PayPal and the GIFT option for international users (19 EU / 6 International countries atm)

[standalone]

Tax for digital goods is one of the most stupid things.

So for you work doesn't represent an added value or software and digital services are worthless.

Digital goods being essentially different from material goods is warez's apologists main argument.

[Compyfox]

Actually... I think D N A means "VAT" for digital provided stuff (like samples, VST/VSTi and the likes).

I know of an example from an US firm that utilized ShareIt to provide samples. ShareIt asked for 19% VAT on top of the US price. BUT... instead of forwarding that money to the developer (the 19%) or ignoring that the firm resides in the middle of the USA, it simply kept it.

I'm not skilled enough in that section to comment on it (if this is right to do so or not), but this was the very reason why I moved away from firms that went through ShareIt only - on top of having one or two issues here and there.



Folks - we're down with 7 out of (as of this moment) 27 countries in the European Union. And I'd still love to see this sticked.

Please continue contributing.

[primelpott]

I know of an example from an US firm that utilized ShareIt to provide samples. ShareIt asked for 19% VAT on top of the US price. BUT... instead of forwarding that money to the developer (the 19%) or ignoring that the firm resides in the middle of the USA, it simply kept it.

Well, what's this shouting all about? We have no trouble here ... Are you local?

Just to clarify, not to justify these things. Afaik, Share-It is a company which collects money and delivers it to the vendor They have a dependance in Germany.

If you buy anything anywhere you have to pay taxes for this. This is in most of all countries that way.
In Germany you have to pay - you can choose: MwSt. (Mehrwertsteuer for local goods) or EUSt (Einfuhrumsatzsteuer also known as Zoll/customs).

As a citizen of Germany you always pay it! Even when you buy you toilet-paper. And when you buy it in the Ausland, you have to pay Import-Taxes (except the EU).
IF a company doesn't collect these taxes for the financedept. of your government, they have to pay it themself - or go to jail. It's just that simple. They don't party wtih your money. They saved you from going to the customs.

We can discuss about taxes - but i think we shouldn't.

But back to the original topic: Just offer the seller some more money to cover the additional paypal (i.g. less than your bank fee) or ask him to do the deal without. Probably they will do. They want to sell.

[alacantec]

"Gift" option available in Spain.

[Compyfox]

Are you local?

Sig doesn't tell you anything?


I know all the stuff about MwSt and EUst, but it's strange to "ask" for that, if the firm that sells the good is NOT within Germany or Europe, but USA, China, Canada, Australia, Japan, etc.

BTW... haven't seen ShareIt asking for a "Einfuhrsteuer". That is new to me.

But back to the original topic: Just offer the seller some more money to cover the additional paypal (i.g. less than your bank fee) or ask him to do the deal without. Probably they will do. They want to sell.

Like I wrote in the first post - an alternative is (if you're local based or within the EU) direct money transfer via bank.

It's the recent hoopla regarding "gift" option for international sales/buys I'm somewhat critisizing here.


Oh and, I'm all for always mentioning where the seller is in "For Sale" threads. Signatures with comments like "right here, right now" don't necessarily help.

[primelpott]

I know all the stuff about MwSt and EUst, but it's strange to "ask" for that, if the firm that sells the good is NOT within Germany or Europe, but USA, China, Canada, Australia, Japan, etc.

Okay, once again:
You buy these things and you have to pay your countries taxes.
You are importing goods to Germany. So you would have to pay customs for importing.
If you would buy a material thingy this be examined by the customs and you would have to pay customs before you'll get it. How to do this with digital items?

Share-IT "collects" the taxes and pays them for you. THIS IS A SERVICE! Not a steal! And just take a look at the Seller of the product. You bought from share-it!

I once bought something digital in Denmark an got an invoice from Ireland (Digital River Ireland Ltd. Unit 153, Shannon Free Zone W, Co. Clare, Ireland) for a german subsidary (Seller of the product: share-it! - a service of digital river · Digital River GmbH, Vogelsanger Str. 78, 50823 Cologne, Germany). With this i buy in Germany, and have to pay german VAT, not customs.

If you would buy directly form the vendor, you could "save" taxes, but this is illegal! Just evasion of taxes. In almost every country. Or you pay the taxes by yourself

[Compyfox]

I can't comment much more on pure international "first hand" purchases - I mainly buy from firms residing in the EU (with some rare exceptions, and there wasn't additional TAX except for the standard PayPal fees involved). I mean, most firms ARE in the EU (a lot of them being in Germany alone!). So yeah.

In this case, the TAX debate DOES make sense - and I think we can pretty much fold the "TAX" thing for this particular purpose now (or somebody ports it to an own thread).

We should again re-focus on second hand (s/h) stuff here on KVR, GearSluts or whereever the hell, which this thread is about.

[standalone]

Actually... I think D N A means "VAT" for digital provided stuff (like samples, VST/VSTi and the likes)..

That's why I mentioned the added value of work.

[Compyfox]

Let's bring this one to the main page of the Market Place again.

Still 19 EU countries missing.
And still an interesting debate regarding "gift option or not".

Please contribute.

[D N A]

Poland gift option - YES

[Amon1973]

Gift option still available in Italy.

I never ask for the gift option, but was never charged fees when the buyer sent small amounts of money and when the payment came from inside the EU.

There are some interesting points in here. The ShareIt thing, for example.

[Amon1973]

Oh, and as for bank transfers.

In Italy there are no charges when using IBAN (possibly an European law?) for domestic and European transfers.
But here comes the trouble(s). My bank's online system only accept 27 characters long IBANs - meaning that if I have to send a payment to Germany (where it is 22, IIRC) I have to use the international option with the old bank data system (7€ handling fee). Or make an appointment with the bank's guys as they don't have the usual desks / opening times the regular banks have (it's mainly online).

I guess it is not like this for every bank over here, but that's my case. Should move my account.

[Compyfox]

Can't you fill in the gaps with zeroes (in front of the IBAN). Works at least in Germany for the number of the institute and the account number. (you can fill them, they will be discarted)


Never went the IBAN/BIC route so far, so I can't tell.


Will update the OP with Italy and Poland shortly.

[Amon1973]

No, I can't fill in just zeroes. I tried several times, putting zeroes in front of the IBAN, in front of the account number inside the IBAN (works in Italy with older / shorter numbers). I gave up and use my wife's german bank account when sending payments to Germany, which is where I buy the most.

[Compyfox]

First of all, thanks to the moderators for sticking that thread.

We're down to 10 EU countries (out of 27), missing are 17.
If there are people outside the EU that also don't have the gift option, please raise your voice in here and I try to update the OP as soon as possible.



Again:
If it is possible to you, maybe go different routes than PayPal if you don't want to involve fees. If there's no other way around - don't cheat the system by asking for a "gift" money transfer.


Thanks for contributing.