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pauloaguia: I think you're correct that the problem is one of establishing the residence of the customer. My colleague also mentioned that.
I believe that Fencer is incorrect in stating that the tax is imposed on him; in principle it is imposed on the customer, and the business merely collects it. Businesses pay VAT on their own purchases. Presumably Fencer pays VAT on the fees charged to him by the company that hosts the site, for example. He also pays VAT on purchases of computer parts and supplies, etc. This input VAT paid is creditable against the obligation to pay over VAT collected from customers. Hence, the VAT is not (in principle, again) borne by businesses, but ultimately by consumers.
I suppose that customers outside the EU might be able to claim a refund of the VAT they pay, but that would hardly be worth the effort.
alanback: Nope, I am correct, according to my accountant. It's probably a different kind of VAT than you mean, but I don't know the right English word for that.
Fencer: There's no practical difference in any case, since you are (or believe you are) obligated to collect the tax. As far as I know there is only one kind of VAT in the EU, since the EU regulates it and requires a great deal of conformity throughout. I know rates and taxable items differ from country to country (within a specified range), but the basic structure is probably the same everywhere in the EU.
Fencer: it sounded like you were saying the VAT was imposed on you - as if to say - something regarding the costs of running the site required you to pay this VAT and memberships are increasing to reflect compensating your additional expense....
this would be different than a VAT imposed on the user....
even if the VAT would not appliable to users who can prove to be from another country .. then the site owner can always decide to raise the membership price because of his own VAT increases his costs to keep up the site .. so fencer could also say that he wont take any VAT into account for us users .. but that he has to increase the membership price because his own VAT is making it more costly for himself to maintain the site
(i know i could have worded that in better english ;))
Hrqls: Simple.. it's basically a cost of living increase.. one would have to expect that prices would rise.. that is the bennies of purchasing a lifetime membie to avoid paying higher in later years..
Utilities, Restraunts, Grocery Stores.. they all raise their prices ..