VAT (TVA – Taxe sur la Valeur Ajoutée in French) is a central element of e-commerce taxation in France. With four different rates and strict filing obligations, it is essential to understand the system thoroughly before selling to French consumers. France collects approximately €200 billion in VAT annually, making it the largest single source of government revenue. For e-commerce sellers, proper VAT compliance is not optional – the French tax authorities (Direction Générale des Finances Publiques) actively audit online sellers.
The four French VAT rates explained
France applies four distinct VAT rates that every e-commerce seller must understand:
- Standard rate of 20% – Applies to the majority of goods and services: electronics, clothing, furniture, cosmetics, home appliances. This is the default rate for most products sold online.
- Intermediate rate of 10% – Covers restaurants and catering (excluding alcohol), passenger transport, renovation works on residential properties over 2 years old, and certain unprocessed agricultural products.
- Reduced rate of 5.5% – Reserved for basic food products, books (both physical and digital since 2012), gas and electricity subscriptions, and equipment for disabled persons.
- Super-reduced rate of 2.1% – Limited to reimbursable medicines prescribed by the social security system, press publications (newspapers and periodicals), and live performances under certain conditions.
Filing obligations by regime
The VAT regime depends on the company's turnover. The standard regime (régime réel normal) applies to businesses with turnover above €840,000 (goods) or €254,000 (services): monthly CA3 returns with payment of net VAT. The simplified regime (régime réel simplifié) allows annual returns (CA12) with two advance payments in July and December. The franchise en base exemption frees micro-entreprises from collecting VAT below €91,900 turnover for goods sales and €36,800 for services – this simplifies invoicing but prevents recovery of input VAT on purchases.
OSS and IOSS for cross-border sales
The One-Stop Shop (OSS) simplifies VAT obligations for cross-border B2C sales within the EU. Beyond the global threshold of €10,000 in intra-community sales, the destination country's VAT rate applies. The OSS allows you to declare and pay VAT for all EU countries through a single portal in France, avoiding the need to register for VAT in each member state. The Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) covers imports of parcels up to €150 for distance selling from third countries. It allows VAT collection at the point of sale rather than at import, simplifying customs clearance for the end customer and eliminating surprise charges on delivery.
Practical advice for e-commerce sellers
Use accounting software compatible with French VAT requirements such as Pennylane, Indy or Sage. Keep all invoices for 10 years as required by the Code de Commerce. Systematically verify the applicable VAT rate for each product sold – incorrect rates can trigger penalties. For marketplace sales, be aware of the deemed supplier regime where the platform collects VAT on behalf of non-EU sellers. Consider the impact of the upcoming e-invoicing reform (Factur-X) on your invoicing processes. Zunapro offers a complete VAT compliance service including monthly returns, OSS threshold monitoring and fiscal optimization for e-commerce operators in France and across the EU.
