EU VAT experts. Their platform supports Amazon, eBay, Shopify, and WooCommerce, and includes an AI-powered tax letter inbox that flags correspondence from EU tax authorities.
Important caveat (2026): As of their most recent update, Hellotax does not currently provide IOSS intermediary or registration services for non-EU sellers. They advise on IOSS and can help build a VAT structure, but you would need a separate intermediary for the registration and filing itself. Verify this directly with Hellotax before approaching them as your primary IOSS solution.
What they do offer: EU VAT registration and filing in individual countries, OSS, Amazon FBA compliance, EPR. If you are a Pan-EU FBA seller with stock in multiple countries, Hellotax’s multi-country VAT setup is strong.
Best used as: A complement to an IOSS intermediary for sellers who also need individual country VAT registrations.
Cross Border VAT
Section titled “Cross Border VAT”Website: crossbordervat.com Best for: Sellers with more complex structures, higher volumes, or who need detailed compliance support
Cross Border VAT is a specialist intermediary focused on non-EU sellers. Smaller and more boutique than the larger platforms, they are known for processing a high volume of IOSS registrations and for detailed ongoing compliance support. They have also published practical content on how IOSS fees are structured and what sellers should demand transparency on.
Pricing: Quote-based.
What they do well: They are forthcoming about the hidden fee problem in IOSS intermediary pricing — their published content actively advises sellers to ask about setup fees, per-transaction charges, cancellation fees, and data handling fees before signing. This transparency is a reasonable proxy for how they operate as a provider.
Best for: Sellers who want a smaller, specialist firm rather than a scaled platform, or those with irregular or seasonal EU sales who want custom terms.
Avalara
Section titled “Avalara”Website: avalara.com Best for: Mid to large businesses with existing Avalara relationships or ERP integrations Trustpilot: 3.1–3.4/5 (460+ reviews)
Avalara is one of the largest tax compliance platforms globally, covering VAT, sales tax, and taxes across dozens of jurisdictions. Their EU IOSS offering sits within their broader AvaTax platform. For businesses already using Avalara for domestic tax compliance, adding EU IOSS can make sense as a consolidated solution.
Pricing: Quote-based. Avalara is generally more expensive than IOSS-specialist providers, reflecting the breadth of their platform rather than IOSS-specific value.
What is included: IOSS registration and filing as part of a broader global tax compliance suite. ERP and accounting software integrations (SAP, NetSuite, Oracle, Shopify, etc.).
Watch out for: Common complaints in reviews centre on customer service responsiveness and billing complexity. Best suited to businesses where the broader platform justifies the cost — not for a small seller shipping a few hundred parcels a month.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Section titled “Side-by-Side Comparison”| Provider | Pricing model | Starts from | Contract | Platform integrations | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAS Project | Transaction-tiered flat plans | €9.90/month | Monthly (no lock-in) | Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, API | Small to mid-volume sellers on major platforms |
| SimplyVAT | Quote-based | Not published | 12-month minimum | Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon (via Tribexa) | Sellers wanting a dedicated account manager |
| AVASK | Quote-based | ~€93/month | Quote-based | Amazon Seller Central, broader via team | Amazon sellers, full-service EU compliance |
| Hellotax | Quote-based | Not published | Quote-based | Amazon, eBay, Shopify, WooCommerce | Amazon FBA multi-country VAT (note: no current IOSS intermediary service) |
| Cross Border VAT | Quote-based | Not published | Quote-based | Varies | Complex structures, boutique specialist |
| Avalara | Quote-based | Enterprise pricing | Quote-based | SAP, NetSuite, Shopify, Oracle, API | Existing Avalara customers, ERP-integrated businesses |
How to Choose
Section titled “How to Choose”You want the lowest friction and transparent pricing: EAS Project. Pricing tiers are published, platform integrations are solid, and you can change plan monthly. Good fit for Shopify or WooCommerce sellers who want to set it up and mostly leave it alone.
You want a dedicated account manager and can commit to a contract: SimplyVAT. Strong review scores, human-led support, and good Shopify/Amazon connectivity through Tribexa. Confirm the 12-month contract terms before signing.
You are an Amazon FBA seller expanding into Pan-EU FBA: Consider AVASK for the full compliance package (IOSS, country VAT, EPR) or start with EAS for IOSS and add country registrations separately. Hellotax is worth evaluating for the multi-country VAT piece, but you will need a separate IOSS intermediary alongside them.
You are already on Avalara: Stay on Avalara for consistency. The pricing premium is justified by consolidation, not by IOSS-specific value.
You are a small seller with seasonal EU volume: EAS Project’s monthly flexibility is the safest option. You can drop to the Starter plan in quiet months without penalty.
Questions to Ask Before Signing
Section titled “Questions to Ask Before Signing”Ask these regardless of which provider you approach:
- What country will my IOSS registration be in, and does that affect anything?
- Is VAT payment to the tax authority included, or do I transfer funds separately?
- What is the process and cost to deregister if I want to switch or stop?
- Are there setup fees, late payment fees, or overage charges beyond the headline monthly cost?
- What happens if I miss providing sales data before your filing deadline?
- What data format do you need for my monthly return, and how does the connection to my platform work?
- If a parcel gets held at EU customs because of an IOSS issue, what do you do?
The last question is especially revealing. Intermediaries who are confident in their service will have a clear answer.
Switching Intermediaries
Section titled “Switching Intermediaries”Your IOSS number is tied to your current intermediary. To switch:
- Notify your current intermediary you want to deregister
- They deregister you — this typically requires continued reporting for two months after deregistration to cover outstanding return periods
- Your new intermediary submits a fresh application and you receive a new IOSS number
- You update the IOSS number in your platform, with your carrier, and in your customs declarations
During the transition you will temporarily have no IOSS number. Plan ahead, and never assume a slow or unresponsive intermediary will cooperate quickly when you want to leave.
Related Guides
Section titled “Related Guides”- Selling to EU Consumers — IOSS Overview
- EU Selling Setup Checklist
- Selling to EU Businesses (B2B)
- EU VAT Number Checker
Selling from a Specific Country?
Section titled “Selling from a Specific Country?”This comparison covers IOSS intermediaries for any non-EU seller. Some countries have additional considerations:
- United Kingdom — Sellers based in Great Britain must use an EU-established intermediary (direct registration is not available to them). Northern Ireland businesses can register directly through HMRC without an intermediary. See the UK IOSS intermediary guide for UK-specific context.
- United States — guide coming soon
- Australia — guide coming soon