Download the Shopify tax report for your returns

In brief

• Report: "Reports", filter "Categories", "Finances", then the "Taxes" report; Shopify also links it in the "Total sales breakdown" report.
• Columns: Sales channel, Tax country, Tax region, Tax name, Filed by channel, Tax rate, Sales taxes.
• Country: Shopify determines it by the destination of the order: shipping address, otherwise billing address, otherwise POS address.
• Export: For periods longer than one month Shopify points to the CSV export of the Taxes report.
• Shopify Payments: a transaction CSV with a VAT column, and a monthly invoice for the VAT on transaction fees.

Which Shopify reports show taxes?

The reports "United States sales tax" and "Canada sales tax" are for stores that use Shopify Tax in the US (currency USD) or in Canada (currency CAD).

How do I export the Taxes report?

1. Open the "Reports" page in your Shopify admin.
2. Filter by "Categories", "Finances".
3. Open the "Taxes" report, for example through the link in the "Total sales breakdown" report.
4. Set the period: your VAT return period (calendar quarter or calendar month, section 18(2) UStG) for the VAT return, the calendar quarter for the OSS return (section 16(1d) UStG).
5. Export the report as CSV. Shopify names this route for periods longer than one month.

Shopify's finance reports page does not describe the export button; you find it in the open report.

What is in the Taxes report?

Shopify takes the country from the destination of the sales: if the shipping address cannot be determined it uses the billing address, then the POS address.

From the report to the VAT return and the OSS return

Split the export by the "Tax country" column. Rows for Germany are the basis for your VAT return. Rows for other EU countries concern distance sales to private customers; they are the countries of your OSS return if you take part in the OSS and the place of supply is in the country of destination. It stays in Germany as long as you are established only in Germany, your distance sales and certain services to private customers in other EU countries did not exceed 10,000 euros in the previous year and do not exceed it in the current year, and you have not waived this threshold (section 3c(4) UStG); then these sales belong in the VAT return: EU VAT OSS threshold of 10,000 euros: examples. Rows with "Yes" in "Filed by channel" show taxes a marketplace channel filed for you; check them separately. The report shows tax amounts and rates; you get the taxable amounts from your orders.

The rules for your own shop are in Shopify and VAT in Germany, the return itself in OSS return for online sellers.

Transaction CSV and invoice with Shopify Payments

You get the transaction CSV like this:

1. In your Shopify admin go to "Settings", then "Payments".
2. In the "Shopify Payments" section click "View payouts".
3. Click "View Order Transactions".
4. Click "Export". A CSV file downloads in your browser.

According to Shopify the last column of the CSV shows the VAT collected on each transaction. Shopify names the CSV and the invoice as the two ways to get the VAT on Shopify Payments fees; more in the next section. You find the monthly invoice under "View payouts", "Documents"; in the "Tax documents" dialog you click "Download PDF". Shopify generates the invoice for a month on the 5th of the following month. It uses the UTC time zone, which might differ from your store's time zone; the transaction CSV uses your store's time zone.

Payment provider fees

The Taxes report shows the taxes on your sales. A payment provider's fees are in that provider's own documents. For Shopify Payments, Shopify writes: the fees do not include Value-Added Tax for stores in Europe with the exception of Ireland, and you might need to account for VAT at the local applicable tax rate on your VAT return. On PayPal fees: PayPal fees and VAT in Germany.

Common mistakes

• Not setting the period to the return period. The report calculates for the selected period: month or quarter for the VAT return, quarter for the OSS return.
• Assuming the country from the billing address. Shopify uses the shipping address first.
• Counting rows with "Yes" in "Filed by channel" without checking. According to Shopify the marketplace channel is responsible for filing those taxes; rows with "No" were not filed for you by any channel.
• Not saving the Shopify Payments invoice. It is created monthly and belongs to your records: How long to keep receipts.

How VAT GPT helps

VAT GPT is the tax software for Amazon and eBay sellers in Germany: your OSS return first, then every other tax you owe, calculated and filed in one place.

1. You upload your Amazon and eBay CSV reports and your invoices.
2. The AI reads amounts, countries and tax rates, and VAT GPT breaks the VAT down for Germany and the EU (OSS). You check and confirm.
3. With VAT GPT Pro you send the VAT return through ELSTER and the OSS return to the BZSt. The EÜR, trade tax and income tax returns are made in the same account.

There is Free, Go (30 days free with all Pro features) and Pro (€49 per month or €444 per year, including VAT). Try for free now

Not tax advice: the content does not replace individual advice.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I find the Shopify tax report? In the Shopify admin on the "Reports" page, category "Finances", the "Taxes" report.

Can I export the report as CSV? Shopify names the CSV export of the Taxes report for periods longer than one month.

Where is the VAT per transaction? In the Shopify Payments transaction CSV, in the last column.

When is the Shopify Payments invoice available? For a month, on the 5th of the following month.

Read next

• Shopify and VAT in Germany
• OSS return for online sellers
• PayPal fees and VAT in Germany
• Download the eBay transaction report
• How long to keep receipts

Sources

• Shopify Help: Finance reports
• Shopify Help: Payouts and settlement times with Shopify Payments in Germany
• Section 3c UStG
• Section 18 UStG
• Section 16 UStG