How VAT Works on Physical Items
VAT stands for value-added tax. It's a tax based on the consumption of goods and services that is commonly found in the EU and select other regions of the world.
VAT is also known as JCT in Japan; GST in New Zealand and Australia; and QST in Quebec (Canada).
VAT may be charged to buyers on their purchases (“VAT on Items Sold on Etsy”) as well as to eligible sellers on their paid seller fees ("VAT on seller fees”).
Learn how VAT works on digital items.
This article contains general information. You should always contact your local tax authority or tax advisor for more information.
Jump to a section:
Am I required to charge VAT on my physical items?
Selling to Australian buyers from overseas
Selling to German buyers from outside of the EU
Selling to UK buyers from overseas
UK Sellers: Making Tax Digital rules
Am I required to charge VAT on my digital items?
What should a seller invoice to a buyer look like?
Is VAT collected on seller fees?
Am I required to have a VAT ID?
How will Etsy use my VAT ID?
Will I receive an invoice from Etsy for VAT on seller fees?
VAT for shops based in Australia, Belarus, the EU (excluding Ireland), Iceland, India, New Zealand, Norway, Québec (Canada), Serbia, South Korea, Turkey, Taiwan, and United Arab Emirates
VAT for shops based in Ireland, Japan, South Africa, Russia, and Switzerland
Am I required to charge VAT on my physical items?
For information on VAT requirements in your location, please consult your local tax authority or a licensed professional.
If you are a VAT registered seller, you may be required to charge VAT on the items that you sell on the Etsy platform.
For sellers in the EU
For EU countries, the applicable VAT rate depends on two things:
the nature of what is for sale and
the country in which the supply of goods and services is taxable with VAT
When supplying goods and services in the EU, the applicable VAT rates can be checked on the European Commission's website.
Etsy displays copy next to an item’s price to buyers located outside the US and Canada that indicates that the price includes VAT (if applicable). If you are required to charge VAT on the items you sell, it is your responsibility to include applicable VAT in your listing prices on Etsy.
Learn more about how information about applicable tax is displayed to buyers on Etsy.
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Selling to Australian buyers from overseas
As of July 1, 2018, some orders shipped to Etsy customers in Australia are subject to Goods & Sales Tax (GST). Etsy will collect a 10% GST on orders if each of the following applies:
Seller is located outside Australia.
The package is being shipped to a buyer in Australia.
The total value of the package is less than or equal to $1,000 AUD.
Etsy will automatically include the tax in the buyer’s total. The buyer will pay the tax at checkout, and Etsy will be responsible for remitting it to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
For orders placed through PayPal, Etsy will send the GST collected to the seller as a part of the payment. Etsy will add the tax to the seller’s Etsy statement so that we can remit the tax to Australian authorities.
GST does not apply if the total value of the package is more than $1,000 AUD or if the transaction is between buyers and sellers both located in Australia. Sellers might need to add additional information to the customs forms on these packages. Learn more.
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Selling to German buyers from outside of the EU
As of April 15, 2019, some non-EU Etsy sellers may need to provide their German USt 1 TI VAT certificate to Etsy. If you store your goods in Germany and are based outside the EU, then you are required to be VAT registered in Germany. If you are an Etsy seller who meets this criteria, you must send your VAT certificate to [email protected].
Register for VAT in Germany
If you sell goods to a German buyer and you don’t store your goods in Germany, your goods may be subject to VAT on import to Germany, and you shouldn’t need to be VAT registered in Germany.
Etsy can’t provide tax advice. We recommend that you speak to a tax advisor with experience in German VAT for more information.
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Selling to UK buyers from overseas
If you’re a seller located outside of the United Kingdom (UK) but you sell to UK buyers, you might be considered an “overseas seller”. Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) defines an “overseas seller” as a seller who:
sells goods already in the UK at the point of sale to UK consumers
is based outside the EU and sells goods to a UK consumer, and then imports them into the UK
sells goods located in another EU member state to UK consumers
To learn more on this please click here.
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UK Sellers: Making Tax Digital rules
The HMRC requires most UK VAT registered businesses with a taxable turnover above £85,000 must follow the rules for Making Tax Digital for VAT. These rules include:
Keeping digital VAT records
Signing up for Making Tax Digital for VAT
Using software compatible for Making Tax Digital to submit VAT returns
Learn more about Making Tax Digital.
Etsy can’t provide tax advice. We recommend that you speak to a tax advisor with experience in UK VAT or reach out to HMRC directly for more information.
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Am I required to charge VAT on my digital items?
If you sell digital items to buyers in certain countries Etsy is required to charge VAT no matter where your shop is located. If you sell an item to a buyer in a country where Etsy isn’t required to charge VAT on digital items, you may be responsible to collect it. We recommend that you speak with a professional about the tax laws in your location.
Learn more about how VAT works for digital items.
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What should a seller invoice to a buyer look like?
Some businesses in the EU may need to provide an invoice when supplying goods or services. For further details on the invoice and these requirements, please find more information on the European Commission's website.
Additionally, we recommend that you check whether your invoices comply with the local invoice requirements.
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