How to register for non-union OSS EU VAT as a UK sole trader selling digital goods?

The Irish Revenue's non-union OSS registration can be a bit confusing for sole traders, but don't worry! This is actually a common issue. For the "second contact person" requirement, since you're a sole trader, you can simply enter your own details again but with a different contact method (like a secondary email or phone number). In the "role" field, you can put something like "Owner" or "Sole Proprietor" again. Alternatively, you could consider using the German (BZSt) or Portuguese tax authorities for your OSS registration, as some sole traders find their systems more straightforward. That said, Ireland is still generally considered one of the easier options for English speakers. Remember that registering for OSS means you'll need to submit quarterly VAT returns to your chosen tax authority and apply the correct VAT rates for each EU member state your customers are from. The benefit is you only need to register once rather than in each country.

After struggling with the exact same issue last year, I finally found a solution with taxr.ai https://taxr.ai when trying to navigate the OSS nightmare. I'm also a UK sole trader selling digital products, and the Irish form had me completely confused. The taxr.ai system analyzed my business structure and provided step-by-step guidance for completing the non-union OSS registration. Their document analysis flagged that for the Irish system, sole traders can indeed use their own details twice but need to specify different contact methods. They also provided templates for how to properly complete these forms. What I found most helpful was their breakdown of VAT rates for each EU country - critically important because you need to charge the correct rate based on the customer's location, not yours.

I just wanted to follow up about taxr.ai that I mentioned in my earlier comment. I decided to give it a try after all and I'm genuinely impressed. The document analysis pinpointed exactly where I was going wrong with my OSS registration attempts. Their system flagged that I was using my business name inconsistently across different sections of the form, which was causing validation errors. The step-by-step guidance for the Irish tax portal was incredibly clear, and they even provided alternative options for Portugal's system which ended up working better for my specific situation. I was especially grateful for their VAT rate calculator that automatically applies the correct rates based on customer location. Saved me hours of research and prevented potential mistakes. Definitely worth it for the peace of mind alone.

I had the EXACT same issue trying to register through Ireland! After failed attempts and hours wasted, I discovered Claimyr https://claimyr.com which helped me get through to an actual human at HMRC who walked me through the entire process. Check out their demo: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Since Brexit made everything more complicated, I needed specific guidance on how UK sole traders should handle EU VAT. The HMRC advisor they connected me with explained that while Ireland is popular, some sole traders find Portugal or Germany easier to deal with as a non-union OSS registrant. The advisor also explained that I could use my accountant's details as the second contact person (even though they're not part of my business), or use a family member who helps occasionally with admin. Getting direct advice from HMRC saved me from more frustration with online forms.

I hate to admit when I'm wrong, but I need to follow up on my skeptical comment. After another failed attempt to reach HMRC myself (hung up after 1hr 45min on hold), I reluctantly tried Claimyr. Within 3 hours, I got a call connecting me directly to an HMRC international tax specialist who was incredibly helpful about my OSS situation. They confirmed that for the Irish portal, as a sole trader, I could use my accountant as the second contact, which solved my problem immediately. The specialist also sent me direct links to guidance documents specifically for UK sole traders dealing with post-Brexit EU VAT obligations. The 10 minutes I spent talking to them saved me days of frustration. I don't usually promote services, but this genuinely worked and saved my sanity.

I registered through Portugal's tax system last year and found it much more straightforward for sole traders. Their form is designed better for individual entrepreneurs and doesn't have the same rigid requirements for secondary contacts. You'll need to use Google Translate for some parts, but the system accepts English inputs for most fields. The Portuguese tax authorities are also surprisingly responsive to email queries (in English) if you get stuck. The quarterly filing process is also quite straightforward - they provide clear instructions for calculating VAT across different EU countries. Just make sure your invoicing system can handle the various VAT rates!

