Starting this Saturday, October 25, all international purchases made by residents in Chile will begin to include the VAT of 19%, regardless of the value of the product. The measure seeks to equalize the conditions of national trade with foreign digital platforms and modernize the tax collection system.
What are the purchases that will pay VAT in Chile
The tax will be applied directly by online sales platforms registered in the simplified system of the Internal Revenue Service (SII), as long as the value of the product does not exceed US$ 500. This prevents users from having to pay the VAT when entering the order into the country, facilitating the purchasing experience and avoiding delivery delays. It is essential that consumers verify that the platform is registered with the SII and has included VAT collection when making the transaction.
Among the platforms that already charge VAT in Chili There are AliExpress, Shein, Amazon, Temu, Shopee, El Savier, Its Elementary, Regina Margherita and Everich Group. These companies concentrate about 90% of international shipments, so the majority of online purchases will not be affected by additional changes. For orders placed on unregistered sites, VAT and other duties will have to be paid upon arrival of the product, which may incur extra costs and delays.
Orders placed before the entry into force of the measure, but with a later arrival date, will be governed by the regulations in force at the time of the transaction. If their value was less than US$41, they will be free of taxes and duties. On the other hand, if the purchases were made after the change in regulations and the platform is not registered in the SII, users must pay the VAT and customs duties upon receipt of the product, as occurred until now.
Purchases that will pay VAT
- Among the products affected by the VAT collection from today are:
- Clothing and footwear purchased in international stores.
- Electronics and technological devices, such as phones and laptops.
- Low-cost decoration and furniture items.
- Cosmetics and personal care products.
- Toys and baby products.
- Sports accessories and entertainment items.
