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Transaction Taxes
This page is intended to provide general tax information. For tax advice related to your specific needs, please consult a tax advisor. No information on this page may be considered formal tax advice.
Australia
Low Value Import Tax
As of July 1st, 2018, Australia has implemented legislation to impose a Goods and Services Tax (GST) on imported goods which have a customs value of $1,000 AUD or less (Low Value Import Goods or LVIGs). From this date, AbeBooks will remit 10% GST on LVIG sold on AbeBooks orders shipped from outside Australia to customers in Australia.
As the seller, you are only required to ensure your packages are correctly labeled as AbeBooks will remit this tax on our customer’s behalf.
Special instruction for order shipped to Australia
If you are shipping a taxable order valued at $1000 AUD or less into Australia from outside of Australia, you should affix the following information to the outside of the package to help ensure successful import into Australia.
- AbeBooks’ Australian Taxation Office Reference Number (ARN):
- If you are on the AbeBooks North American seller agreement, use “ARN 300009041524”
- If you are on the AbeBooks European seller agreement, use “ARN 300013623425 ”
- The phrase “GST exemption code PAID”
Sellers located in Australia are required to list prices that include Australia’s Goods and Services Tax (GST). Requesting extra charges to collect the GST on domestic Australian orders is not permitted.
Resources:
| Ship To Location | Resource |
| Australia | https://www.ato.gov.au/Business/International-tax-for-business/GST-on-low-value-imported-goods/ |
Norway
VAT On E-Commerce (VOEC) on Low Value Goods
On April 1, 2020, Norway implemented legislation to impose Value Add Tax (VAT) on the sale of goods that have an item value of NOK 3,000 or less being shipped into Norway.
AbeBooks will calculate and remit any VAT due, at the appropriate rate, on all orders that meet the following criteria:
- One or more item is the order has a item value of NOK 3,000 or less
- The seller’s legal address listed on AbeBooks is located outside of Norway
- The customer’s shipping address is located in Norway
If you receive an order via AbeBooks that meets this criteria, you should affix the following information, in English, to the outside of the package:
- VOEC 2033593 (if you are on the AbeBooks North American seller agreement) or VOEC 2033607 (if you are on the AbeBooks’ European seller agreement)
- An itemized shipping list including description of contents, quantity, net weight, value (NOK), HS tariff code and country of origin
Information described above will also be available in the following locations:
- On the AbeBooks’ Shipping Manifest for qualified orders
- The Order Update screen in your AbeBooks account for qualified orders
- The “Messages from AbeBooks” notification section in the AbeBooks Seller Members Menu
Resource:
| Ship To Location | Resource |
| Norway | https://www.skatteetaten.no/en/business-and-organisation/vat-and-duties/vat/foreign/e-commerce-voec/ |
New Zealand
GST on Low Value Goods
On December 1, 2019, New Zealand implemented legislation to impose Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the sale of items that have a value of $1,000 NZD or less (Low Value Goods or LVG) sold by a seller established outside New Zealand to customers in New Zealand.
AbeBooks is required to calculate and remit 15% GST on applicable orders.
Sellers are required to ensure packages are correctly labeled. Please note AbeBooks will remit any applicable tax on behalf of our sellers.
If you receive an order via AbeBooks that meets the New Zealand GST criteria, you should affix the following information, in English, to the outside of the package:
• One of AbeBooks’ New Zealand GST registration numbers: 120751298 (if you are on the AbeBooks North American seller agreement) or 130552161 (if you are on the AbeBooks’ European GmbH seller agreement)
• Information indicating items in the order have where GST has been collected, collected at the point of sale at the rate of 15%, if applicable
• Information indicating the items in the order where GST has not been collected.
United Kingdom
VAT Legislative Changes
Effective January 1, 2021, as part of Brexit, a new set of VAT rules will apply in the UK. The current VAT exemption for sales of goods valued at £15 or less will be abolished. AbeBooks will be required to calculate and remit any VAT due, at the appropriate rate, on all orders that meet the following criteria:
- The order has a customs value of £135 or less.
- The seller’s legal address listed on AbeBooks is located outside the UK.
- The customer’s shipping address is located in the UK.
If you receive an order via AbeBooks that meets this criteria, you should affix the following information, in English, to the outside of the package:
- Information indicating which items in the order have already had VAT remitted, if applicable.
- A list of items in the shipment for which the VAT rate is 0%.
Information described above will also be available in the following locations:
- On the AbeBooks’ Shipping Manifest for qualified orders
- The Order Update screen in your AbeBooks account for qualified orders
- The “Messages from AbeBooks” notification section in the AbeBooks Seller Members Menu
Please note the above changes do not alter your VAT registration obligations. If you need help with VAT Registration and filing in the UK, we recommend consulting with a tax advisor.
Resources:
United States
Marketplace Facilitator Tax (MPF)
Marketplace Facilitator Tax is a tax collected from the buyer on an online marketplace transaction and paid to a government body. A Marketplace Facilitator is defined as a marketplace that contracts with third party sellers to promote their sale of physical property, digital goods, and services through the marketplace. As a result, AbeBooks is deemed to be a marketplace facilitator for third-party sales facilitated through AbeBooks sites.
Based on applicable state tax regulation, AbeBooks will calculate, collect, and remit sales tax on behalf of sellers for orders shipped to customers in the following states:
Resources:
For orders shipped to customers in all other states, sellers remain responsible for their tax and remittance obligations.
Marketplace Facilitator Tax FAQ
Do I need to do anything on orders you have collected tax on?
With regard to your AbeBooks business, there is no action required of you within your seller account for tax calculation, collection, and remittance on orders affected by MPF legislation. Please contact a professional tax advisor regarding any personal or corporate tax obligation you may have.
Does AbeBooks charge for the automatic calculation, collection, and remittance of sales tax?
No, AbeBooks does not charge any fees for calculating, collecting, and remitting sales tax.
Who handles a customer tax-only refund request on orders?
AbeBooks will handle the refund request for any order where AbeBooks automatically calculated, collected, and remitted sales tax on your orders.
What are my reporting options and how do I identify AbeBooks collected sales tax?
AbeBooks provides a downloadable report available directly in your Members Menu that confirms if tax was collected by AbeBooks on your orders.
Simply select the [ Statements and Reporting (Beta) ] under the ‘My Payments’ section of your Members Menu to view the ‘Tax Report’ tab.