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New EU VAT rules change the game for digital businesses

November 18, 2014 By Tim

Figure fleeing giant rolling coin

This post has been getting occasional edits, especially resource links added at the end, but this is a continuously-evolving field. If you’re affected, use the links to read further.

A few days ago a chance Facebook post by a friend asked if anyone knew about the new EU rules for VAT on sales of digital products. I hadn’t heard anything about it, so I checked it out. What I found was extremely alarming.

The new rules come into force in a few weeks’ time. They change the landscape of online selling in a big way, to the detriment of independent content creators. And very few people know about them.

From the materials I found, it was difficult to get a clear picture of how it works and what it means for me. This post sets out my current understanding, with the aim of giving others a clearer introduction.

(Please do not rely on it as advice for making important decisions. I’m not responsible for any consequences of acting on it.)

The short version

From 1 January 2015 new rules on VAT (value added tax) come into force across the European Union (EU). These will affect you if:

  • you sell ‘digital services’ – explored in a minute, but yes, it does include ebooks, PDF products, training materials, software and music files
  • you sell business to consumer (B2C) to EU citizens, wherever you are based (B2B, business to business selling, is not covered by these rules).

The essence of the change is that the ‘place of supply’ for VAT purposes will now be the location of the purchaser, not the location of the seller. Sellers will have to add VAT to the purchase price at the rate for the customer’s country, and ensure that the appropriate payment goes to that country.

Due to the effects of harmonising countries’ rules and the way the admin will work, if you fall under the new rules you will have to register for VAT. All your digital sales will be liable for VAT, and once you’ve registered you’ll have to account for it on all your other activities too. [Read more…] about New EU VAT rules change the game for digital businesses

Filed Under: You and your message Tagged With: eu, online, publishing, self-publishing, vat, websites

London Book Fair 2013

April 18, 2013 By Tim

Show floor at London Book FairOn Monday and Tuesday I was at this show at Earl’s Court, London. It’s a great big event where the publishing industry converges to show off titles, make deals and discuss the future. I went last year for the first time and enjoyed it, so I was back again, though not for the whole three days. Here’s what I thought of the stands and the seminars I went to.

Stands

Last time I walked every aisle to soak it up, but this year I didn’t need to see all the stands by remaindered book sellers and big publishing companies. The bit of most interest to me was the digital publishing zone. It seemed smaller this time, with less stuff of interest to a smaller operator. I wonder whether that illustrates a cycle. In 2011, I gathered, the traditional publishing industry was freaking out about ebooks; in 2012 there was much talk of integrating them into their operations. Maybe now it’s just seen as part of business as usual?

[Read more…] about London Book Fair 2013

Filed Under: You and your message Tagged With: books, conferences, ebooks, events, print on demand, publishing, self-publishing

The Self-Publishing Conference 2013

March 25, 2013 By Tim

Yesterday I was at this event down the road in Leicester. I confess, I wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about an early start on a Sunday in the snow! I’m glad I went though. There was a good atmosphere and I would happily have chatted to people further – a good indicator for an event, and especially one running for the first time.

The conference was put together by the folks at Matador, one of the leading self-publishing service providers. (By which I mean: you take your manuscript and pay for your choice of services to turn it into a book people can buy.) They’d brought in a range of speakers on topics including choosing a self-publishing service provider, printing, marketing, design and ebooks. The programme was all about those sessions: four slots with your choice of three topics, with a panel at the end. Oh, and a rather excellent lunch!

[Read more…] about The Self-Publishing Conference 2013

Filed Under: You and your message Tagged With: ebooks, events, marketing, print on demand, publishing, self-publishing

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