Changes to European Union VAT rules that took effect on 1 July 2021 affect how VAT is collected and remitted on transactions involving EU buyers and sellers on StockX. StockX now operates as an undisclosed agent, meaning StockX assumes responsibility for VAT collection and remittance on applicable transactions. The impact on your account depends on whether you are a buyer or seller, your location, and whether you operate as a VAT-registered business.
How StockX handles VAT
For VAT purposes, StockX acts as an undisclosed agent facilitating transactions between buyers and sellers. Sellers sell items to StockX, and StockX sells items to buyers. StockX then collects and remits VAT. This affects how VAT is charged and how invoices are issued, but does not affect the legal relationships in the transaction as defined in the
Terms and Conditions of Use.
The key changes introduced on 1 July 2021:
- Local distance selling thresholds for sales to consumers within the EU were removed. VAT on sales to EU consumers must be paid in the consumer's home country, with limited exceptions for small businesses below certain turnover thresholds.
- VAT exemptions for imports of low-value goods into the EU were removed. All imports of commercial goods into the EU are now subject to VAT.
- Marketplaces are now responsible for VAT collection on certain sales to consumers within the EU.
Buyers located in the EU
VAT is included in the transaction fees charged at checkout. No additional taxes or VAT will be collected upon delivery.
If you operate a VAT-registered business and have a valid EU VAT identification number, enter the VAT ID in your
Account Settings. Providing a valid VAT ID may reduce or eliminate the VAT charged on your purchases.
EU buyers with a valid VAT ID and a Netherlands shipping address
If your shipping and billing address is in the Netherlands and you have provided a valid Dutch VAT ID, the Reverse Charge Mechanism applies to purchases shipped from StockX's Verification Center in the Netherlands. Because StockX LLC is a US company and is not located in the Netherlands for VAT purposes, you as the buyer are responsible for self-accounting for Dutch VAT on these domestic sales under article 12, paragraph 3 of the Dutch VAT Act (Wet op de Omzetbelasting 1968). StockX will issue an invoice without VAT referencing the Reverse Charge Mechanism and your VAT ID. StockX will not pay or remit this VAT on your behalf.
EU buyers with a valid VAT ID and a non-Netherlands EU shipping address
If your shipping address is in an EU country other than the Netherlands, the sale from StockX to you is an intra-EU sale of goods subject to zero-rating in either the Netherlands or Germany, depending on the Verification Center from which your item was shipped. Report an intra-EU acquisition of goods in the EU country of your shipping address. StockX will include the sale in its EC Sales List based on the VAT ID you provided and will issue an invoice without VAT referencing an intra-EU sale of goods subject to zero-rating and your VAT ID.
Buyers located outside the EU
No VAT will be applied by StockX. If the item ships from StockX's Verification Centers in the Netherlands or Germany, the sale is treated as an export sale of goods subject to zero-rating. The tax and customs treatment upon arrival in the destination country follows the
Terms and Conditions of Use.
Sellers located in the EU
For EU VAT purposes, you sell your items to StockX. If you operate a VAT-registered business and have a valid EU VAT identification number, enter the VAT ID in your
Account Settings. Providing a valid VAT ID may affect how VAT is applied to your transactions and how your invoices are issued.
EU sellers with a valid VAT ID shipping from the Netherlands
If you are a VAT-taxable person shipping from the Netherlands to StockX's Verification Center in the Netherlands, you are making a domestic supply of goods to StockX within the Netherlands and must apply 21% VAT to your sale. StockX will create a Self-Billing invoice in your name and on your behalf that includes the VAT amount on your domestic supply. You are responsible for paying and remitting this VAT to the Dutch Tax authorities through your own VAT return. StockX will not pay or remit this VAT on your behalf. StockX will only add output VAT to your payout and invoices if you have provided a Netherlands shipping address and a valid Dutch VAT ID.
