Next week we plan to deploy a tax solution for New Zealand Goods and Services
Tax (GST). This change will be affecting sellers and buyers in New Zealand as
well as all sellers who are selling to this country.
Here is a summary of changes to come:
1. For orders that are imported into New Zealand, BrickLink will collect and
remit GST on items in each order that are below or equal to NZD 1,000.
2. Sellers must have at least one on-site payment method available in their store
to process all orders where tax is collected by BrickLink.
3. Starting with the upcoming January 5th billing cycle, New Zealand sellers
will have GST applied to their seller fees.
4. Registered business sellers in New Zealand will now have the option to add
their registration information in their store settings. For these sellers, GST
will not be added to their monthly fees.
any word on either bricklink or seller side implementation for tax for Canada
so we can instant checkout like most other countries?
Yes, but the other ones are civilized countries!
We're talking about the one with poutine, maple syrup, furry trouts, and
pizza, aren't we?
cant say I've ever heard of "furry trouts" and after looking it up
I'm happy to know they are fictional as for the others i know your
secretly wishing you were Canadian so you could have access to all the maple
syrup you wanted
any word on either bricklink or seller side implementation for tax for Canada
so we can instant checkout like most other countries?
Yes, but the other ones are civilized countries!
We're talking about the one with poutine, maple syrup, furry trouts, and
pizza, aren't we?
cant say I've ever heard of "furry trouts"
Wow, people don't know Sault Ste Marie in Ontario???
and after looking it up
I'm happy to know they are fictional as for the others i know your
secretly wishing you were Canadian so you could have access to all the maple
syrup you wanted
any word on either bricklink or seller side implementation for tax for Canada
so we can instant checkout like most other countries?
IIRC there was a post by Russell more than a year ago saying that the BL legal
department concluded that BL wasn't an online marketplace according to Canadian
laws and thus, didn't required them to collect taxes. Did I dream that ?
any word on either bricklink or seller side implementation for tax for Canada
so we can instant checkout like most other countries?
IIRC there was a post by Russell more than a year ago saying that the BL legal
department concluded that BL wasn't an online marketplace according to Canadian
laws and thus, didn't required them to collect taxes. Did I dream that ?
(It's entirely possible Russell eventually posted this) but I also had posted
a message I received from Russell/BL legal about it with that note. They mentioned
that the previous communication in the ~Oct/Nov 2022 newsletter where it said
the implementation was coming was no longer happening. But of course, it doesn't
mean they won't voluntarily do it either (they can always choose to do so).
On the flipside; it doesn't explain why they still haven't turned on
the old school tax tables for Canada though. That's literally all sellers
are asking for lol We couldn't care less if the marketplace tax is on or
off (and for most; it's best if it doesn't happen of course).
There are also a lot of incoming changes and clarity surrounding the platform
sales coming in I think in Jan 2024 via the CRA. From the wording, I don't
think this part will apply to us as BL is based in the US and we sell physical
goods (not AirBnB and other services like that), but platforms will need to start
reporting sales data to the CRA for their registered sellers. That legislation
I think added a bunch of other clarity for platforms related to the tax collection
thing, so who knows...
any word on either bricklink or seller side implementation for tax for Canada
so we can instant checkout like most other countries?
IIRC there was a post by Russell more than a year ago saying that the BL legal
department concluded that BL wasn't an online marketplace according to Canadian
laws and thus, didn't required them to collect taxes. Did I dream that ?
Next week we plan to deploy a tax solution for New Zealand Goods and Services
Tax (GST). This change will be affecting sellers and buyers in New Zealand as
well as all sellers who are selling to this country.
Here is a summary of changes to come:
1. For orders that are imported into New Zealand, BrickLink will collect and
remit GST on items in each order that are below or equal to NZD 1,000.
2. Sellers must have at least one on-site payment method available in their store
to process all orders where tax is collected by BrickLink.
3. Starting with the upcoming January 5th billing cycle, New Zealand sellers
will have GST applied to their seller fees.
4. Registered business sellers in New Zealand will now have the option to add
their registration information in their store settings. For these sellers, GST
will not be added to their monthly fees.
Besides the fact it was announced at some time (but we got no further information
or date), there’s this tidbit in the help page (for NZ only at the moment; my
emphasis):
“Tax in the screenshots below applies to VAT in the EU, UK and Norway,
GST for Australia and New Zealand, or sales tax for the US.”
Besides the fact it was announced at some time (but we got no further information
or date), there’s this tidbit in the help page (for NZ only at the moment; my
emphasis):
“Tax in the screenshots below applies to VAT in the EU, UK and Norway,
GST for Australia and New Zealand, or sales tax for the US.”
2.5 years ago:
10. Will the Brexit tax solution require all stores to use onsite payment methods?
No. Onsite payment will only be required for transactions where BrickLink must
collect VAT, i.e. all sales from outside the UK equal to or less than £135. However,
the EU tax solution coming later this year (which includes Norway, Australia,
and New Zealand) will also require an onsite payment method for any transaction
where BrickLink collects tax.
Next week we plan to deploy a tax solution for New Zealand Goods and Services
Tax (GST). This change will be affecting sellers and buyers in New Zealand as
well as all sellers who are selling to this country.
Here is a summary of changes to come:
1. For orders that are imported into New Zealand, BrickLink will collect and
remit GST on items in each order that are below or equal to NZD 1,000.
2. Sellers must have at least one on-site payment method available in their store
to process all orders where tax is collected by BrickLink.
