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Ecommerce Specialists

Ecommerce Accountants in Manchester

Specialist ecommerce accountancy for Shopify, Amazon, eBay and multi-channel online retailers. VAT compliance, import accounting, stock valuation and MTD-ready bookkeeping across Manchester and Greater Manchester.

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Ecommerce Accountants

Accounting for Online Retailers

Ecommerce businesses face accounting challenges that most general accountants are not set up to handle. Multi-channel sales, marketplace fees, import VAT, overseas VAT obligations, stock accounting and payment processor reconciliations all require specialist understanding.

CFA Accountants provides specialist ecommerce accounting and tax services for online retailers selling through Shopify, Amazon, eBay, Etsy and other platforms — whether you are a sole trader starting out or an established multi-channel retailer.

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Platforms We Work With
Shopify Amazon FBA & FBM eBay Etsy WooCommerce TikTok Shop Wix & BigCommerce Multi-channel retailers
Core Services

What We Provide for Ecommerce Businesses

Annual Accounts & Tax Returns

Sole trader, partnership and limited company accounts for online retailers — including full stock and inventory accounting.

VAT Returns & MTD Compliance

UK VAT return preparation, Making Tax Digital submissions and VAT threshold monitoring for growing ecommerce businesses.

VAT OSS & EU Sales

One Stop Shop (OSS) registration and returns for UK businesses selling goods or digital services to EU consumers.

Import VAT & Customs

Import VAT accounting, postponed VAT accounting reconciliation and customs duty support for retailers importing stock.

Amazon & Shopify Bookkeeping

Platform fee reconciliation, settlement statement analysis and marketplace accounting for accurate profit calculation.

Stock Valuation

Inventory accounting, cost of goods sold calculations, stock write-down provisions and year-end stock valuations.

Self Assessment

Personal tax returns for ecommerce sole traders and directors, covering all income streams and allowable expenses.

Profit Analysis

Channel-by-channel profitability analysis, margin reporting and financial management information for growing retailers.

VAT for Ecommerce Businesses

VAT is one of the most complex areas for ecommerce businesses, particularly those selling across borders. The rules depend on where your customers are, what you are selling, and where your stock is held. The current UK VAT registration threshold is £90,000 of taxable turnover in a rolling 12-month period. HMRC's VAT threshold guidance explains when you must register.

UK VAT registration and return preparation
Making Tax Digital (MTD) compliant VAT submissions
VAT threshold monitoring and registration timing advice
Partial exemption calculations where applicable
Reverse charge VAT for B2B digital services
Distance selling rules for UK to UK Crown Dependencies

Selling to EU Customers — VAT OSS

Since July 2021, UK businesses selling goods to consumers in EU member states may need to register for VAT in those countries or use the EU's One Stop Shop (OSS) scheme. The rules depend on the value and nature of the sales.

Assessment of EU VAT obligations
OSS registration support in relevant EU member states
Quarterly OSS return preparation
Distance selling threshold monitoring per EU country
IOSS for consignment imports under €150 into the EU
Advice on using fulfilment centres in EU member states

UK businesses selling through Amazon FBA who store stock in EU fulfilment centres may have VAT registration obligations in those countries regardless of sales volumes. This is a common area where ecommerce businesses are unknowingly non-compliant.

Import VAT & Customs Duties

Ecommerce businesses importing stock into the UK face import VAT and potentially customs duties. Postponed VAT Accounting (PVA), introduced after Brexit, allows UK VAT-registered importers to account for import VAT on their VAT return rather than paying it at the border. This significantly improves cash flow for importing retailers.

Postponed VAT Accounting (PVA) reconciliation
Monthly PVA statements from HMRC customs portal
Import VAT recovery on VAT returns
Customs duty accounting and cost of goods calculations
Incoterms advice for supplier contracts (DDP vs DAP)
CDS (Customs Declaration Service) record-keeping support

Amazon & Shopify Accounting

Marketplace platforms like Amazon and Shopify pay out net settlement amounts after deducting fees, refunds and other charges. Reconciling these settlement statements to your accounting records is essential for accurate profit reporting and correct VAT treatment of different transaction types.

