Overview

Receiving a message from the French tax authorities (DGFiP) can feel stressful — but don’t worry, audits are a normal part of doing business, especially in eCommerce.

This guide explains what to expect and how to handle it confidently.

👀 First things first: what is an audit?

A VAT audit is simply the tax office checking that your reported transactions are accurate and complete.

In most cases, they are looking to verify the flow of your business activity — not to catch you out.

📩 Step 1: Let us know

If you receive any communication from the French tax office, please forward it to us as soon as possible.

👉 We can review the request and guide you on next steps.

💡 Important:
Handling and responding to an audit is a separate service. If you would like hellotax to actively manage the audit on your behalf, this can be arranged as an additional paid service.

If you prefer, you can also handle the process yourself — we’ll still point you in the right direction.

⏳ Step 2: Keep an eye on deadlines

French tax authorities usually give 15–30 days to respond.

👉 Missing a deadline can lead to:

• Penalties
• Estimated tax assessments

✔ Make sure you act quickly and stay organised.

📊 Step 3: What information might be requested?

The tax office will typically ask for documents that show the full picture of your business activity.

This can include:

• Sales data (marketplaces, webshop reports)
• Purchase invoices
• VAT invoices issued (if applicable)
• Bank statements
• Payment provider reports (e.g. PayPal, Stripe)
• Shipping and transport documents
• Import documents (if relevant)
• Stock records (e.g. Amazon FBA, warehouses)

🔄 Step 4: Understand what they’re checking

The main goal is to follow the transaction flow:

👉 Purchase → Transport → Storage → Sale → Payment

They want to see that:

• Everything you bought is accounted for
• Everything you sold is declared
• Goods movements between countries are documented
• VAT is applied correctly at each step

🔍 Step 5: Make sure everything matches

Consistency is key.

Check that:

• Sales reports match your VAT returns
• Payments match your sales
• Stock movements align with your data

👉 Any gaps or mismatches may trigger further questions.

🗂️ Step 6: Keep things clear and organised

To make the process smoother:

• Submit complete and readable documents
• Organise files logically
• Add short explanations where needed

🤝 How hellotax can support you

You have two options:

✔ Handle it yourself

We’ll guide you on what’s needed so you can respond confidently.

⭐ Let us handle it for you

We can manage the audit process on your behalf as a paid service, including:

• Reviewing your data
• Preparing responses
• Communicating with the tax authorities

✅ Key takeaway

A VAT audit is all about transparency and traceability.

As long as:

• Your records are complete
• Your data is consistent
• You respond on time

👉 You’ll be in a strong position to handle it smoothly.

If you’ve received an audit request, feel free to reach out — we’re here to help you navigate it.