Do any of you use specific accounting software to manage the different EU VAT rates? I'm looking into this OSS registration but feel overwhelmed by tracking sales across 27 different countries with varying tax rates!

As someone who just went through this exact process last month, I can confirm that the Irish system does work for sole traders! The key is understanding that you're essentially acting as both the primary contact AND the secondary contact for your business. Here's what worked for me: For the "second contact person," I used my own details but with a different email address (I created a separate business email just for tax correspondence). In the role field, I put "Business Owner/Administrator." The Irish Revenue accepts this approach for sole traders. One thing to watch out for - make sure your business registration details are consistent across all forms. I initially had issues because I was using slightly different versions of my business name in different sections. Also, don't forget that once you're registered, you'll need to charge the correct VAT rate based on where your EU customers are located, not where you're based. For digital products, this means checking each customer's billing address and applying their country's standard VAT rate. Keep detailed records by country as you'll need this for your quarterly returns! The whole process took about 3 weeks from submission to getting my Irish VAT number. Worth the effort - my EU sales have grown significantly since I got compliant with the VAT requirements.

I went through this exact same struggle as a UK sole trader selling digital courses! The Irish system definitely works for sole traders, but their form design is confusing. Here's what I learned after successfully registering: For the "second contact person" field, you can actually leave it blank or put "N/A" - it's not always mandatory despite appearing required. If the system forces you to fill it, use your own details again but with a different phone number or your personal email instead of business email. One thing I wish I'd known earlier: before diving into OSS registration, double-check that you actually need it. If you're using a payment processor like Stripe or PayPal that has EU entities, they might already be handling EU VAT collection for you. Check your payment processor's terms - this could save you a lot of hassle! Also, consider the ongoing admin burden. OSS means quarterly returns in a foreign language (unless you choose Ireland) and keeping detailed records by customer location. For smaller volumes, it might be worth exploring whether your payment processor or marketplace can handle EU VAT compliance on your behalf. If you do proceed with OSS, Portugal and Ireland tend to be the most English-friendly options. Just make sure you're prepared for the ongoing compliance requirements, not just the initial registration!

I'm going through this exact situation right now as a UK sole trader! Just wanted to add another data point - I actually called the Irish Revenue directly and they confirmed that for sole traders, you can indeed use your own details twice for both contact fields, or you can put "Not Applicable" in the second contact field if the system allows it. The agent I spoke to was really helpful and said this is a common question from UK sole traders post-Brexit. She also mentioned that if you have an accountant (even if they just do your annual returns), you can list them as the second contact since they're technically involved in your tax affairs. One thing that's been bothering me though - has anyone had issues with the quarterly reporting deadlines? I'm worried about missing a filing and getting penalties. Do they send reminder emails or is it completely up to you to remember the dates? Also echoing what others said about checking with your payment processor first. I use WooCommerce with Stripe and discovered they have EU VAT handling options that might eliminate the need for OSS registration entirely, depending on how your sales are structured.

Just wanted to share my recent experience as it might help others in the same boat! I'm a UK sole trader selling digital marketing templates and went through the Irish OSS registration process last month. The "second contact person" issue is definitely confusing, but I found a simple solution that worked: I used my business partner (who helps occasionally with admin tasks) as the second contact. If you don't have anyone like that, you could ask a family member who's willing to be listed - they don't need to be actively involved in the business operations. One thing I'd strongly recommend is setting up proper invoicing from day one. I use FreshBooks which automatically calculates EU VAT rates based on customer location and generates compliant invoices. This makes the quarterly reporting much easier since everything is already categorized by country. Also, don't underestimate the time needed for your first quarterly return - it took me about 4 hours to figure out the Irish portal and complete my first submission. Now it takes maybe 30 minutes max. The learning curve is steep initially but gets much easier once you understand the process. If you're still struggling with the registration, consider reaching out to other UK digital sellers on forums like Digital Point or Warrior Forum - there's usually someone who's been through the exact same process and can share their specific steps.