VAT & GST Registration and Compliance | EU VAT, Singapore GST, Australia GST | ASC Consulting
Service Overview
As businesses sell across borders, whether physical goods, digital services, or B2B transactions, indirect tax obligations multiply rapidly. Failure to register for VAT or GST in the correct jurisdictions exposes your business to significant back-tax liabilities, penalties, and reputational risk with tax authorities. The rules are complex, change frequently, and vary considerably between jurisdictions.
ASC Consulting provides specialist VAT and GST registration and compliance services across the EU, Singapore, and Australia, helping foreign businesses stay fully compliant without the burden of managing complex indirect tax rules in-house. Our team handles the full compliance cycle from initial obligation assessment and registration through to periodic return preparation, filing, and representation before tax authorities.
We monitor regulatory changes across all jurisdictions in which we operate and proactively advise clients on new registration obligations before they become enforcement issues, ensuring that your business is never caught off-guard by changes to indirect tax rules in your key markets.
IMPLEMENT
- • Incorporation
• Trademark, Intellectual Property & CopyRights
• Sourcing / QC
• CRM
THINK
DEVELOP
- • Distribution
• Funds raising
• Sell / purchase / stock in Europe
• Digitalize your business
What WE DO
- • Tax consulting (VAT, GST, Profit tax, ...)
• Hide the source of your goods
• Do business in China
• Set up structuring tools (Monday.com, Xero, ...)
RUN
- • Administrative services
• Tax Filing
• Temporary CEO / COO
• Recruiting
• System integration
Industry Insights
Indirect Tax Landscape: What's Changing
VAT and GST rules for digital services and e-commerce have undergone major changes globally since 2020. The EU's OSS scheme (since July 2021) allows sellers to file a single return for all EU B2C sales rather than registering in each member state, a significant simplification. However, non-EU businesses selling goods to EU consumers still face VAT registration requirements where stock is held.
Singapore extended GST to imported low-value goods and B2C services from January 2023, with the GST rate increasing to 9% in January 2024. Australia's GST on digital services from non-resident businesses has been in force since 2017. ASC Consulting monitors these developments and proactively advises clients on new registration obligations before they become enforcement issues.
Benefits
Our services provide:
Compliance Assurance: Stay updated with the latest tax regulations.
Cost Savings: Identify opportunities for tax credits and deductions.
Global Expertise: Benefit from our experience in handling transactions across these regions.
Deep Dive into VAT and GST: While VAT is prevalent in Europe, GST is the term used in Singapore and Australia. Understanding the differences and similarities between these tax systems is crucial for businesses operating across these regions. Our expertise extends to decoding these systems, ensuring you grasp their implications on your business operations.
Fiscal Representation and VAT/GST Declarations: We provide fiscal representation services, essential for foreign entities required to comply with local tax obligations. Our team assists with VAT/GST registration, ongoing declarations, and communication with tax authorities, ensuring your business meets all regulatory requirements efficiently.
Impact on Foreign Companies: VAT/GST compliance poses significant challenges for foreign companies. Lack of local knowledge can lead to non-compliance risks and financial penalties. Our services are tailored to mitigate these risks, ensuring that your business navigates these complexities with ease and confidence.
Optimization Opportunities: Managing VAT/GST is not just about compliance; it's a strategic component that can influence cash flow and profit margins. We help identify opportunities for tax credits, deductions, and efficient tax structuring, turning tax management into a value-added aspect of your business. This strategic approach benefits not only your company but also enhances the value proposition for your end customers, potentially improving margins and cash positions.
Streamline your European operations with our Sell / Purchase / Stock in Europe services.
Process
How ASC Consulting Manages Your VAT/GST Compliance
- Obligation assessment: We review your business model, sales flows, and customer types to determine where you have VAT/GST registration obligations — before authorities come knocking.
- Registration: We prepare and submit all registration applications in the relevant jurisdictions, including appointing ASC as fiscal representative where required (e.g., for non-EU businesses registering for EU VAT).
- Return preparation: We prepare your periodic VAT/GST returns (monthly, quarterly, or annually depending on jurisdiction) from your sales and purchase data.
- Filing and payment coordination: We file returns with the tax authority and prepare payment instructions for your approval, ensuring deadlines are never missed.
- Intrastat and EC listings: For EU VAT, we prepare mandatory Intrastat declarations and EC Sales Lists (ESL) where applicable.
- Audit support: In the event of a VAT/GST audit or inquiry, we represent you and manage all correspondence with the tax authority.
Frequently Asked Questions — VAT and GST Compliance
When does my company need to register for EU VAT?
EU VAT registration is required when you sell goods or services to EU customers and exceed the relevant thresholds, hold stock in an EU member state, or import goods into the EU for resale. For digital services and goods sold to EU consumers, the EU OSS scheme allows a single registration for all EU B2C sales. ASC Consulting assesses your exact obligations based on your supply chain and business model.
What is the EU OSS scheme and is it right for my business?
The EU One-Stop-Shop (OSS) allows businesses to register in a single EU member state and file quarterly returns covering all B2C sales across the EU. It eliminates the need for VAT registration in each EU country where you have customers. ASC Consulting registers you for OSS (typically in France if you have a French entity) and prepares all quarterly OSS filings.
When does a foreign company need to register for Singapore GST?
Foreign businesses providing digital services (B2C) to Singapore customers must register for Singapore GST if their Singapore revenue exceeds SGD 100,000 per year (under the Overseas Vendor Registration regime). Foreign businesses selling physical goods into Singapore are subject to import GST. Businesses with a Singapore entity must register when taxable turnover exceeds SGD 1 million.
What is the GST rate in Singapore and Australia?
Singapore's GST rate is 9% (since January 2024). Australia's GST rate is 10% on most goods and services. Both countries require periodic filing — quarterly BAS in Australia, quarterly F5 in Singapore for most businesses.
Does ASC Consulting provide fiscal representation for EU VAT?
Yes. Non-EU businesses registering for VAT in certain EU member states (e.g., France) are required to appoint a fiscal representative — a local entity that is jointly liable for the VAT obligations. ASC Consulting provides fiscal representation services for non-EU businesses registering for French VAT and other EU jurisdictions where we operate.
Getting Started
Contact us with details of your business operations. We will guide you through every aspect of VAT/GST compliance, from registration to filing returns and strategic tax optimization.
Our Main Places of Activity
Our Expertise Across Jurisdictions: With a strong presence in Europe, Singapore, and Australia, we offer unparalleled insights and local expertise in VAT and GST laws, providing comprehensive support and strategic advantages for your business, wherever you operate.
Our Group
We are a privately owned Group that prioritizes the service to its clients, and values personal approaches as well. We have been founded by qualified professionals from legal/fiscal sectors with more than 25 years cross-border experience gained in Europe & Asia - giving them perfect understanding for tax environment where client operates both at home base country or when investing abroad.
