What is Evidence of Trade?

Some tax authorities require businesses to provide Evidence of Trade as part of the VAT registration process.

This document helps demonstrate that your business is actively trading and storing or shipping goods within the country where the VAT registration is being requested.

When Might This Be Required? 🌍

Evidence of Trade is commonly requested when:

• Registering for VAT in another EU country
• Registering retrospectively or with historical activity
• Confirming stock movements or local storage
• Supporting applications linked to marketplace fulfilment programs

Please note that requirements vary depending on the country and tax authority.

How to Create Your Evidence of Trade ✅

You can usually create this document using an order that was shipped from the relevant country.

Step 1 — Find a Suitable Order

Log into your hellotax software account and open:

Orders

Select an order where the goods were shipped from the country connected to your VAT registration.

Your Evidence of Trade Should Include 📄

The document should clearly show:

• Company name and address
• VAT number (if available)
• Invoice date
• Shipping date
• Shipping origin address
• Shipping destination address
• Invoice number
• Product description
• Net value and VAT amount

Important Shipping Country Requirement ⚠️

The shipping origin country must match the country for which the VAT registration is being requested.

Example:

If you are applying for a VAT number in the Czech Republic:

• the goods must have been shipped from the Czech Republic

Tips for Preparing the Document 💡

• Ensure all information is clearly visible
• Use consistent company details
• Make sure dates and addresses are readable
• PDF format is usually preferred
• Screenshots should include full order information where possible

Need Additional Help? 🤝

As VAT registration requirements differ between countries, additional supporting documents may sometimes be requested by the tax authority.

If further clarification is required, your hellotax onboarding or service team will contact you directly.

You can also review country-specific guidance inside the:

Your VAT / OSS Number

folder within the Help Centre.