Determining the tax on shipping labels (Hermes vs. Post/DHL) | Seller Lounge

shoppingxperts_kittel · 2025-09-03T08:16:46.255000Z

As is well known, DHL/POST charges 0% VAT on shipping services, HERMES and all others 19%.How do you determine the monthly totals in order to account for them correctly on your tax return?Also, when you offer items “incl. shipping costs,” the tax on the item (i.e. 19%) is also applied to the shipping costs, even if they are shipped with DHL/POST. The shipping costs thus take on the tax value of the item.This is what the AI spit out for me:-------------------------------------------------------------🧾 Shipping costs with „incl. shipping“ in the sale priceIf you offer items with “incl. shipping costs,” the following applies:The entire sale price is subject to the same sales tax as the item.Example:Item price: 80 €Shipping costs: 5 €Total price: 85 €→ Sales tax on 85 € = 13,57 € (at 19%)Important: Even if you ship with DHL (i.e. buy tax-free), you must pass on the shipping costs as taxable, since they are part of the overall service.----------------------------------------------------So, eBay just seems to leave you on your own here, because shipping costs are only mentioned somewhere “in passing,” but for tax purposes a breakdown would be necessary into19% - amount for HERMES/UPS/DPD etc.19% - amount for items incl. shipping0% - amount for POST/DHL for items excl. shippingIt can’t be that you have to add that up by hand.

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Determining the tax on shipping labels (Hermes vs. Post/DHL) | Seller Lounge | eBay Germany