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Just purchased Lightroom Upgrade from Adobe. The boxed version has VAT at 20%, the download is VAT @ 23%. Can that be legal? I've never heard of 23% rate for downloads (or anything for that matter)?
Adobe is based in Ireland? VAT rate there is 23% IIRC
would you have to pay the local tax rate?
yes - thats how the single market works
oh the irony...showed up on the bank statement as 'Adobe Systems London' 😯
Tis different for downloads vs physical goods.
Buy from a warehouse in ROI but receive the goods shipped to the UK and you pay 20% UK VAT.
Download from a company based in ROI and you pay 23%.
Archaic old tax laws that didn't foresee trading in virtual items such as downloads are to blame and they therefore force some undesirable customer behaviors such as buying a box you don't need.
The irony is compounded further due to the fact that Adobe recommend that you don't install Lightroom from the DVD in the box as it will be an old version. Instead they tell you to download the latest version of the software from their website! The only difference between the box and the download version is getting the product key printed on a very large box or in an email.
go through a proxy and buy from a US site?
I bought the boxed version from Adobe and it was shipped from Germany...
I bought the boxed version from Adobe and it was shipped from Germany...
But you will have paid an Irish company in GBP and paid UK VAT.
F'ed up isn't it. But that's the EU for you.