“Wait — we can reclaim that?”

That was Sarah’s reaction during a recent Check-Up Call.

She runs a 7-figure Shopify store based in Ireland, selling into both the UK and Europe.

Everything looked solid on paper. Her accountant filed returns on time. Her Shopify apps handled the OSS reports. Her store was thriving.

But when we reviewed her VAT setup…

👉 She was missing over €9,200 in reclaimable VAT from UK supplier invoices
👉 OSS filings hadn’t flagged threshold crossings
👉 VAT was being paid upfront, but not tracked monthly

And none of it was malicious or negligent.

She just didn’t know what she didn’t know — and no one had sat down to explain it clearly.

Why This Happens (More Often Than You Think)

Post-Brexit, VAT has become one of the trickiest (and most overlooked) parts of the Shopify ecosystem.

Irish-based sellers who scale quickly into the EU or UK often hit hidden issues like:

1. Missing UK VAT Registration

If you’re importing stock or storing goods in the UK — you likely need a UK VAT number. Without it, you’re paying VAT… but not reclaiming it.

2. OSS ≠ UK

The OSS scheme only applies to EU sales. UK sales? Totally separate registration and return process.

3. Double VAT Payments

We’ve seen clients accidentally pay VAT in both the UK and Ireland, unaware that reclaiming was even an option.

4. No Monthly VAT Visibility

If your accountant only gives you updates quarterly — or only files what Shopify’s app spits out — you could be flying blind.

Real Results from Just One Conversation

Let’s talk numbers.

When Sarah booked a Check-Up Call, she wasn’t expecting anything major. She just wanted a second set of eyes.

Here’s what we found in 20 minutes:

• Over €9.2K in missed UK VAT reclaim

• OSS threshold crossed months earlier — unnoticed

• No forecast of upcoming VAT liabilities (even though they were growing fast)

We helped her:

✅ Register properly for UK VAT
✅ Put monthly tracking in place for OSS and UK returns
✅ Reclaim what she was owed
✅ Build a proactive system for staying on top of it going forward

Her words?

“I honestly thought we were on top of it. But now I realise how much we were missing. I feel like we’ve finally got control again.”

The Most Expensive Mistake? Not Asking.

This story isn’t unique.

We’ve seen Shopify sellers unknowingly:

• Pay thousands in double VAT

• Miss OSS thresholds and risk non-compliance

• Lose reclaim on 5-figure import invoices

• Delay UK VAT registration and miss filing deadlines

And the worst part? These sellers were doing their best. They had accountants. They used VAT apps. They weren’t cutting corners.

They just didn’t know what to look for — or who to ask.

What You Can Do This Week

You don’t need to become a VAT expert overnight. But here’s where to start:

✅ 1. Review your UK setup.

If you sell or ship into the UK — are you VAT registered? Are you reclaiming UK supplier VAT?

✅ 2. Audit your OSS thresholds.

Crossed €10,000 in EU sales? You need to be registered for OSS. Selling above that without OSS = trouble.

✅ 3. Track VAT monthly — not just when returns are due.

What’s your current VAT exposure this month? Not what you filed last quarter — what’s building now?

Final Thoughts: Your Shopify Store Deserves a Proper VAT Strategy

You’ve built something incredible. But without the right VAT setup, your cash flow is constantly under threat.

And reclaiming what’s yours? That’s just smart business.

Whether you’re just hitting six figures or scaling beyond seven — one Check-Up Call could uncover thousands in missed opportunities.

P.S. Want a second set of eyes on your setup?

I offer a free 20-minute Check-Up Call for Shopify sellers trading into the UK or EU.

It’s not a sales pitch — just one clear conversation to help you spot VAT risks (and reclaim wins) before they snowball.

👉 Click here to book your call