E-Commerce Archives - J&P Accountants

In the e-commerce field, the importance of Value Added Tax (VAT) in Italy is self-evident.

For e-commerce operations within Italy, understanding and adhering to VAT regulations are crucial as they directly impact product pricing, cross-border transactions, and customer relationships.

If you plan to expand your business into Italy, it’s essential to comply with local tax regulations.

VAT in Italy

Value Added Tax (VAT) in Italy is a consumption tax applicable to goods and services sold within the country.

Its rates vary based on the classification of goods or services and generally include standard rates, reduced rates, and super reduced rates.

Cross-border e-commerce especially needs to accurately calculate and collect VAT, clearly state the tax amount on sales invoices, report regularly, and pay taxes.

Furthermore, if an e-commerce business’s total sales in Italy exceed a certain threshold, registration and taxation in Italy are also required.

VAT Registration in Italy

Your business must register for VAT if it meets the following conditions:

Non-Italian businesses must register for VAT.
Businesses with a fixed establishment in Italy: If a business has actual operating locations in Italy, such as offices, factories, or retail stores, it needs to register for Italian VAT.
Cross-border sales: For goods or services sold from outside Italy to inside Italy, if the sales exceed a certain threshold, VAT registration in Italy is required.
E-commerce businesses: According to EU VAT regulations, for goods and services sold within the EU, if an e-commerce business’s sales exceed specific thresholds, VAT registration in Italy is necessary.
Remote sales within the EU: Refers to the sale of goods or services from one EU member state to another. If sales exceed specific thresholds within the EU, VAT registration in the target country is required.

If you are unsure whether you need to register for VAT and the registration thresholds, please consult our team.

VAT Rates in Italy

Standard rate – 22%: Applies to most goods and services.
Reduced rate – 10%: Some food, water; transport industry; construction industry; hotel accommodation; restaurants; and wastewater treatment, etc.
Reduced rate – 5%: Some specified food items; social services, etc.
Reduced rate – 4%: Some specified food items; specific books; social housing; construction work, etc.
Exempt – 0%: Tax-exempt imported goods; international transportation.

What’s Next?

Once you confirm your business needs to register for VAT, you need to determine whether your business requires a fiscal representative.

Generally, non-EU businesses selling in Italy require the assistance of a fiscal representative for registration and declaration.

Once your business obtains a VAT number, strict compliance with tax regulations is necessary.

Additionally, you need to retain all sales data and file declarations within specified timeframes.

If you are running a business and planning to expand into France, there are some tax considerations to keep in mind.
On one hand, you need to address VAT issues to ensure compliance with French tax regulations.
On the other hand, France plans to officially implement electronic invoicing and undergo a comprehensive reform starting next year.

French VAT

For businesses outside of France, once you start trading locally, you will need to register for VAT.

EU businesses making remote sales to French consumers must be aware of the VAT registration threshold.

According to current regulations, the VAT registration threshold is €35,000 per year.

The standard VAT rate in France is 20%, applicable to most goods and services.

Do You Need a Local Fiscal Representative?

Our clients often find this question puzzling; the answer depends on where your company is registered.

If your business is based in an EU member state, you do not need a local fiscal representative or agent in France.

However, if you are a non-EU business, you will require a fiscal representative who bears joint liability.

Once your business confirms VAT registration, the fiscal representative will need to assist with the registration and filings.

Compliance with French VAT

When a business obtains a VAT number, it must take on and adhere to the corresponding responsibilities.

Stay updated on the progress of France’s electronic invoicing reform to comply with VAT electronic invoicing standards.
Maintain financial records for at least 10 years, with as much detail as possible.
Use approved foreign currency exchange rates.
Submit VAT returns on time (the frequency varies depending on the circumstances).

What can we do for you?

As a tax partner for Amazon, we provide VAT services across multiple countries.

Our tax experts hail from five major language areas, so you need not worry about communication barriers.

Our free consultancy service can tailor solutions to your specific situation.

Our tax team will help you minimise penalties and avoid complications.

Contact our experts to support your global business expansion journey.

German VAT (Value-Added Tax) plays a significant role in the financial operations of businesses and consumers within Germany.

