A Guide to Account Handling and Tax Payment for AliExpress Stores

Guidelines for Account Handling and Tax Payment on AliExpress Stores

With the rapid development of cross-border e-commerce, an increasing number of enterprises and individuals have chosen to conduct international business through platforms like AliExpress. As part of Alibaba Group, the global platform provides vast international markets for small and medium-sized enterprises. However, for many merchants who are new to the cross-border e-commerce field, how to properly handle accounting and tax payment remains a significant challenge. This article will provide a comprehensive operational guide from the perspective of account management and tax compliance for AliExpress stores.

Firstly, in the daily operation of an AliExpress store, account management is an indispensable part. The platform automatically deducts transaction fees and regularly settles payments with sellers. Sellers need to establish a complete financial record system to track the details of each transaction. For example, they can use Excel spreadsheets or professional financial management software to record income, costs, and related expenses for every order. At the same time, it is essential to save all transaction receipts and invoices, as these not only help reconcile accounts but may also play a critical role in future tax audits.

For consumers from different countries and regions, AliExpress supports multiple payment methods such as PayPal and credit cards. This means that sellers might face issues related to foreign currency exchange. In this case, sellers should closely monitor exchange rate fluctuations, reasonably arrange the timing of fund transfers, and try to minimize losses caused by currency volatility. Additionally, sellers must understand and comply with relevant laws and regulations regarding cross-border payments to ensure the safety and legality of fund flows.

Next, let's discuss tax issues. For AliExpress stores, tax compliance is crucial. Different countries and regions have varying tax policies for cross-border e-commerce, mainly including Value Added Tax VAT, corporate income tax, and other related taxes. Taking the European market as an example, new VAT rules were implemented starting in 2025, requiring non-EU companies selling goods to EU countries to register and pay local VAT. This means that Chinese sellers wishing to continue shipping to European customers will need to complete their tax registration procedures locally.

To better adapt to these changes, sellers should prepare in advance. On one hand, they can hire professional accounting firms to assist with tax registration matters; on the other hand, they should strengthen their understanding of tax law knowledge to ensure compliance with relevant regulations. Additionally, third-party service platforms offering automated solutions, such as automatic tax calculation and electronic invoice generation, can be utilized to improve efficiency and reduce error rates.

Another point worth noting is that during actual operations, some sellers may encounter special situations, such as returns, refunds, price discounts due to promotional activities, etc. These factors will affect the final actual sales volume and corresponding tax burden levels. When formulating pricing strategies, besides considering market competition, sellers should also fully consider potential tax burdens to avoid compressing profit margins due to blindly pursuing low prices.

Finally, with the advent of the digital age, more departments are promoting electronic tax declaration models. For AliExpress stores, adopting this new method not only simplifies processes, saves time and costs but also effectively improves data accuracy. It is recommended that merchants actively embrace new technologies and proactively learn and master relevant skills to remain competitive in this rapidly changing era.

In conclusion, whether it is account handling or tax payment, they are important aspects of successful AliExpress store operations. Only by establishing a scientifically reasonable management system and strictly adhering to legal requirements can sustainable development truly be achieved. Hopefully, the above content can provide some assistance to practitioners in the cross-border e-commerce industry, and we look forward to seeing more innovative tools and services emerge in the future to further promote the prosperity of the entire industry!