When shopping online, you may decide to purchase something from overseas. If so, it will be useful to know the tax names for the relevant country.

Some of the most popular countries to buy from include:

Australia - 10% GST

New Zealand - 12.5% GST

United Kingdom - 17.5% VAT

Canada - 6% GST - changing ti 5% GST on 1 Jan 2008

European countries in the EU - 15 - 25% VAT (each nation sets its own, although it can vary for certain categories of products)

USA - sales tax varies between states - Michigan has a VAT

India - 12.5% VAT

Mexico -  15% IVA

Singapore - 7% GST

GST - Goods & Services tax
VAT - value add tax = IVA in Spanish

Note that these taxes are usually only payable if the products are being delivered to the country of origin. So if you live in Australia and the products are delivered to you at home, you will pay GST if bought from an Aussie site but won’t pay VAT if you bought from a UK site.

Filed under: Shopping Online