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This doesn't apply if you only sell through retailer sites (Amazon, Smashwords, B&N etc.).
But if you are selling any digital content or services (ebooks, ebook covers etc.) then you need to be aware of the new EU VAT (sales tax) rules which will apply from Jan 1st. These rules have implications for digital sellers anywhere in the world.
1. If you make a sale to someone in the EU, you are liable for VAT. Every one of the 28 countries has its own VAT rules and you will need to be compliant.
2. If you don't make any sales to EU buyers, you may still be asked to prove that this is the case.
3. The easiest way to be compliant with (1) is to register for a Mini One Stop Shop (MOSS) which will collect VAT and remit it to the relevant countries.
4. There is no threshold level for VAT on digital sales. You are liable as soon as you have sold anything.
5. This means that, if you are in the EU and you register for a MOSS, you will almost certainly have to register your whole business for VAT. Which means you will be liable for VAT on everything you sell and will be subject to a whole lot of extra red tape and accounting.
In short, the advice seems to be that if you sell ebooks directly from your own site, stop doing so from Jan 1st. Or at least, make sure you don't sell any to people in the EU and make sure you have records to prove it.
Ironically, the laws are supposed to be cracking down on Amazon and similar companies who evade tax by basing themselves in Luxembourg and other countries with low sales tax. The effect is likely to be that small online retailers will be forced out of business.
I am not an expert. More information all over the place but see here for a good summary of the issues: http://onemanbandaccounting.co.uk/eu-vat-changes-2015/
Note: none of this affects the sales of physical goods. You can still sell paper books from your website without any problems.
But if you are selling any digital content or services (ebooks, ebook covers etc.) then you need to be aware of the new EU VAT (sales tax) rules which will apply from Jan 1st. These rules have implications for digital sellers anywhere in the world.
1. If you make a sale to someone in the EU, you are liable for VAT. Every one of the 28 countries has its own VAT rules and you will need to be compliant.
2. If you don't make any sales to EU buyers, you may still be asked to prove that this is the case.
3. The easiest way to be compliant with (1) is to register for a Mini One Stop Shop (MOSS) which will collect VAT and remit it to the relevant countries.
4. There is no threshold level for VAT on digital sales. You are liable as soon as you have sold anything.
5. This means that, if you are in the EU and you register for a MOSS, you will almost certainly have to register your whole business for VAT. Which means you will be liable for VAT on everything you sell and will be subject to a whole lot of extra red tape and accounting.
In short, the advice seems to be that if you sell ebooks directly from your own site, stop doing so from Jan 1st. Or at least, make sure you don't sell any to people in the EU and make sure you have records to prove it.
Ironically, the laws are supposed to be cracking down on Amazon and similar companies who evade tax by basing themselves in Luxembourg and other countries with low sales tax. The effect is likely to be that small online retailers will be forced out of business.
I am not an expert. More information all over the place but see here for a good summary of the issues: http://onemanbandaccounting.co.uk/eu-vat-changes-2015/
Note: none of this affects the sales of physical goods. You can still sell paper books from your website without any problems.