It's 19% here, called Umsatzsteuer or Mehrwertsteuer (Umsatz = turnover, Steuer = tax, Mehrwert = value added).
It's the most stupid and bureaucratic system in this world of ours! Let's say we pay a 20 buck commission to an agent selling our services. We need for instance 100 bucks net, so we have to give the customer a bill of 143 bucks (our 100 bucks + agent's 20 + 19% VAT).
But that 20 bucks is money that we never see, it goes directly to that agent. Still it is seen as our income, and we have to pay VAT from that. When the agent sends the bill to us to get that commission, they'll pay VAT from that, too.
So, the VAT from that commission was paid two times. No problem, we get it back because at the end, only the agent in this example has to pay VAT from that amount. But first we have to pay it, then ask IRS to give it back to us after they got it again from the agent.
Very simplified example but that's how it works here. Add to that the fact that Germans love stamps and official documents and complicated forms, rather in 4 copies each.
Kari
My Computer
- Computer type
- Laptop
- Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
- HP ENVY 17-1150eg
- OS
- Windows 10 Pro x64 EN-GB
- CPU
- 1.6 GHz Intel Core i7-720QM Processor
- Memory
- 6 GB
- Graphics Card(s)
- ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850 Graphics
- Sound Card
- Beats sound system with integrated subwoofer
- Monitor(s) Displays
- 17" laptop display, 22" LED and 32" Full HD TV through HDMI
- Screen Resolution
- 1600*900 (1), 1920*1080 (2&3)
- Hard Drives
- Internal: 2 x 500 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive 7200 rpm
External: 2TB for backups, 3TB USB3 network drive for media
- Cooling
- As Envy runs a bit warm, I have it on a Cooler Master pad
- Keyboard
- Logitech diNovo Media Desktop Laser (bluetooth)
- Mouse
- Logitech Performance Mouse MX
- Internet Speed
- 50/10 Mbps VDSL
- Antivirus
- Windows Defender 4.3.9431.0
- Browser
- Maxthon 3.5.2., IE11
my balcony doesnt tend to need mowing
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