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Cross-Border Selling Guide: EU Sellers on TikTok Shop

Written by Shoplazza Content Team | Apr 15, 2025 6:26:58 AM

UPDATED NEWS (March, 31, 2025): TikTok Shop just launched dedicated sites for Germany, France, and Italy – three of Europe’s largest e-commerce markets! For EU sellers, this means they can sell on TikTok Shop and faster access to 200 million potential customers. But with new markets come new rules. In this updated guide, we’ll break down exactly how to sell across UK's and Europe’s TikTok Shop, including the latest requirements for the new German, French, and Italian sites. Can't wait now? Let's learn how to tap into TikTok’s viral selling power.

Cross-Border Selling Within EU

Basic Requirements

EU sellers can sell on TikTok Shop in other EU countries under the following conditions:

  • Valid business registration in an EU country
  • EU bank account
  • Compliance with local market regulations
  • Customer service in the local language

VAT Requirements

The VAT (Value Added Tax) system in the EU is complex but crucial to understand:

  1. Distance Selling Within EU:
  • If your annual sales to another EU country exceed that country's threshold, you must register for VAT in that country
  • Common thresholds:
    • Spain: €35,000
    • Ireland: €35,000
    • France: €35,000
    • Germany: €35,00
    • Italy: €85,000
  1. One-Stop Shop (OSS):
  • EU sellers can use the OSS system to declare and pay VAT for all EU sales
  • Register in your home country
  • File quarterly VAT returns for all EU sales
  • Simplifies compliance across multiple EU markets

Selling to the UK Market

VAT Registration

Post-Brexit requirements for EU sellers:

  • Mandatory VAT registration for sales over £85,000
  • Required to register immediately if expecting to exceed threshold
  • Need to appoint a UK VAT representative
  • Must submit quarterly VAT returns

Business Requirements

  1. Operational Setup:
  • UK business address required
  • UK bank account
  • English-speaking customer service
  • Local returns handling solution
  1. Product Compliance:
  • UKCA marking where applicable
  • English language labeling
  • UK-specific safety standards

Platform-Specific Requirements

1. Shipping Requirements

  • Must use TikTok-approved logistics providers
  • Delivery time limits:
    • UK: 3-5 business days
    • EU: 2-4 business days
  • Track and trace capability mandatory

2. Customer Service

  • Local language support required
  • Business hours coverage:
    • UK: 9 AM - 5 PM GMT
    • EU: 9 AM - 6 PM local time
  • Maximum 24-hour response time

3. Returns Policy

  • 14-day return period (EU requirement)
  • Local returns address required
  • Clear returns policy in local language

Advantages and Market Opportunities

Market Access Benefits

As of April 8, 2025, TikTok Shop has updated its cross-border POP entry standards for EU markets, including Spain, Germany, Italy, and France. This change makes it easier for sellers with experience on third-party platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Wayfair to enter the market quickly. Additionally, sellers already operating in the U.S. now have a “green channel” to access Europe, significantly lowering the entry barriers.
 
This POP model allows sellers full control over product selection, inventory management, pricing, and marketing strategies and analytics, making it ideal for those looking to build a brand or flexibly adjust their strategies, as opposed to the fully managed supply model.
 
In addition, it streamlines operations and eliminates the need to switch between different platforms, making it especially beneficial for those with large product catalogs. Bulk listing features also allow sellers to expand their presence efficiently across various European markets, improving operational efficiency and visibility.

Financial Advantages

TikTok Shop offers particularly attractive commission rates for EU sellers operating within the European market. While cross-border sellers typically face commission rates of 5-8%, EU sellers benefit from lower rates of 2-5%. This competitive pricing structure becomes even more advantageous through volume-based discounts and special rates during promotional periods. The platform's transparent fee structure helps sellers accurately forecast their costs and maintain healthy profit margins.

Marketing Opportunities

One of the most significant advantages for EU sellers is their access to localized marketing campaigns and promotional events. TikTok Shop's algorithm tends to favor local sellers in search results, providing better visibility to domestic merchants. The platform offers sophisticated marketing tools specifically designed for each market, allowing sellers to create targeted campaigns that resonate with local audiences. Additionally, EU sellers can more easily collaborate with local influencers, leveraging their established credibility and following in specific markets.

Operational Best Practices

Inventory Management Excellence

Successful EU sellers on TikTok Shop implement sophisticated inventory management strategies that go beyond basic stock tracking. The key lies in using platform data analytics to forecast demand accurately across different European markets. Seasonal variations can differ significantly between countries, and understanding these patterns is crucial. For instance, summer fashion items might sell well in Southern Europe while Northern European countries still experience cooler weather. Successful sellers maintain separate safety stock levels for each market, considering local delivery times and return rates.

