The Polish and Czech e-commerce markets are growing fast: Poland generated an online revenue of over 32 billion dollars in 2025, ranking it in the European top four, while Czechia reached a revenue of over 8 billion dollars that same year, with growth of 10 to 15 percent (source: ECDB). Yet many Dutch entrepreneurs still consider them relatively unknown markets. That is why we sat down with our VAT specialist Nadja. She set up the Polish and Czech VAT filing process at Staxxer and currently processes around 250 returns per month. This means she speaks with multiple entrepreneurs operating in these countries every day. We asked her what stands out to her, and what you need to know before stepping in.
How the Polish tax authority works
When we ask Nadja what stands out to her most, she points to the Polish VAT return. It is set up very differently from, for example, Germany. In the five years she has worked at Staxxer, she primarily handled German returns first, and when she later set up the Polish and Czech branch, she quickly ran into major differences.
The biggest difference? Where Germany requires total amounts per category, Poland requires a transaction-based return. Every sale, every purchase, every stock movement: all listed separately, line by line.
“With large clients you end up with files of fifteen pages containing nothing but lines”, Nadja says. “And the Polish tax authority really does check. They can point to a specific invoice and say: send this to us.”
This makes an accurate VAT return in Poland especially important. Mistakes are noticed, and they are actively checked. This can come as a surprise to entrepreneurs who have only sold in Germany or France up until now.
Poland and Czechia are strategically interesting
What Nadja notices is that a growing group of entrepreneurs uses Poland and Czechia not primarily as a sales market, but as a smart storage location for Amazon FBA. Through the PAN construction (Pan-European Network), Amazon automatically distributes inventory to multiple European countries, including Poland and Czechia. Because labour costs in Central Europe are lower, Amazon can deliver more cheaply and quickly from these countries to customers across Europe. This translates directly into lower shipping costs for the entrepreneur.
The great thing is that you can actively benefit from this as an entrepreneur without actively selling on the Polish or Czech market. You store inventory, Amazon handles the rest, and you benefit from better margins and shorter delivery times.
Are these countries also interesting as a sales market?
When Nadja looks at the type of businesses actively selling on the Polish and Czech market, she notices that they are typically experienced entrepreneurs who have already found their way in the Netherlands and Germany. They know the sales process, understand how Amazon works, and already have a well-running business. For those just starting out, these markets are probably not the first priority.
She also notices that Czechia can seem like a quiet market at first glance. Nadja regularly has clients for whom she has to process nil returns for Czechia itself. But that does not mean nothing is happening. Most entrepreneurs who hold inventory in Czechia also sell from that country to consumers in other EU countries. Those sales go through OSS and therefore do not appear in the Czech return. Czechia is therefore a lot more active than it appears on paper.
Logical opportunities: Allegro and TikTok Shop
When we ask whether there are other opportunities for entrepreneurs, Nadja immediately points to Allegro. The platform is to Poland what Bol.com is to the Netherlands: the place where consumers start when they are looking for something. Allegro has more than 18 million active users and is the largest e-commerce platform in Poland. But Allegro is not limited to Poland alone. The platform has its own marketplaces in Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary, allowing you to reach customers in neighbouring countries from a single account. Nadja sees the number of clients selling on Allegro growing, and the platform offers a concrete opportunity for entrepreneurs already active in the region.
“If you already have a VAT number in Poland, you can get started straight away”, she says. “It is really a logical next step for entrepreneurs who are already active via Amazon.”
Entrepreneurs who already have a VAT number for FBA inventory essentially already have the key to start on Allegro. That makes the platform even more interesting: the compliance threshold is already there, the only thing left is to take the step towards actively selling.
In addition, TikTok Shop was recently launched in Poland and Germany. For entrepreneurs already active on the platform, or those looking to capitalise on social commerce, this is a development worth keeping an eye on.
Important legislative change in Poland
In 2025, a new obligation came into force in Poland: all invoices must be submitted through a national system and receive a unique number. Nadja notes that this currently has no impact on her clients, as they do not have their business based in Poland. But it is a signal that the Polish tax authority is tightening the rules further. For entrepreneurs considering becoming more active in the Polish market, it is worth keeping track of these developments.
Conclusion: inventory, Allegro or target market?
Growing markets can seem attractive quickly, but selling in a foreign country is not always as straightforward as it looks. So when are Poland and Czechia actually interesting?
Storing inventory via Amazon FBA is already a logical reason for many entrepreneurs to apply for a VAT number in Poland or Czechia. The lower shipping costs from Central Europe make it financially attractive, without having to actively sell on the local market.
If you already have that VAT number, then Allegro is the most obvious next step. The threshold is low, the platform is growing fast, and Polish consumers know it as their primary destination for online shopping.
If you are an experienced entrepreneur already successfully selling in multiple countries, then Poland and Czechia can be worth considering as full sales markets. Just make sure you are well informed about the specific rules, as the Polish tax authority checks thoroughly and the legislation changes.
Do you have questions about VAT in Poland or Czechia? Nadja and her colleagues are happy to help.