As an accounting firm, we understand that companies trading or investing in Germany must fully comprehend and comply with this tax system to ensure financial compliance.

If your business plans to trade or is already trading in Germany, there are several important aspects you’ll need to be aware of.

German VAT

Germany introduced its VAT system in 1968, and it has continued to evolve.

Currently, the EU standard VAT rate applies at 19%, with special rates (7%) and exemptions (0%) for specific products and services.

Additionally, the German VAT system offers simplified reporting processes for smaller enterprises, making compliance more manageable.

If you plan to sell goods or services in Germany, it’s crucial to assess whether VAT registration is required.

VAT Registration in Germany

For businesses outside of Germany, VAT registration is mandatory if you intend to engage in local transactions.

Remote sellers (e.g., internet sales) must register for VAT if their annual sales exceed €100,000.

Other cases that require VAT registration include:

Importing goods into Germany
Transporting goods within Germany or across EU member states
Trading goods within Germany
Storing goods in a German warehouse

The Registration Process

To register for VAT in Germany, follow these steps:

Confirm whether your business must register for VAT. Registration must be completed before any transactions occur to avoid penalties.

Appoint a local fiscal representative (for non-European businesses) to manage tax reporting on your behalf.

Submit the required documents, including company statutes, to apply for VAT registration.

Once your documents are complete, the usual waiting time for a VAT number is about one month, though delays of 4-5 months are currently common due to system issues.

Fulfil your VAT obligations by submitting VAT returns as required.

UK VAT

VAT (Value Added Tax) is a tax applied to most goods and services sold in the UK. Different countries have varying VAT rules.

The current VAT registration threshold in the UK is £90,000. Once your turnover exceeds this in any 12-month period, VAT registration is mandatory.

Businesses that don’t meet this threshold can still opt to register voluntarily, which includes regular VAT returns and payment of any due VAT.

UK VAT Rates

There are three main VAT rates in the UK:

Standard rate: 20% – applies to most goods and services.

Reduced rate: 5% – applies to certain products like children’s car seats and solar panels.

Zero rate: Some goods and services, such as healthcare, education, and financial services, are VAT-exempt.

Advantages of Registering for UK VAT

Once registered, your business will be issued a VAT number, which enhances credibility.

Simplifies cross-border transactions, especially if both businesses are VAT-registered, avoiding complex tax procedures.

Enhances efficiency and transparency in financial management.

Improves cash flow management, potentially assisting with short-term liquidity needs.

How We Can Help?

Whether you are registering for VAT voluntarily or due to mandatory requirements, our team is here to assist.

If you are an overseas company, our international team can provide multilingual support, so you don’t need to worry about language barriers.

In addition to VAT registration, we offer ongoing filing services in line with the respective country’s requirements.

Platforms and Sellers Affected

Currently, HMRC has access to sellers’ information on online platforms and collects their sales data.

This includes platforms such as Etsy, Vinted, eBay, as well as media platforms like Instagram and OnlyFans, which need to collect sales and income information from sellers and influencers to share with HMRC.

Additionally, platforms providing services such as Uber, Deliveroo, and Airbnb must also share data for any services receiving payments.

So far, online sellers have faced strict internal scrutiny by HMRC and entered into tax investigations.

Submitting Tax Returns

Since HMRC requested all sellers’ sales records from online e-commerce platforms, income from online sales will be fully exposed.

This means that all sales data becomes extremely transparent, and you need to understand everything about income tax reporting to avoid triggering a tax investigation.

For individual online sellers, if annual sales exceed £90,000, additional VAT registration is required.

If you are an online media person and receive “gifts” from fans or brands, it counts as income, with the same registration threshold applying.

Penalties

Firstly, once HMRC initiates a tax investigation into the store, it requests all online sales data and tax evidence. HMRC has the authority to request that the platform close the store until evidence is provided.

Secondly, during the tax investigation, online selling platforms have “joint responsibility” and are required to cooperate in providing all seller information.

When HMRC confirms tax evasion by the store, it will face a penalty of 100% of the tax owed.

Serious cases will also face prosecution and unlimited fines.