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Short answer
When selling abroad from Shopify or your own website, you need to set up shipping zones and rates by country and decide who pays the taxes. Unlike marketplaces, collecting taxes is your responsibility: you need IOSS for sales of up to €150 in the EU and a UK VAT registration for sales of up to £135 in the UK. Collecting taxes at checkout and shipping duties paid (DDP) increases conversion.
How to set up shipping zones and rates
In Shopify, shipping rates are defined through shipping zones made up of countries and regions. The most common approach is to set fixed rates per zone based on weight bands.
| Approach | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Weight-based rates | A rate per zone based on the total weight of the cart | Many products of different weights |
| Flat rate | One shipping rate per zone | Products of similar weight, a simple experience |
| Free above a threshold | Shipping is free once the cart exceeds a set amount | Increasing the average order value |
| Shipping built into the price | The shipping cost is included in the product price | The perception of "free shipping" in competitive markets |
CURRENT PRICE
Current prices for your shipping zones
See the shipping cost by country for your products' weights and dimensions, and set your zone rates accordingly.
Taxes: who collects them and how are they shown?
On marketplaces the marketplace often collects the taxes; on your own website, this responsibility is yours. The right set-up determines both legal compliance and the customer experience.
- EU: with an IOSS registration you can collect VAT at checkout on consumer sales of up to €150; since 1 July 2026, these shipments are also charged €3 of customs duty per product category.
- UK: consumer sales of up to £135 require a UK VAT registration and VAT collection at the time of sale.
- USA: as de minimis is suspended, customs duty is calculated on every shipment; a state sales tax obligation may arise depending on your sales volume.
- DDP: if you collect taxes at checkout and ship duties paid, the buyer pays nothing extra on delivery.
Order fulfillment flow
- 1Order
The customer completes the payment; the order reaches your dashboard with the address and phone number.
- 2Preparation
The product is packed; the invoice and product details (description, quantity, value, HS code) are prepared.
- 3Shipping
The shipment leaves by express courier as a micro export with an ETGB.
- 4Tracking notification
The tracking number is added to the order and the customer is notified automatically.
- 5Delivery and after
The delivery is followed; customer satisfaction and any returns are managed.
If you want to hand over stock and packing, your orders can be packed and shipped from the warehouse with our fulfillment service.
Building trust with international customers
- Show prices in the customer's currency and, if possible, including taxes.
- State delivery times clearly by country; give a realistic range that allows for customs.
- State your returns policy clearly: consumers in the EU generally have a 14-day right of withdrawal for distance sales.
- Use a payment system that accepts international cards and offer your site in the target market's language.
To set up an e-commerce website for selling abroad, take a look at our online store service.
Frequently asked questions
How do I set up international shipping in Shopify?
In the shipping settings, you create shipping zones made up of countries and regions and define weight-based or flat shipping rates for each zone.
Who collects taxes in a Shopify store?
On your own website, collecting taxes is the seller's responsibility. You need IOSS for sales of up to €150 in the EU and a UK VAT registration for sales of up to £135 in the UK.
Can Shopify orders be sent as micro exports?
Yes. Each order can be invoiced and sent as a micro export with an ETGB, so the sale is recorded as an official export.
Why does duties-paid (DDP) shipping matter?
The buyer does not have to pay taxes and handling fees on delivery; this reduces refused deliveries and cancellations and increases conversion.
How should I plan returns when selling abroad?
Write your returns policy clearly, state who pays for return shipping, and build the cost into the pricing of products with high return rates (e.g. clothing).
Sources
- Shopify Help Center — Shipping, taxes and markets
- European Commission — VAT One Stop Shop (OSS/IOSS) portal
- GOV.UK — VAT on goods of £135 or less sold directly to UK customers (seller obligations)
- İHKİB — The EU Council approves removing the exemption for parcels under €150 (in Turkish)
- İHKİB — Announcement on the US suspension of the de minimis exemption (in Turkish)