How can e-commerce businesses adapt when international VAT compliance rules change? It depends, in part, on how much assistance you get from the local tax and customs offices.
Consider the case of Finland. Following a recent change to EU regulations, low-value imports are no longer exempt from VAT. That was a big deal for many e-commerce retailers, as previously you could ship items valued under €22 to EU countries and not pay any import VAT.
In response, Finnish authorities made a concerted effort to produce detailed, updated information which was made available to the public. They also reconfigured the import declaration process with public feedback in mind. And it’s a good thing that they took the trouble, as calls to the Finnish Customs Information Service tripled in the months after the VAT rules were changed.
Source: vatglobal.com