EU sellers with a valid VAT ID shipping from a non-Netherlands EU country
If you ship from an EU country other than the Netherlands, your sale will be VAT-exempt (with the right to claim input VAT credits) or zero-rated, depending on your country. StockX will self-account for VAT on the transaction in either the Netherlands or Germany, depending on which Verification Center receives the goods. StockX will create a Self-Billing invoice in your name and on your behalf showing a VAT-exempt or zero-rated sale and StockX's VAT ID. Report this transaction in your local VAT return and EC Sales List by reference to StockX's VAT ID, which appears on the Self-Billing invoice.
Sellers located outside the EU
No VAT will be applied to your sale. If your item needs to be imported into the EU, StockX will self-account for VAT on the import and will be responsible for customs clearance.
Invoices for EU sellers
How invoices are issued depends on your VAT registration status and location:
- VAT-registered seller located in the EU: You are required to issue an invoice to StockX for items sold on the StockX marketplace. StockX will create a Self-Billing invoice in your name and on your behalf under the Self-Billing agreement outlined in the Terms and Conditions of Use. StockX will provide you with a copy of the invoice. Invoices are available in your seller history tab.
- Non-VAT-registered seller located in the EU: You are not required to issue a VAT invoice to StockX. StockX will still create an invoice document to confirm your sales.
- Seller located outside the EU: You are not required to issue an EU VAT invoice to StockX. There may be local VAT, GST, sales tax, or equivalent requirements in the country you ship from. StockX will create an invoice document to confirm your sales but will not create a document that meets local invoice requirements.
Reverse Charge Mechanism
The Reverse Charge Mechanism requires the buyer to self-account for VAT on a purchase rather than the seller. The buyer is then responsible for paying and reporting that VAT to the Tax authorities.
On StockX, the Reverse Charge Mechanism applies in the following scenario:
You are a buyer with a shipping and billing address in the Netherlands, and you have provided a valid Dutch VAT ID. Purchases shipped from StockX's Verification Center in the Netherlands are subject to the Reverse Charge Mechanism. Because StockX LLC is not located in the Netherlands for VAT purposes, you as the buyer must self-account for Dutch VAT on these domestic sales under article 12, paragraph 3 of the Dutch VAT Act (Wet op de Omzetbelasting 1968).
Zero rating
Zero-rating means no VAT is charged on a sale, but the sale remains a taxable supply eligible for input VAT credits. In some EU countries, this is referred to as VAT-exempt supplies with the right to claim input VAT credits.
On StockX, zero-rating may apply to the following transactions:
- You are a seller located in an EU country other than the Netherlands and have provided a valid VAT ID. Your sales are zero-rated when you ship to StockX's Verification Center in the Netherlands.
- You are a seller located in an EU country other than Germany and have provided a valid VAT ID. Your sales are zero-rated when you ship to StockX's Verification Center in Germany.
- You are a buyer with a shipping address inside the EU (other than the Netherlands or Germany) and have provided a valid VAT ID that matches your shipping address.
- You are a buyer with a shipping address outside the EU and StockX ships the items from Verification Centers in the Netherlands or Germany.
Self-billing
Self-Billing is an arrangement where StockX creates VAT-compliant invoices in your name and on your behalf for your sales to StockX. This applies to VAT-taxable persons located in the EU who sell on the StockX marketplace, since those sales are treated as B2B transactions to StockX for EU VAT purposes.
The terms of the Self-Billing arrangement are set out in the
Terms and Conditions of Use. Invoices are available for export in your seller history tab. You remain responsible for VAT-compliant record-keeping with Tax authorities and for storing invoice documents throughout the required statutory storage periods.
How to register for VAT
If you sell items on the StockX marketplace, you may be required to register for VAT in the EU country where you are located or shipping from. Requirements vary by country. Some EU countries have annual turnover thresholds below which registration may not be required, though voluntary registration is often available.
Consult local Tax authorities or a professional tax advisor for guidance specific to your situation. A general overview of small business VAT exemptions is available on the
EU Commission site (see "exemption for small enterprises"). Registration is generally completed via an online portal or paper form and requires information and documentation about your business and activities.