Virtual office for Amazon sellers: VPOB & APOB for FBA and IXD
How Amazon sellers use a virtual office to register GST in new states and list FBA / IXD centres as APOB — so you can store closer to customers and ship faster.
To store inventory in an Amazon fulfilment centre, you generally need a GST registration in the state where that centre is located. For sellers expanding beyond their home state, opening a physical office in each state is expensive and unnecessary — a virtual office (VPOB) solves it.
Why Amazon sellers need a state GSTIN
Amazon's FBA and IXD programs place your stock in regional warehouses so orders ship faster and win more of the buy-box-adjacent advantages of local delivery. But the GST law ties storage to registration: inventory in a state's warehouse means you need a GSTIN in that state, and the warehouse listed as an APOB.
The process for an Amazon seller
- Decide which states' fulfilment centres you want to use.
- Take a VPOB in each of those states and register for GST there.
- Once each GSTIN is issued, add the relevant Amazon FBA / IXD centre as an APOB under that state's GSTIN.
- Update your Amazon Seller Central tax settings and inbound your inventory.
FBA vs IXD: what's the difference?
Amazon places inventory in two kinds of centres. Both require a GSTIN in that state and must be listed as an APOB.
| FBA — Fulfilment Centre | IXD — Inbound Cross-Dock | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Stores your stock and ships to customers | Receives bulk inbound, then distributes to FBA centres |
| You ship to | Each FBA centre directly | A single IXD; Amazon redistributes |
| GSTIN in that state | Required | Required |
| Listed as APOB | Yes | Yes |
IXD simplifies inbound to one location, but you still need a GSTIN and APOB for the IXD's state. Plan your states with the full list of Amazon fulfilment centres in India.
How to add an Amazon FBA/IXD centre as APOB
- Get your state GSTIN via a VPOB.
- On the GST portal, file an amendment of registration adding the FBA/IXD centre address as an additional place of business.
- Upload the centre's address proof; our Company Secretary files and tracks it.
- Once the amended certificate lists the centre, update Seller Central tax settings and create your inbound shipment.
What you receive for each state
- A premium commercial address usable as your Place of Business for that state's GSTIN.
- Notarised NOC, registered Rent Agreement and a matching Utility Bill.
- Representation if a physical verification is raised by the officer.
- APOB addition of the Amazon centre once your GSTIN is live.
Popular states for Amazon sellers
We provide virtual office and GST support across all 28 states. Common starting points include Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi, Haryana, Telangana and West Bengal.
Want us to handle it for you?
Our in-house CA, CS and lawyer set up your VPOB, GST and APOB end to end. Talk to us free.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell on Amazon FBA without a GSTIN in that state?
To store inventory in a state's FBA/IXD centre you generally need a GSTIN in that state, with the centre listed as APOB. A virtual office lets you register without leasing a physical office there.
Does Amazon accept a virtual office address?
Yes, virtual office addresses are widely used for state GST registration by Amazon sellers, provided the documents are genuine and verifiable.
How fast can I start selling from a new state?
Document delivery is typically same business day; GST approval follows in a few working days, after which the FBA/IXD centre is added as APOB and you can inbound stock.