BGH on entrepreneurial status in the case of scheduled purchase and sale of goods via eBay

As I am currently representing a client who sells collectible figurines from games and comics on eBay, I came across a recent ruling by the Federal Fiscal Court that sellers on eBay should definitely keep in mind. The BFH has ruled that a seller who sells several hundred auctions per year on eBay is engaged in a sustainable and therefore taxable activity for VAT purposes within the meaning of Section 2 (2) of the German Income Tax Act (Umsatzsteuergesetz). 1 of the Value Added Tax Act (Umsatzsteuergesetz, UStG) would exercise.

Key Facts

The BFH ruled that eBay sellers can carry out an entrepreneurial activity.
The plaintiff generated income of approximately € 380,000 in five years.
Around 3,000 auctions were held, which proves the sustainability of the activity.
The differential taxation according to § 25a UStG can lead to a reduction of the tax claim.
Missing records of purchases are not necessarily detrimental to differential taxation.
The valuation is based on the selling price minus the purchase price.
The ruling is relevant for all eBay sellers in similar situations.

The plaintiff in this case purchased items at household liquidations and sold them at approximately 3,000 auctions over a period of five years, generating income of approximately €380,000. The BFH, referring to its ruling of April 26, 2012 – V R 2/11 , considers this to be a sustainable activity within the meaning of Section 2 (2). 1 UStG. In its remittal, however, the Federal Court of Justice ordered the Tax Court to make up for the previously missing findings on the taxation of differences pursuant to Section 25a of the German Turnover Tax Act (UStG). Accordingly, in the case of a reseller who trades commercially in movable tangible property or sells such property at public auction in his own name and to whom such property has been supplied – as here in the context of private household liquidations – without VAT being due on it, the turnover is not measured according to the sales price, but according to the amount by which the sales price exceeds the purchase price for the property.

It is interesting to note that the lack of records of purchases does not necessarily prevent the taxation of differences, since in this case the value of purchases may have to be estimated. If the differential taxation is to be applied on this basis, there will be a considerable reduction of the tax claim.

Author: Marian Härtel

Marian Härtel ist Rechtsanwalt und Fachanwalt für IT-Recht mit einer über 25-jährigen Erfahrung als Unternehmer und Berater in den Bereichen Games, E-Sport, Blockchain, SaaS und Künstliche Intelligenz. Seine Beratungsschwerpunkte umfassen neben dem IT-Recht insbesondere das Urheberrecht, Medienrecht sowie Wettbewerbsrecht. Er betreut schwerpunktmäßig Start-ups, Agenturen und Influencer, die er in strategischen Fragen, komplexen Vertragsangelegenheiten sowie bei Investitionsprojekten begleitet. Dabei zeichnet sich seine Beratung durch einen interdisziplinären Ansatz aus, der juristische Expertise und langjährige unternehmerische Erfahrung miteinander verbindet. Ziel seiner Tätigkeit ist stets, Mandanten praxisorientierte Lösungen anzubieten und rechtlich fundierte Unterstützung bei der Umsetzung innovativer Geschäftsmodelle zu gewährleisten.