Customer Service Strategy

Providing excellent customer service across multiple European markets requires a well-thought-out approach to language and cultural differences. While many sellers start with automated translation tools, the most successful ones invest in native-speaking customer service representatives for their primary markets. These representatives not only handle customer inquiries more effectively but also provide valuable insights into local customer preferences and behavior patterns. Establishing local customer service hours that align with each market's time zone and shopping habits has proven crucial for maintaining high customer satisfaction rates.

Quality Control and Compliance

Consistent product quality across multiple European markets requires robust quality control systems. Successful sellers implement regular supplier audits and maintain detailed documentation of compliance with EU safety standards. Besides, they also establish clear procedures for handling returns and customer complaints and then use this feedback to improve product quality and service delivery. In this way, it may help prevent issues with regulatory authorities and maintain positive customer relationships.
 
To avoid non-compliance, we also provide some new Key EU Regulations for sellers that must adhere to:
 
Regulations
Key Points
 
  1. Products clearly marked to be repaired or reconditioned prior to use.
  2. Conduct more rigorous risk assessments for all products.
  3. Technical documentation (test reports, design specs) required.
  1. Register with national EPR schemes (e.g., CITEO in France, LUCID in Germany).
  2. Pay eco-contributions based on sales volume.
  1. Apply A-G energy labels for relevant products.
  2. Labels feature QR codes linking to the EU EPREL database.

Strategic Growth Planning

Market Entry Strategy

The most successful EU sellers on TikTok Shop take a methodical approach to market expansion. Rather than attempting to enter all available markets simultaneously, they typically start with one or two markets where they have the strongest competitive advantage. This might be based on existing logistics infrastructure, language capabilities, or product market fit. They thoroughly test their operations in these initial markets, refining their processes before expanding further.

Marketing and Promotion

Effective marketing on TikTok Shop requires a deep understanding of local consumer behavior and preferences. Successful sellers develop market-specific content strategies that consider cultural nuances and shopping habits. They often start with a soft launch period in new markets, using limited product ranges to test market response and gather data. This approach allows them to optimize their product selection and pricing strategy before scaling up their presence.

Financial Management

Managing finances across multiple European markets requires sophisticated systems for handling different currencies and tax requirements. Successful sellers typically invest in accounting software that can handle multi-currency transactions and VAT calculations for different jurisdictions. They maintain separate profit and loss statements for each market, allowing them to optimize their pricing and promotional strategies based on market-specific performance data.

Advanced Growth Tactics

Technology Integration

Leading sellers on TikTok Shop maximize their efficiency through strategic technology integration. This includes implementing automated inventory management systems that sync across multiple marketplaces, customer relationship management (CRM) systems for managing customer interactions across different markets, and analytics tools for tracking performance metrics. These integrations help sellers scale their operations while maintaining control over their business processes.

Community Building

Building a strong brand presence in each market goes beyond just selling products. Successful sellers actively engage with their customer base through social media, create market-specific content, and participate in local online communities. They often develop loyalty programs tailored to each market's preferences and shopping habits, helping to build a sustainable customer base.

Continuous Optimization

The most successful sellers on TikTok Shop treat their operation as a constantly evolving system. They regularly review their performance metrics, test new strategies, and optimize their processes based on data-driven insights. This includes regularly updating product listings, testing different pricing strategies, and experimenting with new marketing approaches. They maintain flexibility in their operations, allowing them to quickly adapt to changing market conditions and customer preferences.

Conclusion

While EU sellers can indeed sell across different TikTok Shop markets in Europe, success requires careful attention to VAT requirements, local regulations, and operational considerations. The key is to start with proper registration and compliance, then focus on building a strong operational foundation in each target market.

Remember that regulations and requirements can change, so it's essential to stay updated with TikTok Shop's policies and local market requirements. Consider starting with one or two markets initially, then expanding as you gain experience and establish efficient processes.

Reminder for EU Sellers: US TikTok Shop Entry Requirements

For EU sellers interested in the US TikTok Shop market, it's important to note that direct entry is currently not available for European businesses. As of 2024, TikTok Shop US only accepts sellers from specific regions, primarily US domestic sellers and those from China/Hong Kong. However, EU sellers can still participate by establishing a US business entity that meets the following requirements:

To sell on TikTok Shop US, you must have:

  • A registered business entity in the United States
  • A valid US Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • A US business address
  • A US business bank account
  • A completed W-9 form

Additionally, operational requirements include providing customer service during US business hours in English, maintaining a US-based returns solution, and using TikTok's designated logistics services. While these requirements may seem demanding, they ensure compliance with US market regulations and provide a better customer experience.

For EU sellers considering this route, it's crucial to understand that this involves significant investment in establishing a US presence. You'll need to factor in costs for company registration, maintaining a US business address, banking fees, and potentially hiring US-based staff. Shoplazza's Tiktok shop integration solution can help streamline your Tiktok operations.