Thoughts from a first-time self-publisher Part 28: VAT and Shipping in the UK and EU part 2.

Hey everyone! Welcome back.

Best Part of my week (so far): I’ve felt pretty on fire with my designs lately. Dog Days (formerly Dice Dogs) is playing very, very well and the reactions I’m getting from playtesters is letting me know that I’ve got something special there. I’ve also established a plan for what to do next publishing wise. I’m sure I will be sharing more about that in the near future.

Most stressful part: Nothing too crazy so far.

Financials: Backerkit up to $5,230.00.

VAT and shipping in the EU and UK Part II.

As always, please note that I am not a lawyer or expert and none of this should be construed as reliable advice. Do your own research and consult a professional.

What is the application process like?
The following is a partial list of the information I have needed to provide as part of my application for an EORI/ VAT Number. I’m trying to focus on just the things that may trip up others:

• My EIN number for my LLC and proof of business. If you don’t know already, it is highly advisable that you form a LLC or other business before pursuing your Kickstarter or crowdfunding campaign.

• The estimated date that I will begin selling products in the UK. There is a kind of questionnaire triage that you go through when applying (I went through the uk.gov website) that will tell you that you don’t need to apply if you aren’t planning on having anything to sell within the next 6 weeks. However, I’ve also been advised that the process can take over 40 days. So, the answer to the screening questionnaire is: “yes”, you do plan on selling within that time frame. The follow up application allows you to put in an estimated date. I put a more realistic timeframe in the application. We will see what happens.

• A UK address. Spoiler: I don’t have a UK address. But I am planning on working with Spiral Galaxy who I can use as the address. The form asks for the company names and addresses for distributors, importers, and everyone else involved in the chain of getting the games from the manufacturers to their final destinations. They also ask for proof that you are working with these companies or are in the process of establishing a working relationship. Spoiler: Most of these decisions and actual contracts are still a ways off in the future. I provided copies of emails and materials that I received from Spiral Galaxy and others as the proof. Again, we will see how I make out.

• Websites where you are selling and/or where you plan to sell your products. I used Kickstarter and my Backerkit pre-order page as the current and my own website as the future.

• Proof that you have a product to sell: For this I provided manufacturing quotes, links to the KS and the Backerkit pledge manager, and my “success” emails from KS.

• Optionally, you can appoint a UK based representative to deal with any of your VAT issues. I am not doing this. Again, we will see how this works out for me.

  
  Other fun things to think about:
  There is apparently a requirement in the EU that any product sold there have a local address and phone number for customers to call where they can get answers to questions in their language! Spoiler: I, nor any indie publisher anywhere, are capable of doing this. I’m advised that this is not heavily enforced. Again, we will see how I do.

  
  
  Conclusions so far:

• This is a confusing and convoluted process that clearly wasn’t developed with Kickstarter in mind. If you wait until you have everything that you “need” to apply, it will be too late.

• Licensing - if you can get it - is looking like a more and more attractive option for markets outside of the US and Canada in the future.

  
  
  As always, thanks for reading!
  
  Galen.