Do I need a specialist ecommerce accountant?
If you sell across multiple channels (Amazon, Shopify, eBay, Etsy), have FBA inventory, or sell into the EU, it helps to use an accountant who is familiar with marketplace settlement reports, FBA fees and EU VAT.
When does my ecommerce business need to register for VAT?
When your taxable UK turnover exceeds 90,000 pounds in any rolling 12-month period. Voluntary registration below the threshold is also possible and often worthwhile if your customers are B2B (so they can reclaim) or if you have significant input VAT on imports and equipment.
How does Amazon FBA accounting work?
Amazon settles roughly every two weeks, deducting their fees, refunds, FBA charges, and reserves from your gross sales. Tools such as A2X or Link My Books can convert each settlement into a summary for your accounting software, with each fee category tracked separately.
What is the EU One-Stop Shop (OSS) and do I need it?
OSS is an EU scheme that lets you handle VAT on cross-border sales to EU consumers through a single quarterly return rather than registering in every EU country you sell into. Whether it applies to you depends on what you sell and where your goods are stored and shipped from.
Sole trader or limited company for an ecommerce business?
A sole trader business is simpler and cheaper to run. On 2026/27 tax rates, a limited company that pays out all its profit leaves you with less take-home pay than a sole trader, so tax alone is not a reason to incorporate. A company can still suit you if you want to keep profit in the business to fund stock, choose when to take dividends, make employer pension contributions or limit your personal liability.
What accounting software do you support for ecommerce?
FreeAgent accounting software is included in every GoForma package (worth £360 a year).
Can I switch to GoForma from my current accountant?
Yes. You can switch to GoForma at any point in the year, and your new accountant will work through the handover from your previous accountant with you.
What expenses can I claim as an ecommerce business?
Marketing spend, product photography, software subscriptions, inventory cost, fulfilment and shipping, packaging, FBA fees, marketplace fees, business insurance, accountancy fees, and a proportion of home office costs.
How much does ecommerce accounting cost?
Packages start at £22 a month for sole traders under £20,000 turnover who manage their own books, and £28 a month for low-activity limited companies. Start Sole Trader + VAT is £68 a month, and the Operate Bundle for VAT-registered limited companies is £128 a month. Start and Operate packages are 50% off for the first 3 months, and prices exclude VAT.
Do you handle Amazon EU FBA registrations?
Pan-EU FBA stores stock in several EU countries, which usually means registering for VAT in each of them. Country-specific EU VAT registrations are not part of GoForma's packages, so ask about them before you start.