As of: February 3, 2024, 7:55 a.m
By: Marco Blanco Ucles
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Internet platforms must report private traders to the Federal Central Tax Office by the end of March 2024.
Whether you are affected depends on several factors.
At the beginning of 2023, a report caused a stir: the Platform Tax Transparency Act came into force.
“From 2023, the Platform Tax Transparency Act has introduced an obligation for operators of internet platforms to report information to the tax authorities about income generated by providers on these platforms,” explains the
NRW tax office
.
The legislature in Germany has thus implemented a corresponding EU directive.
Logically, the innovation caused dissatisfaction among some people.
Additional income: Vote.
End of March is the deadline for reporting platforms to the tax office
The platforms still have until the end of March 2024 to report their users to the Federal Central Tax Office, which will then pass the cases on to the responsible tax offices.
From 2025, January 31st will be the deadline.
There is still a chance that you will not be affected by the new regulation at all, even if you sell goods on Ebay or other platforms.
This is if you have made fewer than 30 relevant sales and also earned less than 2,000 euros in total.
“If you occasionally sell something used privately, you don’t have to worry,” explains SWR business editor Michael Wegmer.
Of course, this does not mean that the income generated outside of this regulation is not taxable.
Sellers on Internet platforms such as Ebay or Airbnb will have to pay attention to the Tax Transparency Act in the future.
© Future Image/Imago
If a platform is unsure whether it will be included in the new regulation, it can contact the Federal Central Tax Office for information.
In principle, relevant income includes the provision of personal services, rental of transport, rental of real estate and the sale of goods.
The following information will be passed on to the tax office by users affected by the new regulation: name, date of birth, bank details, relevant transactions and sales proceeds, address, fees incurred for use and the provider's VAT identification number.
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What do sellers have to do now?
First of all, nothing, there is no additional reporting requirement for the sellers.
In principle, however, it is advisable to keep all receipts for purchases and sales on internet platforms in case the responsible tax office comes to you with questions.
If you don't receive any mail from the tax office, you don't have to worry about anything else.
In private sales transactions, the principle applies that profits of up to 600 euros per year are tax-free.
However, if this amount is exceeded, the entire winnings are taxable and not just the amount between the 600 euros and the total winnings.
In addition to private sales transactions, there are many other tips to save money.
Also when it comes to selling goods on internet platforms.