MSN and VAT

[bazza1603]

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Hi,

Do the invoices from MSN include VAT? Can we reclaim it?

The invoices do not mention VAT at all.

Regards

Barry

PS Anyone know what wrong with my computer as it wont open the PDF files on the invoice links. The page just remains blank?

[Wardy]

Just taken this from the MSN FAQ site as I was just looking for the answer myself:

Is VAT included in my bid and charges?
No. Value-added tax (VAT) is not charged for this type of online service.

Cheers
Wardy

[km8]

Just taken this from the MSN FAQ site as I was just looking for the answer myself:

Is VAT included in my bid and charges?
No. Value-added tax (VAT) is not charged for this type of online service.

Yes it is!

What bugs me though is you can't even print a valid invoice for accounting purposes, never mind VAT - you know, one that shows who, where and for what you paid.

I've emailed them asking for this but no reply so far.
Still, it's only been 6 weeks so, any day now I'm expecting a reply.

[jonsp]

I asked a similarly easy question 6 weeks ago and despite chasing haven't had an asnwer. I have a relationship with MS for one of their products and know how seriously they take business and what approach they take to competitors but on search they just don't seem to be trying. Google is hurting them in a lot of ways but I can't see whether they realise they can't beat Google or they have a killer product up their sleeves.

The only good thing is Vista/Windows Live has lots of clever ways to tie users into doing things the MS way which would include search.

Jon

[Wardy]

Yes it is!

What bugs me though is you can't even print a valid invoice for accounting purposes, never mind VAT - you know, one that shows who, where and for what you paid.

I've emailed them asking for this but no reply so far.
Still, it's only been 6 weeks so, any day now I'm expecting a reply.

It is? Who has told you this? I just went off what the FAQ said!

They need a big improvement on the billing side of things!

Cheers
Wardy

[km8]

It is? Who has told you this? I just went off what the FAQ said!

Online advertising is a vatable service and for MSN to say it's not is just plain wrong. Google Adwords is VATable by virtue of being based for tax purposes within the EU.

Depending on where the MSN invoice (if you can get one) is issued, it may or may not be payable on MSN advertising - probably isn't, and probably that's what MSN mean.

The problem is MSN doesn't provide invoices at all as far as I can see and even their payment confirmation contains no address so I can see the taxman being sniffy about allowing MSN payments against tax.

[Jon@buyagift]

When I spoke to MSN support yesterday they advised me that:

Regarding your other enquiries just to confirm that due to Microsoft being a US based corporation VAT is not serviceable.

Hope this helps

[km8]

When I spoke to MSN support yesterday they advised me that:

Quote:
Regarding your other enquiries just to confirm that due to Microsoft being a US based corporation VAT is not serviceable.

Hope this helps

Thanks Jon, that does help.

I'm pretty sure that means that, for those of us within the EU, we need to acount for notional VAT on purchases from MSN.

ie, we add VAT to the purchase amount and simultaneously reclaim it leaving a net zero VAT liability. In practice, ignoring the VAT altogether will probably work so long as you don't have an anal VAT inspector.

It's still very sloppy customer service for MSN not to provide proper invoices.

[Wardy]

Thanks Jon, that does help.

I'm pretty sure that means that, for those of us within the EU, we need to acount for notional VAT on purchases from MSN.

ie, we add VAT to the purchase amount and simultaneously reclaim it leaving a net zero VAT liability. In practice, ignoring the VAT altogether will probably work so long as you don't have an anal VAT inspector.

It's still very sloppy customer service for MSN not to provide proper invoices.

I won't get in trouble for not including on my VAT return this month will I? I've not got time to visit my accountant to get him to check it over that I fill it in the correct box for the MSN Adcenter stuff. It's not that me or the VAT man will be out of pocket so they shouldn't have too much a problem should they?

Cheers
Wardy