New Zealand 15% GST foreign e-commerce 2016
- Aug 27, 2015 | Richard Asquith
Following the announcement that Australia is to levy GST of overseas e-commerce, New Zealand has issued a discussion paper on the same issue. It is looking at introducing its 15% New Zealand GST on non-resident sellers providing goods to local consumers. At present, there is no GST due, which puts both resident online and traditional retailers at a price disadvantage.
A new GST regime could be introduced at the start of 2016
The document, GST Cross Border Services Intangibles and Goods, covers both goods and electronic services sold to locals. By bringing in e-services, electronic marketplaces, such as Apple iTunes and Google Play, may be required to charge the GST. There would be a registration threshold for such sellers, and the provisional level being discussed is NZ$ 400 per delivery.
New Zealand is keen to look at a simplified registration process for such providers of goods or services, along the lines of the EU’s MOSS regime.
Customers would be required to provide a valid IRD number (tax number) if they are in fact businesses and wish to use the reverse charge mechanism.
