Registering for VAT in Germany
Discussion
check with an accountant first....does not sound right to me
http://www.brighton-accountants.com/blog/vat-uk-ge...
http://www.brighton-accountants.com/blog/vat-uk-ge...
For the immediate time being, your UK VAT certification is valid in Germany. That will of course change after Brexit.
You are only obliged to pay VAT where you are based.
The only exception to both of the above is (IIRC) if you are supplying digital services, which I would think unlikely if the request is via eBay.
You are only obliged to pay VAT where you are based.
The only exception to both of the above is (IIRC) if you are supplying digital services, which I would think unlikely if the request is via eBay.
StevieBee said:
For the immediate time being, your UK VAT certification is valid in Germany. That will of course change after Brexit.
You are only obliged to pay VAT where you are based.
The only exception to both of the above is (IIRC) if you are supplying digital services, which I would think unlikely if the request is via eBay.
This is very bad advice, every single sentence is wrong apart from the bit about BrexitYou are only obliged to pay VAT where you are based.
The only exception to both of the above is (IIRC) if you are supplying digital services, which I would think unlikely if the request is via eBay.
UK VAT numbers aren't valid in Germany, place of supply rules aren't based on where the seller is based and there are lots of exemptions to the actual rules other than digital services.
If your turnover is over the threshold for registration in any EU country, you have to register there.
paulrockliffe said:
StevieBee said:
For the immediate time being, your UK VAT certification is valid in Germany. That will of course change after Brexit.
You are only obliged to pay VAT where you are based.
The only exception to both of the above is (IIRC) if you are supplying digital services, which I would think unlikely if the request is via eBay.
This is very bad advice, every single sentence is wrong apart from the bit about BrexitYou are only obliged to pay VAT where you are based.
The only exception to both of the above is (IIRC) if you are supplying digital services, which I would think unlikely if the request is via eBay.
UK VAT numbers aren't valid in Germany, place of supply rules aren't based on where the seller is based and there are lots of exemptions to the actual rules other than digital services.
If your turnover is over the threshold for registration in any EU country, you have to register there.
The rules are different if it concerns a service carried out in Germany. In this case, VAT at the appropriate (German) rate should be charged and the OP can reclaim this via his VAT return.
sunbeam alpine said:
The rules are different if it concerns a service carried out in Germany. In this case, VAT at the appropriate (German) rate should be charged and the OP can reclaim this via his VAT return.
At the moment only the OP knows if they maintain a deliberate and active presence on eBay.de - rather than just accepting international orders via eBay.co.ukI suspect this is related to the change in German VAT rules from the start of this year, https://verkaeuferportal.ebay.de/vat
sunbeam alpine said:
paulrockliffe said:
StevieBee said:
For the immediate time being, your UK VAT certification is valid in Germany. That will of course change after Brexit.
You are only obliged to pay VAT where you are based.
The only exception to both of the above is (IIRC) if you are supplying digital services, which I would think unlikely if the request is via eBay.
This is very bad advice, every single sentence is wrong apart from the bit about BrexitYou are only obliged to pay VAT where you are based.
The only exception to both of the above is (IIRC) if you are supplying digital services, which I would think unlikely if the request is via eBay.
UK VAT numbers aren't valid in Germany, place of supply rules aren't based on where the seller is based and there are lots of exemptions to the actual rules other than digital services.
If your turnover is over the threshold for registration in any EU country, you have to register there.
The rules are different if it concerns a service carried out in Germany. In this case, VAT at the appropriate (German) rate should be charged and the OP can reclaim this via his VAT return.
It's not valid for the a sale in Germany where the place of supply is Germany, or where your sales in Germany are over the threshold that mandates a separate registration in Germany.
Given eBay are asking for a German VAT number for a UK registered business it's a reasonable assumption that it's related to the need to be registered in Germany rather than the need to prove VAT shouldn't be charged.
Just to give more clarity here, yes we do sell directly on eBay.de, i think we probably sell over 100k euros a year as well but i'm waiting for my bookkeeper to come back into work tomorrow.
I spoke to one company today who said they will register us for £299 but then we have to file a return every single month and they charge £170 per return!!!
I spoke to one company today who said they will register us for £299 but then we have to file a return every single month and they charge £170 per return!!!
paulrockliffe said:
sunbeam alpine said:
paulrockliffe said:
StevieBee said:
For the immediate time being, your UK VAT certification is valid in Germany. That will of course change after Brexit.
