Steam should accept EU VAT ID for business owners who are eligible to deduct VAT on game purchases (developers etc)

[Raimo]

My issue is this: I am a business owner in the EU, with an EU VAT number - in most online stores like Amazon etc (and many software stores as well). I can use this VAT number and purchase products with 0% VAT. I have not found a way to do this on Steam. My Steam game purhcases are for my business and valid to deduct, as I am a professional content creator myself and need games for reference purposes as well.

(FYI, the way the EU VAT system works, if we purchase goods from another country, we NEED to use the VAT ID for the seller to make the price 0% VAT - we can get the money back ourselves only on domestic purchases.)

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

How are they purchases for your business?

Explain how you are purchasing games, for whom and why you need 0% VAT.

[Radene]

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

How are they purchases for your business?

Some people will do anything to get out of paying a tax including claiming that they're purchasing their creature comforts for "the company". It's quite common at least in my country. Tho finally the authorities are starting to do something about it.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by Radene:

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

How are they purchases for your business?

Some people will do anything to get out of paying a tax including claiming that they're purchasing their creature comforts for "the company". It's quite common at least in my country. Tho finally the authorities are starting to do something about it.

I was wondering if he meant in a cafe setting. But I have seen a few threads on what you mentioned a few times in the last year.

[Cromi]

Steam accounts are set up as personal accounts, so tax exempt status won't apply. Amazon and other online storefronts offer business accounts for tax exempt purposes.

Your Account, including any information pertaining to it (e.g.: contact information, billing information, Account history and Subscriptions, etc.), is strictly personal. You may therefore not sell or charge others for the right to use your Account, or otherwise transfer your Account, nor may you sell, charge others for the right to use, or transfer any Subscriptions other than if and as expressly permitted by this Agreement (including any Subscription Terms or Rules of Use) or as otherwise specifically permitted by Valve.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Cafe licenses are a thing though.

[Cromi]

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Cafe licenses are a thing though.

:qr:

The OP said he wanted the tax exempt based on being a content creator buying reference material.

[cinedine]

You cannot not pay taxes. You can pay them later or get them back but you do have to pay them.

[Start_Running]

Yeah Valve ain't going to do that.
You can colect your invoices and then claim back.

[Spawn of Totoro]

I know in the US, some places do offer a tax exeption, but most do not as it is often abused. Costco/Sams Club used ot, if you had a buisness card with them, but as it was abused, they started limiting it to only items directly related to the claimed buisness or general buisness items (ink, toner, office items, ect.).

There is the alternative though as such taxes can be claimed when filing income tax returns. I would think the EU likely has a similar law in place. If so, then that is likely the better option, imho.

[Washell]

Previous thread on this issue: https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/2333276539590268116/
From linked thread:

Originally posted by Progorion:

Here is the final result of our really long conversation:

"Message from Steam Support on May 14, 2018 @ 6:39pm | 2 hours ago
Unfortunately, we can't make changes, or enable you to make changes, to an invoice that has already been paid.

Please note that the invoice provided on the website is sufficient for individual VAT reporting. This purchase was made as an individual, not a business, because the Steam Subscriber Agreement creates a relationship between Valve and you as an individual. Steam does not currently support the sale of individual licenses to companies.

I hope this helps clarify.If you received a VAT invoice that was modified to include your business information, that was someone not familiar with our policy.



Best Regards,
Tim"

"Message from Steam Support on May 14, 2018 @ 6:40pm | 2 hours ago
You can print your own invoices from the help site at any time.

To do so, log in to Steam Support and select Purchases, then locate the transaction and select I would like to view or print the receipt for this purchase.

Note: If you live in a region subject to value-added tax, these invoices will be VAT-compliant. It is VAT-compliant because the terms of the SSA are non-commercial use.

Best Regards,
Tim"

Basically, you can't get an invoice from Steam - IF you are a company. I don't think it is worth the time to talk about it anymore here - our only option is buying stuff from local stores, where we can get an acceptable invoice in the EU.

Originally posted by Radene:

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

How are they purchases for your business?

Some people will do anything to get out of paying a tax including claiming that they're purchasing their creature comforts for "the company". It's quite common at least in my country. Tho finally the authorities are starting to do something about it.

Software section says hi!
https://store.steampowered.com/software/

Also, if you're a game developer, other games within the genre you're developing can qualify as research materials.

[Winged One]

just claim them as a business expense come tax season

[Pocahawtness]

I don't see the problem here really, but one thing I would point out is if you are concerned about VAT on a few games then really why are you VAT registered? If you are above the VAT threshold then really VAT on some games is pretty irrelevant. Maybe you buy millions of games! OK then there should be a VAT number somewhere on Steam receipts - and that's all you need. The VAT Office will accept simple receipts ( ie with no VAT breakdown ).

[Vault Hunter 101]

I don't think how buying games counts as pucharse for your buisness but if you really want to save some buck get in touch with your accountant and ask if you can put that as "buisness expenses", you should get tax from that returned.

[jappiman]

There are several scenarios where a game can be a business expense, and steam should provide standard european VAT support.

[a swedish boy]

As a programmer, moving to game programming, I will deduct the cost for games this year that I purchased on Steam last year. It doesn't matter if I bought it as an individual since my tax for me as an individual and my company are not seperated things. It's up to me to choose what I see will be used for my business. And Steam don't have to bother about this either.

The EU VAT directive (0%) only applies when importing/exporting within the EU between companies for services and goods. And since Steam seems to pay VAT for each invidual country in EU (my purchases has 25% VAT as it should have in Sweden) this VAT is deductable anyway. No need to nag about it in other words.