Amazon seller account settlement reconciliation
Shopify payout reconciliation
FBA inventory and storage fee accounting
Refund and return accounting
Marketplace VAT collection reconciliation (where platforms collect VAT)
Payment processor reconciliation (Stripe, PayPal, Klarna)

Stock & Inventory Accounting

Accurate stock accounting is essential for ecommerce businesses. The cost of goods sold (COGS) directly affects your taxable profit, and incorrect stock valuation can lead to significant tax under or overpayments. HMRC's guidance on stock valuation requires stock to be valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value.

Year-end stock valuation (lower of cost and NRV)
Cost of goods sold calculations
Stock write-down provisions for obsolete or slow-moving stock
Multi-warehouse and FBA inventory accounting
Landed cost calculations (including import duties and freight)
Inventory management software integration with accounting software
Common Questions

Ecommerce Accountancy — Frequently Asked Questions

You must register for VAT when your taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 in any rolling 12-month period. HMRC's VAT registration guidance explains the rules. For ecommerce businesses, "taxable turnover" includes all standard and zero-rated sales but excludes exempt sales. You can also register voluntarily below the threshold, which allows you to reclaim VAT on business purchases.
It depends on what you are selling and to whom. For goods sold to EU consumers, you may need to register for VAT in EU member states or use the EU's One Stop Shop (OSS) scheme if your EU sales exceed €10,000 per year. For digital services to EU consumers, OSS registration is typically required once the threshold is met. We assess your specific situation and advise on the most practical approach.
Postponed VAT Accounting (PVA) allows UK VAT-registered importers to account for import VAT on their VAT return rather than paying it at the point of importation. This significantly improves cash flow for businesses importing regularly. PVA is available to all VAT-registered businesses importing into the UK and is usually the most beneficial approach for ecommerce businesses buying stock from overseas.
Amazon FBA involves Amazon storing your stock in their fulfilment centres. If Amazon moves your stock to fulfilment centres in EU countries, this can create VAT registration obligations in those countries — even if your UK sales do not reach the OSS threshold. This is a common compliance issue for FBA sellers. We review your FBA setup and advise on any EU VAT obligations that arise from where your stock is held.
HMRC requires stock to be valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value. "Cost" includes all costs of bringing the stock to its present location and condition — typically purchase price plus import duties, freight and any other directly attributable costs (landed cost). Net realisable value is the estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Obsolete or slow-moving stock may need to be written down.
You do not need separate accounts for each channel, but your bookkeeping should be able to identify revenue, fees, returns and costs for each channel separately. This is important both for VAT purposes (each channel may have different VAT implications) and for understanding which channels are most profitable. We set up accounting software integrations that pull data from each platform automatically.
HMRC requires self-employed individuals and companies to keep records of all business income and expenses. For ecommerce businesses this includes sales records (settlement statements), purchase invoices, import documents, stock records and bank statements. Under Making Tax Digital, VAT records must be kept digitally. Records must generally be kept for at least 6 years.
Transparent Pricing

Fixed-fee accountancy for ecommerce businesses

All fees agreed upfront following a free consultation. No hourly billing, no surprises.

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Other Sectors

We Also Specialise In

GP Practices

Annual accounts, superannuation and NHS pension planning for GP partnerships.

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Doctors & Medical Professionals

Salaried GPs, locums, hospital consultants and hospital doctors.

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Dentists & Dental Practices

NHS and private income, payroll, tax planning and practice accounts.

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Law Firms & Solicitors

SRA compliance, client money rules and legal sector tax planning.

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Contractors & Freelancers

IR35 advice, limited company accounts and self-assessment.

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Property Investors & Landlords

Rental accounts, CGT planning and portfolio structuring.

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Speak to an ecommerce accountant today

Shopify, Amazon, eBay and multi-channel ecommerce accounting across Manchester and Greater Manchester. VAT, import accounting, stock valuation and profit analysis.

Book a Free Consultation