Cross border e-commerce is now thriving globally. It reduces commercial barriers to trade. Customers and merchants are regularly using online platforms to buy and sell goods internationally. 

 

The world is now only one click away.

 

The rise of e-commerce has enabled foreign merchants to be at a competitive tax advantage in selling their products in domestic markets. Whilst domestic merchants must include GST/VAT on the sale price, foreign merchants are not under the same obligations.  Most countries are grappling with the impacts of e-commerce. Australia has recently passed laws to impose GST obligations on imported digital/services and low value imported goods. These laws adopt the principles expressed in the OECD’s GST/VAT Guidelines.

 

Australia’s presentation will provide you with an overview of the issues it had to consider and the GST framework it implemented. The presentation will also touch on recently legislated changes with respect to how GST applies to crypto-currencies.