Since1 July 2021, the VAT rules on cross-border business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce activities have changed. Everyone in the e-commerce supply chain is affected, from online sellers and marketplaces/platforms both inside and outside the EU , to postal operators and couriers, customs and tax administrations, right through to consumers.

1. Summary of the background of EU tax reform

From July 1, 2021, the EU will implement the new version of VAT regulations, with the following two changes for e-commerce platforms:

(1) Eliminate the 22-Euro VAT exemption threshold.

(2) In some scenarios of the e-commerce platform, VAT will be collected and paid.

2. What is the EU's Value Added Tax (VAT) policy?

Value-added tax (VAT) is a turnover tax levied on the value-added amount generated during the circulation of goods and services as the tax basis. All transactions within the EU need to consider the impact of value-added tax. The standard tax rate is 15% to 27%. The EU provides a unified framework, but each country levies it separately.

3. French individual buyers will "transaction restrictions":