Posts

EU VAT Assistant for WooCommerce updated to version 0.9.6.141220

/in , ,

EU VAT Assistant for WooCommerce – What’s new

EU VAT Assistant for WooCommerce has been updated to version 0.9.6.141220. This is a major update, and it’s still backward compatible, as you would expect from us! This update brings the following improvements and fixes:

  • Started implementation of reports. We are working on the EU VAT by Country report, which we will release soon.
  • Optimised recording of VAT data and evidence. We reduced the amount of duplicate data stored in order’s “VAT paid” metadata, opting to perform calculations on the fly when needed. This will also reduce the confusion, as there will no longer be a chance of having conflicting information recorded against orders.
  • Added support for refunds. This feature is available in WooCommerce 2.2 and newer.
  • Added logic to append the VAT number to customer’s formatted billing address. This will allow to automatically display customers’ VAT number on the invoices, without having to manually tweak the templates to retrieve this information.
  • Added exchange rates provider for ECB feed. This is the feed approved by most European Revenue Offices.
  • Added exchange rates provider for Irish Revenue website. This is an experimental feature, because the Irish Revenue does not provide a machine readable feed of exchange rates. The provider attempts to parse all the rates from the HTML web page on revenue.ie and extract them. We would not recommend to use it in production, yet.
  • Added integration with WooCommerce PDF Invoices & Packing Slips. The integration will make it simpler to produce EU VAT compliant invoices when using the PDF Invoices & Packing Slips plugin. Below this list you can find an example of a multi-currency invoice printed using this plugin.
  • Fixed bug in logic used to determine the availability of sufficient evidence about customer’s location. The bug caused the detection to fail in some circumstances.
  • Fixed bug in validation of sufficient customer’s location evidence.
  • Added notice to invite site administrator to complete the plugin configuration. We added this notice because some users got confused by the plugin not working immediately after installation. A minimum setup is required before the EU VAT Assistant can do its job.

Sample invoice – Produced with PDF Invoices & Packing Slips

How to get the latest version

You can download the latest version of the EU VAT Assistant plugin from its product page.

EU VAT Assistant for WooCommerce updated to version 0.9.0.141216

/in , ,

EU VAT Assistant for WooCommerce – What’s new

EU VAT Assistant for WooCommerce has been updated to version 0.9.0.141216. This update brings the following improvements and fixes:

  • Added feature to allow automatic population of EU VAT rates. This new feature extends the WooCommerce Tax Settings page, allowing to populate all the VAT rates for European Union countries with a single click. VAT rates are fetched automatically from EU VAT Rates website. Massive time saver!
  • Added validation of customer’s location self-certification field. The self-certification field is now compulsory when the plugin is configured to display it at checkout and there isn’t enough evidence about customer’s location.

How to get the latest version

You can download the latest version of the EU VAT Assistant plugin from its product page.

EU VAT Compliance plugin is now “EU VAT Assistant”

/in , ,

EU VAT Compliance plugin has been renamed

Shortly after we started working on our solution to help with EU VAT compliance, we gave it the name we used later on to announce it. While we were working on our product, we stumbled upon a plugin, developed by one of our customers and collaborators, which has the same purpose and the same name, and a slightly different set of features.

Initially, we didn’t think about changing our plugin’s name, as we were focused on getting it ready on time. Now that the product has been released, we realised that having two plugins with the same name and a similar purpose is not a good idea. It would cause confusion amongst users, and also mess up WordPress’ automatic updates mechanism, which would show updates available for the wrong plugin (i.e. it will tell you that there are updates available for the EU VAT Compliance plugin, while, in fact, it’s another product). Last, but not least, we don’t want to “hijack” visitors who are looking for the alternative plugin, developed by David Anderson.

For the above reasons, the EU VAT Compliance plugin is now called EU VAT Assistant.

Upgrade instructions

Since the plugin has been renamed, it’s folder is also different. To upgrade, please follow the instructions below:

  1. Take note of the configuration settings. Settings keys also changed, and the plugin will have to be reconfigured (only this time!)
  2. Deactivate and uninstall the EU VAT Compliance plugin.
  3. Upload and activate the new EU VAT Assistant plugin.
  4. Go to WooCommerce > EU VAT Assistance setting page.
  5. Re-apply the settings you saved at step #1 and click on “Save settings”.

All the orders that had been processed by the previous plugin will maintain their data.

 

EU VAT Compliance plugin for WooCommerce is now available

/in , ,

EU VAT Compliance, designed for the new MOSS VAT regime

Our new EU VAT Compliance for WooCommerce was conceived to help WooCommerce shop owners to help achieving compliance with the new European VAT regulations. The new regime, which is going to become effective on the 1st of January 2015, states that digital goods sold to consumers in the European Union are liable to EU VAT. The VAT rate to apply to each sale is the one charged in the country of consumption, i.e. where the customer  resides. These new rules apply to worldwide sellers who are delivering digital products or services to consumers in the European Union. For more information: EU: 2015 Place of Supply Changes – Mini One-Stop-Shop.

How our product can help you

The EU VAT Compliance plugin can collect information about the VAT applied to each order, and it allows you to use this information to prepare the required VAT returns. Here is a summary of the most important features provided by our product.

Calculation of VAT totals for each order

The EU VAT Compliance plugin automatically calculates VAT totals when an order is generated. The totals are grouped by VAT rates, to cover the case in which a single order contains products taxed at different rates.

Collection of VAT evidence

One of the most controversial aspects of the new VAT regime is that it requires the merchant to prove that the correct VAT rate was applied for each order. To do so, the merchant must collect evidence to support the choice of VAT, which must be stored together with the invoice, and stored for up to 10 years. Our plugin automatically collects all the available evidence from an order and stores it within the order itself, making it easy to retrieve them on demand.

Collects and validates EU VAT numbers

The EU VAT Compliance plugin allows to display a new field at checkout, where Business customers can enter their own European VAT number. Our plugin validates EU VAT numbers, applying VAT exemption when appropriate, and stores it with the order. Validation of European VAT numbers is performed via the official VIES service, provided by the European Commission. This feature is equivalent to the one provided by the EU VAT Number plugin, which would no longer be required.

Supports a dedicated VAT currency

You may be running your shop in US Dollars, but your Revenue Office expects reports in Euro. Our plugin can help with this too! When it collects the VAT data, the EU VAT Compliance plugin automatically converts the amounts in the currency you specify as “VAT Currency”. This information can then be used to produce the VAT returns.

Fully compatible with all our other products

This new plugin is fully compatible, out of the box, with our other products, such WooCommerce Currency Switcher, Prices by Country, Tax Display by Country and Prices by Role (coming soon).

Interested?

Please go to the product page to learn more details about the EU VAT Compliance plugin. You will find a list of requirements, existing features and planned features. If you would like to try the plugin, simply download it and install it on your site. It’s completely free!

Enjoy!

The Aelia Team