You are only obliged to pay VAT where you are based.
The only exception to both of the above is (IIRC) if you are supplying digital services, which I would think unlikely if the request is via eBay.
This is very bad advice, every single sentence is wrong apart from the bit about BrexitYou are only obliged to pay VAT where you are based.
The only exception to both of the above is (IIRC) if you are supplying digital services, which I would think unlikely if the request is via eBay.
UK VAT numbers aren't valid in Germany, place of supply rules aren't based on where the seller is based and there are lots of exemptions to the actual rules other than digital services.
If your turnover is over the threshold for registration in any EU country, you have to register there.
The rules are different if it concerns a service carried out in Germany. In this case, VAT at the appropriate (German) rate should be charged and the OP can reclaim this via his VAT return.
It's not valid for the a sale in Germany where the place of supply is Germany, or where your sales in Germany are over the threshold that mandates a separate registration in Germany.
Given eBay are asking for a German VAT number for a UK registered business it's a reasonable assumption that it's related to the need to be registered in Germany rather than the need to prove VAT shouldn't be charged.
Its been a while since I dealt with this topic. However, you can trade to EU companies using your UK VAT number. But there is a threshold which if you cross then you must then become VAT registered in that country.
Im not sure what the threshold is now, but it used to be about £50k I think. So if you exporting £40k a year to Germany your under the threshold. But once over £50k you have to register in Germany, collect German VAT and submit returns.
It doesnt matter where the goods are sent from within the EU or where the sale takes place. Its where the good are delivered to.
Please chekc the current threshold as my figures above are made up for the example. The timing of this couldnt be worse, as after you put the effort in to sort this out all the rules are going to change when we leave anyway. Im really glad Im not in ecommerce anymore and dont have to deal with the impact of brexit on any business processes. It was painful enough dealing with the VAT rate changing, nevermind export and shipping rules.
What more shocking is eBay taking any responsibility for anything tax related.
Im not sure what the threshold is now, but it used to be about £50k I think. So if you exporting £40k a year to Germany your under the threshold. But once over £50k you have to register in Germany, collect German VAT and submit returns.
It doesnt matter where the goods are sent from within the EU or where the sale takes place. Its where the good are delivered to.
Please chekc the current threshold as my figures above are made up for the example. The timing of this couldnt be worse, as after you put the effort in to sort this out all the rules are going to change when we leave anyway. Im really glad Im not in ecommerce anymore and dont have to deal with the impact of brexit on any business processes. It was painful enough dealing with the VAT rate changing, nevermind export and shipping rules.
What more shocking is eBay taking any responsibility for anything tax related.
Edited by Mortgage_tom on Thursday 4th July 10:46
StevieBee said:
paulrockliffe said:
sunbeam alpine said:
paulrockliffe said:
StevieBee said:
For the immediate time being, your UK VAT certification is valid in Germany. That will of course change after Brexit.
You are only obliged to pay VAT where you are based.
The only exception to both of the above is (IIRC) if you are supplying digital services, which I would think unlikely if the request is via eBay.
This is very bad advice, every single sentence is wrong apart from the bit about BrexitYou are only obliged to pay VAT where you are based.
The only exception to both of the above is (IIRC) if you are supplying digital services, which I would think unlikely if the request is via eBay.
UK VAT numbers aren't valid in Germany, place of supply rules aren't based on where the seller is based and there are lots of exemptions to the actual rules other than digital services.
If your turnover is over the threshold for registration in any EU country, you have to register there.
The rules are different if it concerns a service carried out in Germany. In this case, VAT at the appropriate (German) rate should be charged and the OP can reclaim this via his VAT return.
It's not valid for the a sale in Germany where the place of supply is Germany, or where your sales in Germany are over the threshold that mandates a separate registration in Germany.
Given eBay are asking for a German VAT number for a UK registered business it's a reasonable assumption that it's related to the need to be registered in Germany rather than the need to prove VAT shouldn't be charged.
http://www.moorestephens.co.uk/news-views/august-2...
paulrockliffe said:
Have you read that? The key word there is 'usually'. Here's a comprehensive explanation of why your advice is wrong:
http://www.moorestephens.co.uk/news-views/august-2...
Fair dos. I stand to be corrected.http://www.moorestephens.co.uk/news-views/august-2...
Most of my business is international and mainly with EU institutions and have never had an issue using our UK VAT number.
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