What is the tax to pay for the sale of products online that irritates both the users and the owner of Mercado Libre

A post on the social network Twitter by a Mercado Libre user that went viral, in part because of the response he received from the founder of the trading platform, Marcos Galperín, helped to alert the entire “digital community” on the taxes that must be paid by individuals who decide to sell personal products, even second-hand, via the tool.

The warning comes after the sum of the regulations that affect e-commerce under the argument of equating the conditions to physical stores, given the growing penetration of the digital marketing modality.

In this case, it is the so-called “collection of used VAT”, which has been regulated by the general resolution of the Federal Administration of Public Revenue (AFIP) number 3411/2912, which can represent between 1% and 21% of the price of sale, depending on the tax situation of the seller.

But the truth is that the imposition of taxes on the sale of used products (by a single owner) irritates both the users and the company that acts as the withholding agent and, of course, its owner. Marcos Galperin.

The renowned businessman responded to the lawsuit for restraint of $23,400 for “VAT on used goods” after finalizing the sale of a bike for $130,000 through the online buy and sell portal.

Which tweet made Galperín react? The user who complained on Twitter is Ignacio Carballoan economist expert in fintech, who published in Mercado Libre a bicycle which he wanted to get rid of without knowing that the State would impose a tax on second-hand goods.

“Hahahahaha I want to sell a Vairo XR 4.0 bike, an old model and others, topped Mercado Libre. Market value $180,000: I say “I put it cheap so they can buy it quickly”, he turns out they take me out $23,400 in taxes Carballo said in his tweet and concluded, “What madness…to sell a used item. Unsustainable”.

The tweet had repercussions after Galperín himself responded by saying that “the only platform that is obliged to withhold this tax is Mercado Libre, when there are sales of second-hand products on social platforms, no one hold back nothing”.

And then he wondered, “In all of this, is it legal to charge a tax to a non-regular seller of a used product?”

viewed by GlobeLiveMediaMercado Libre sources said that “today, Regulation 3411/2012 obliges MELI as a collection agent to charge VAT for the sale of non-registerable second-hand goods, via virtual platforms. rates range from 1% to 21% of the published price, depending on the seller user’s tax status.

How to know how much will have to be paid in condition of second-hand VAT?

The same user who shared his story on the social network of the bird, explained that there is a tool in Mercado Libre called “Cost Simulator”, which is used to calculate the values ​​​​of each publication to know the estimate of the amount which will be received. for a certain sale.

“A very good tool that allows you to calculate these taxes,” said Carballo, explaining that in his case the only tax listed was the special VAT regime used, for 18% of the total sale price.

What does the regulation say?

The standard establishes that those who must pay this VAT for second-hand goods are:

1. Monotributistas: provided they exceed the parameters of monotributo (amount per unit price of $85,627 and/or total annual billed amount of 8,040,721 pesos.

2. End consumers/uncategorized persons

3. Registered managers: for all operations.

It should be remembered that from April 1, General Resolution 5319/2023 will integrate new debt collectors in addition to Mercado Libre, making conditions fairer for all payment platforms. e-commerce.

Continue reading: