As an operating business you may be legally obliged to register for VAT in various countries. Tax authorities can prevent your products from reaching your customers and you may incur fines if you do you not comply with the legal requirements for each country.
There are two circumstances that will trigger the need for a VAT registration:
- Storing goods and shipping from a given European country
- Selling above Distance Selling Thresholds
For companies looking to store (or import) goods in European countries or about to start using Amazon´s FBA, the VAT registration requirement will arise from the first condition in the country where goods are going to be stored.
If you sell to other EU countries that are above the distance selling thresholds, you are also obliged to register for VAT purposes in that country. Find out more about the Distance Selling Thresholds here: https://www.globalvatcompliance.com/distance-selling-thresholds-eu/