Is this what we've come to?

btw, just so its clear, I am not saying it is a scam, merely that, thanks to the laws surrounding how VAT and prices related to VAT must be quoted, the usual European person's reaction to such an advert would be not at all positive, and that a European would probably take it as a scam thanks to the usual customs and practices concerning how vAT-related prices are quoted.

Similarly, I'm sure the Japanese probably thought it was a great idea to brand one of their cars the "puta". It didn't sell too well in Mexico or Argentina, sadly. I'm not saying a big "NO BAT" sign is a scam, merely that it is blatant evidence of not knowing your target audience.

Well if your taxes are so deep ingrained into your collective psyche that seeing a tax free advertisement leads to the first reaction "scam"

then your government has done its job - and no one has anything to worry about.

There's some severe misinformation creeping in here. Businesses in the EU do not always have to charge VAT. There is a threshold. A small business needs to weigh up if the associated costs with charging VAT outweigh the costs of being able to claim it back.

On L$ transactions, Zee has said that it's our responsibility to know whether they are exempt.

My Ad (which wasn't the one the OP was talking about but I've 'fessed up anyway) said "You do not have to pay VAT". The same as it said "You do not have to be a premium member".

Both of the above statements are true, they were true yesterday, they are true today and they will remain true tomorrow.

Kind of like LL opening a UK office without contemplating the effects it would have on it's target audience?

Thank you Warda, I have a better understanding of the issue now.

What would be a more effective way for non-VAT paying landowners to advertise that their rentals/land sales are exempt from a VAT surcharge?

I think that is placed a bit too strong...

You see, prices for customers are always VAT included (6% or 19% in my case).

If VAT is not included it should be mentioned clearly, so no doubt can arise. But a normal customer will always assume VAT is included.

One of the reasons VAT is not included can be when we talk about B2B (Business to Business). They have to pay VAT as well, but can reclaim it. Therefor is very normal to mention prices in this case without VAT.

I have to do with both situations... privately VAT included... on my work VAT excluded. So I am always carefully when I look at a price.... is VAT included or not. Not a trace of thinking about a scam... Just different situations that may occur.

Morwen.

The simplest way to communicate effectively the prices to EU residents (as opposed to EU businesses or non-EU anythings) is to simply quote the final price paid by the customer inclusive of all charges and any applicable taxes. let the price label speak for itself, as it undoubtedly would do if that 17.5% isn't being added.

ROFL!!!

I never knew that. I would SO buy a Puta, just for the name. It reminds me of the Toyota minivan, the Previa. I'm not sure they realized that a placenta previa is a placenta that is delivered before the baby. I just can't see one of those minivans without thinking of placentas. LOL!

There is also a story that when ESSO changed their name, they originally were going to be called EKKON, but allegedly that had some bad connotations in Japanese I think, hence they went with EXXON. I don't know if this is true or not.

But for bonus points, does anyone know why George Eastman chose the Name KODAK when founding his business?

Almost all European countries belong to the EU and charge VAT. It might have variations in name due to language but it's payable in all of them.

Norway, Switzerland, Albania, the Isle of Man, Channel Islands, Iceland, Monaco, Andorra, Lichtenstein, most of the ex-Yugoslavia countries - that's about the sum of European countries not in the EU unless you count places that used to be in the USSR like Ukraine, Belarus etc.

The 'no VAT' thing sounds a bit empty, like those anti-lag prims I've seen people trying to sell to newbies!

It'd be committing advertising fraud to mislead someone buying a car into thinking they won't have to pay the sales tax by crossing the state line to buy it, because they're going to be dunned for it by their home state the moment they attempt to register it. You can't avoid your state's sales tax on big ticket items like automobiles.

I think it was because it can't be mispronounced, and the letter K is a strong letter. Am I right? Huh huh?

And that the word had no known association with anything at the time.
Very good. You may choose a prize from the Prize Closet.

That would be a use tax and not a sales tax. But that's just splitting hairs and you are right about a purchase you would have to register with your state, like a car.

But I don't have to register my new plasma TV, new furniture suite, new computer....

I have a question. I am NOT in UK or Europe so how much is VAT gonna cost people? I understand the issues BUT not the price.

between 15-20%

25% in Sweden

yikes

For those of you who didn't read the advice given by LL regarding the application of VAT charges to transactions within SL; VAT is not applied to transactions between individuals. Most land transactions and virtually all those purchase transactions within SLEx are personal transactions between individual residents and as such carry no VAT charge whether the resident is European or other. Any transaction between a European (those resident within the European Community countries) resident and SL does carry a VAT charge because SL is now a VAT registered company.

Any advert for land or any product sold within SL/SLEx carrying the phrase 'VAT exclusive/inclusive' or 'no VAT charged' or such like; is merely cashing in on the current VAT hype. As a 'reluctant' VAT paying customer I find this form of advertising/promotion thoroughly offensive and pay it the respect it deserves...none what-so-ever.

Perre Anatine

Someone who has covenant land available that takes direct paypal transactions would be pretty legi in advertizing "No VAT" wouldn't they?

Consider this...VAT is applied (in the UK, not sure about other EC countires admittedly) to businesses making in excess of £62,000..that's $US120,000..and that's in excess of$L33 million. I'm guessing here (could be wrong..) but there aren't too many residents making those sort of profits. If there were, in which case they would have to be VAT registered and would therefore be obliged to advertise with prices 'inclusive' of VAT.

So...no not really...I'd still assume they were taking advantage of the current VAT climate.

It depends on state law. In Kentucky, when you file your yearly taxes, one of the questions on the form is "Did you buy any product on which you did not pay sales tax to Kentucky or another state?" It lists as examples mail orders and magazine subscriptions. So technically if I bought a new plasma TV in a state with no sales tax and brought it back home, I would owe Kentucky state sales taxes on it, if I report it at the end of the year.

I live in Cali, but still pay KY taxes... military... So I know just what you mean about filing taxes... hehe