3. Starting with the upcoming January 5th billing cycle, New Zealand sellers
will have GST applied to their seller fees.
4. Registered business sellers in New Zealand will now have the option to add
their registration information in their store settings. For these sellers, GST
will not be added to their monthly fees.
Additionally, will be sending out emails to all affected members.
Thank you,
The BrickLink Team
Does this mean we will no longer get charged VAT on our purchase (UK, EU etc)
and that we don't pay tax in the selling country since we are paying tax
to our own government?
Buyers in New Zealand will see GST-exclusive prices for listings from non-New Zealand sellers and GST-inclusive prices from New Zealand sellers
This seems to be the approach taken by Bricklink in most countries, and I think
it runs afoul of The LEGO Group's efforts to reduce their environmental footprint.
The consequence of displaying sales tax inclusive pricing for domestic stores
and exclusive pricing for international stores, is that it makes international
stores appear cheaper than local stores. This results in greater LEGO-miles and
a worse customer experience for customers who could have had their orders fulfilled
by local stores, but are instead air freighting parcels across the world unnecessarily
I am aware that the differences even out during checkout, but consumers in most
countries (outside of the USA) rely on the upfront pricing to be accurate when
deciding which store to purchase from.
Buyers in New Zealand will see GST-exclusive prices for listings from non-New Zealand sellers and GST-inclusive prices from New Zealand sellers
This seems to be the approach taken by Bricklink in most countries, and I think
it runs afoul of The LEGO Group's efforts to reduce their environmental footprint.
This seems to be the approach taken by Bricklink in most countries, and I think
it runs afoul of The LEGO Group's efforts to reduce their environmental footprint.
The consequence of displaying sales tax inclusive pricing for domestic stores
and exclusive pricing for international stores, is that it makes international
stores appear cheaper than local stores.
No no, at the contrary - as when importing:
* the NZ buyer pays for the GST at the check out (so if the item price is the
same, it makes the same price with tax in the end),
* Shipping is very probably far more expensive when shipped from outside your
marvellous island, so don't worry, that'll keep your local prices better.
And as peregrinator said, it's not BL, it's your Country's Laws which
are applied here (and on eBay, and progressively anywhere).
With respect, both yourself and peregrinator misread what I wrote.
There are two separate concepts here:
1. Whether Bricklink charges GST on low value imports during checkout. We all
agree that they should as this is a legal requirement.
2. Whether Bricklink is transparent in showing the buyer the true GST-inclusive
pricing PRIOR to the buyer deciding which store to purchase from and reaching
the checkout.
For example, the price guide might show:
International Store: $0.18
Local Store: $0.20
Most buyers will be under the impression that importing the part from the international
store is cheaper (ignoring shipping).
The problem is that these prices are not presented on a comparable basis. The
local store is forced to use GST-inclusive pricing, but the international store
gets to hide the sales tax until checkout, at which point the buyer finds out
that the part from the international stores is actually more expensive than the
local store, but how many buyers are going to abandon a cart once they've
gotten that far?
I'm not suggesting that what Bricklink is doing is illegal, just that this
misleading presentation of prices increases the environmental impact of the hobby,
while also resulting in a worse customer experience (surprise extra taxes, higher
shipping costs, longer delivery times)
With respect, both yourself and peregrinator misread what I wrote.
I did not misread it.
2. Whether Bricklink is transparent in showing the buyer the true GST-inclusive
pricing PRIOR to the buyer deciding which store to purchase from and reaching
the checkout.
It's not up to BrickLink whether to show this price.
As I understand it, the United States is a bit unusual in that it allows retailers
to add additional fees and taxes (including sales taxes) at the time of payment.
In Australia, that would be illegal. Our consumer protection laws ban giving
consumers a price that doesn't already incorporate all fees and taxes into
the price.
It is likely that these laws will be extended to cover international marketplace
transactions, if they don't already, and Bricklink will be required to dynamically
change the price shown to Australian buyers to include any sales tax collected
by Bricklink on the sellers behalf.
2. Whether Bricklink is transparent in showing the buyer the true GST-inclusive
pricing PRIOR to the buyer deciding which store to purchase from and reaching
the checkout.
I'm obliged by Law to display prices incl. VAT for FR/EU buyers, and my prices
appear 20% higher for them. And BrickLink shows the same items without VAT for
Export.
That all corresponds to Laws, very sorry.
You may want to select who (would better) set your Laws, like using your vote(s)
or (pacifically) protesting - just like here In France, where we're known
to do this often
BrickLink has just to implement the Laws, they've no choice - and sorry but
don't neither (but see paragraph above).
Next week we plan to deploy a tax solution for New Zealand Goods and Services
Tax (GST). This change will be affecting sellers and buyers in New Zealand as
well as all sellers who are selling to this country.
Here is a summary of changes to come:
1. For orders that are imported into New Zealand, BrickLink will collect and
remit GST on items in each order that are below or equal to NZD 1,000.
2. Sellers must have at least one on-site payment method available in their store
to process all orders where tax is collected by BrickLink.
3. Starting with the upcoming January 5th billing cycle, New Zealand sellers
will have GST applied to their seller fees.
4. Registered business sellers in New Zealand will now have the option to add
their registration information in their store settings. For these sellers, GST
will not be added to their monthly fees.
USA, California
Canada, Ontario
France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Spain, Comunidad Valenciana
New Zealand, Canterbury
Australia, Western Australia
Germany, Nordrhein-Westfalen