Amazon VAT services - report error - help! Change in German VAT rate
I’ve just received my VAT file for Germany through Amazon VAT services. It’s showing an error (first time this has happened to me).
The error is “VAT error” and the transactions it relates to are items bought at end of Dec but showing a transaction complete date as January. The field it’s highlighted as incorrect is the German VAT rate. It’s showing as 16%.
The error showing in these cells is “VAT Rule Error: Please provide a valid tax rate for this TAXABLE_JURISDICTION.”
I’m guessing this is down the Germany changing their VAT back from 16 to 19%.
It shows the “Original Sales Invoice Date” for all of them as December, when the rate was 16%
Should I choose the ignore the errors, thus leaving it at 16%?
Bit confused as I would have thought Amazon VAT services would have applied the correct rate so not sure why it’s erroring.
42 replies
Seller_c4Ur3qbApP3cq
I have the exact same issue, the orders are placed at the lower rate, and Amazon charged the customers the lower rate, but then they shipped the orders after the VAT rate change, and the report is not accepting the lower rates in the report because they use the shipping date to determine the date of when VAT is calculated, but in reality they calculated and charged the VAT before the change.
I have opened a case to ask what to do, because this is actually not my problem but Amazon’s problem. I suppose they have the same issue with their own sales in Germany too, how have they filed VAT for al those orders that were placed before the change but shipped after? Is it the seller who pays the 2% extra? Or is there some kind of grace period for online sales during the change? Any government guidance on this that can be found online?
Seller_XpjhWu3IgA9wr
you only get three days to amend, so not sure what to do. assuming seller support can’t help
Seller_RLXCX068q9bgP
Same here, I’ve never even downloaded the report before.
There are obviously a few of us so will hope it gets sorted quickly.
Seller_RLXCX068q9bgP
Just had this back within 5 mins of opening a case, they obviously know about it. After all it is one hell of a spreadsheet and I love a spreadsheet!
Thank you for your patience. We understand the emergency of your situation regarding VAT error and are working closely with our internal VAT experts team to reach a resolution on your case.
Seller_Yja9oH7DLHk2I
My email has finally arrived and I have the same problem. Did you get an update?
Seller_RLXCX068q9bgP
My errors have been ‘fixed’ overnight.
Seller_XpjhWu3IgA9wr
Mine is still showing the errors. I contacted SS too, but as of yet nothing fixed
Seller_Yja9oH7DLHk2I
Here is my reply from Amazon. You won’t be surprised to hear that Amazon just didn’t understand.
Hello from Amazon Selling Partner Support,
We understand that you are having error about VAT report.
To further investigation, we would need more information from your side:
-affected Marketplace
-screenshot of the error occurs (please make sure the screenshot shows the URL of the page and the time at which the error occurred)
I will leave this case open for another 48 hours waiting for your further action, after that period of time if we do not receive any information from your part, it will be automatically closed.
Seller_c4Ur3qbApP3cq
I got this response today:
Hello from Amazon Selling Partner Support,
Please be informed that, FORMAT and VAT ERRORS surfaced to you in your Amazon VAT Transaction Reports are due to technical issues.
The technical issue related to SALE transaction taxable in Germany with deviations from VAT tax rate at 16% or reduced VAT rate at 5%.
If you find any deviations from these stated VAT rate percentages on your reports, your VAT amount reported in Germany might require revision.
Please note that the decrease on the VAT rated done in Germany from July 2020 changed back to the original rates in January 2021:
• 16% to 19% (regular VAT rate)
• 5% to 7% (reduced VAT rate)
The technical issue related to SALE transaction taxable in either UK or EU where columns appear as FORMAT/VAT error:
- column V PRICE_OF_ITEMS_VAT_RATE_PERCENT
- column X SHIP_CHARGE_VAT_RATE_PERCENT
- column BO Export to Outside EU or UK
- column BD TAXABLE_JURISDICTION
Your liability reported for Jan’21 period will not be impacted by these ERROR transaction since they belonged to December 2020 period as you can check in the date in column “ORIGINAL_SALE_INVOICE_DATE”.
However, we offer you free-off charge corrective returns for Dec’20 period, if you require revision. Consequently, please feel free to respond to this Seller Support case, and request for free-off charge corrective returns. Amazon will cover the cost on your behalf.
Thank you for selling with Amazon.
Seller_Yja9oH7DLHk2I
Gosh, That sounds like they understood the question.
So what are you doing with this month’s return. Are you ignoring the errors?
Will the revision result in you getting a benefit?
