VAT FAQs

1. What is value-added tax (VAT)?

The value-added tax (VAT) is a consumption tax levied on the supply of goods and services. This also applies to services provided over the Internet.

The VAT is an indirect tax that is paid as a rule by the recipient (buyer), together with the purchase price, to the supplier (seller). The service provider pays the VAT to the local tax authority. The service provider is liable to pay the tax.

The VAT is determined by a certain percentage (tax rate), which is applied to the net price (excluding tax). This percentage is different for each country in the European Union, and is fixed by local tax authorities. The current tax rates can be found on the website of the European Commission.

2. Am I being charged value-added tax (VAT) when purchasing artnet products?

Prices listed on the artnet website are net prices. They do not include value-added tax (VAT).

artnet is required to charge VAT on goods and services to all European customers who reside, have a permanent address, or are established in the European Union. The countries of the European Union are currently: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

If you are a business, or are using your artnet account for business purposes, you may be required to apply the reverse-charge procedure, which leads to non-collection of VAT by artnet. For more information about the reverse-charge procedure, please refer to question 3.

If you are using artnet privately, the VAT is added to the price of the product on the website and will be charged in full. The addition of the VAT will be displayed in step 3 of the checkout process.

3. What is the reverse-charge procedure, and who can apply?

Using the reverse-charge procedure, the tax liability is shifted from the provider to the beneficiary. In these cases, the value-added tax (VAT) is paid by the recipient to the tax office. The amount on the provider’s invoice will not include the VAT. The transfer of tax liability is noted on the invoice.

In order to qualify for the application of the reverse-charge procedure, the customer must be a businessperson and use his or her artnet account entirely for business purposes. If a company is a customer of artnet, the registered company must be located in the European Union. In addition, the customer must name a valid tax identification number (VAT identification number) (in German: USt-IdNr.) on his or her artnet account.

The VAT identification number, provided for tax purposes, is distinct for every company.

Every country has its own guidelines about qualifying for a VAT identification number; please contact your local tax authority or tax adviser for more details. The website of the European Commission can also provide additional information.

If a valid VAT identification number is provided to artnet upon purchasing one of artnet’s products, you will take part in the reverse-charge procedure. For more information on how to register your identification number on artnet, please see question 4.

Please note that all VAT identification numbers will be verified, and falsifying tax information to avoid being charged VAT on artnet will result in an incomplete transaction.

4. Where do I enter my tax identification number (VAT identification number, USt-IdNr.) on artnet?

If you have a VAT identification number, please log in to your artnet account to add it to your contact and billing information on the artnet website.

When purchasing any product on artnet, you will also be given the opportunity to provide a VAT identification number to be exempted. If this VAT identification number is validated by the European Commission, your purchase will be exempt from VAT in the final step of the checkout process.

artnet saves and processes the VAT identification numbers in the United States in accordance with the artnet Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

5. How can I access my billing history or obtain a value-added tax statement?

Please log in to the artnet website and go to the My Account page. At the top of the page, click “View Billing History” under Account Information to view your billing history and invoices.

The first page displays a summary of all your purchases, listed chronologically, with your most recent purchase displayed first. Each item listed includes the following information: invoice date, invoice number, product description, invoice total, payments and refunds, and balance due.

Clicking on any invoice number opens a detailed invoice on a new page. The following items are displayed on the invoice: date (varies based on type of transaction), invoice number, your information (name, address, and the last four digits of your credit card), detail of the subscription(s) purchased, and price details (price excluding tax, tax, and price including tax).

You also have the option to print the detailed invoice page by clicking “Print” on the top left-hand corner of the page.

Under My Account, you have access to your billing history for all purchases made on artnet.

If you have any questions, please contact our customer support team, or call +1-212-497-9700.