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Patreon to Europe on #VATMOSS: “Not our problem, mate.”

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Re: Patreon to Europe on #VATMOSS: “Not our problem, mate.”

#23

If you're an author, you can use Leanpub ( https://leanpub.com/ ). We added #VATMOSS support, so you don't have to. We did this since we looked at the situation and decided it was the correct thing to do for our authors, even though we're based in Canada with our servers in the USA, and with no physical presence in the EU whatsoever. We also added "bring your own book" support, so you can just upload your own PDF, EP…

Would you be willing to share approximately what it costs you? I saw your post here and deleted-before-posting speculation that Patreon simply can't make the numbers sensibly work out (bearing in mind they have to grow by offering an attractive package to both those who donate and create; if, for instance, 50% of the "donations" go into tax compliance there simply won't be any donations anyhow), but if we can get real numbers that would be even better.

Of course, that's assuming you have a similar problem to Patreon, where the author claims that every patron would be involved in the VATMOSS transaction, which I can't speak to at all. If it's just a line-item per book for you but a line item per EU patron for Patreon that's not comparable.

Re: Patreon to Europe on #VATMOSS: “Not our problem, mate.”

#26
post #23

If you're an author, you can use Leanpub ( https://leanpub.com/ ). We added #VATMOSS support, so you don't have to. We did this since we looked at the situation and decided it was the correct thing to do for our authors, even though we're based in Canada with our servers in the USA, and with no physical presence in the EU whatsoever. We also added "bring your own book" support, so you can just upload your own PDF, EP…

Would you be willing to share approximately what it costs you? I saw your post here and deleted-before-posting speculation that Patreon simply can't make the numbers sensibly work out (bearing in mind they have to grow by offering an attractive package to both those who donate and create; if, for instance, 50% of the "donations" go into tax compliance there simply won't be any donations anyhow), but if we can get rea…

We integrated Taxamo (http://www.taxamo.com/) into Leanpub, and their posted fees (http://www.taxamo.com/pricing/) start at 20 Euro cents for every EU transaction. Non-EU transactions are free.

In terms of detecting whether the transaction is EU or not, there's a complicated workflow with 3 pieces of evidence etc, but (a) that's what Taxamo helps with and (b) if a bootstrapped Canadian startup can deal with this, presumably so could anyone else.

Re: Patreon to Europe on #VATMOSS: “Not our problem, mate.”

#27
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not really - just keep a table of the vat rates and pay the relevant one.

"Simply keep abreast of all tax laws and jurisdictions on planet Earth and pay accordingly. It couldn't be simpler..."

It truly is complicated.

If only there were some kind of service, to whom one would pay a service fee perhaps, and who in return could promote your work, then collect and aggregate small, recurring payments from international payers while properly computing the tax liability.

Some kind of intermediary which enabled people to patronize artists, such that millions of artists around the world can simply pick up a check and focus on their work.

Re: Patreon to Europe on #VATMOSS: “Not our problem, mate.”

#28
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They did their homework. If you want to use Patreon and you have to deal with VAT, get to work and don't expect Patreon to do it for you. Especially all of the unnecessary paperwork for a backwards psuedo-nation.

You mean all the unnecessary paperwork for every EU member state affected by the VAT changes? And it's of course entirely reasonable to expect your users to know that they have to do the paperwork for contributions in the 1-10 dollar range themselves without ever explicitly telling them. I'm not even sure that level of information is available to the users. If I were being funded on Patreon, would I have to get in to…

Why is it reasonable to expect Patreon to manage compliance and liability for such a law? If the EU wants to destroy commerce, that should be within the province of its citizens to address... oh wait. There's the problem.

Re: Patreon to Europe on #VATMOSS: “Not our problem, mate.”

#29
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They did their homework. If you want to use Patreon and you have to deal with VAT, get to work and don't expect Patreon to do it for you. Especially all of the unnecessary paperwork for a backwards psuedo-nation.

You mean all the unnecessary paperwork for every EU member state affected by the VAT changes? And it's of course entirely reasonable to expect your users to know that they have to do the paperwork for contributions in the 1-10 dollar range themselves without ever explicitly telling them. I'm not even sure that level of information is available to the users. If I were being funded on Patreon, would I have to get in to…

With respect, are you assuming that criminal behavior is also necessarily immoral behavior?

I am glad to see services like Uber and AirBnB available.

How do you see it?

Re: Patreon to Europe on #VATMOSS: “Not our problem, mate.”

#30
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They did their homework. If you want to use Patreon and you have to deal with VAT, get to work and don't expect Patreon to do it for you. Especially all of the unnecessary paperwork for a backwards psuedo-nation.

You mean all the unnecessary paperwork for every EU member state affected by the VAT changes? And it's of course entirely reasonable to expect your users to know that they have to do the paperwork for contributions in the 1-10 dollar range themselves without ever explicitly telling them. I'm not even sure that level of information is available to the users. If I were being funded on Patreon, would I have to get in to…

Not handling someone's legal obligations for them is borderline criminal?

Here in the US, that's very common. For instance, contractors are often paid in full and expected to handle their own taxes. Generally they do. This isn't considered borderline criminal.

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