I keep being charged VAT fees and I should not be (I live in the Canary Islands), why?

[mmorini]

I wrote three times to customer support about this issue. The first two times I didn't receive any reply back, the third time I was told, and I quote: "Let me have this checked and I will get back to you as soon as updates become available.", which was nice, but was it just to brush me off? What updates need to become available? The Canary Islands are a Free Port, we are outside the VIES system and here below is exactly what tax obligations are:

- If the client is a COMPANY or SELF-EMPLOYED residing in SPAIN, we pay the 7% IRPEF (for the first year, and 15% for the 3 years following the first);

- If the client is a PRIVATE in SPAIN we don't pay anything at all;

- If invoices to SELF-EMPLOYED or-or a PRIVATE or a COMPANY residing abroad, meaning the entire world aside from the Canary Island and Spain (therefore including in the European Union), we don't pay anything at all.

I replied to CS's awkward feedback informing them of all this and providing my self-employed documents and I did not receive any replies after that.

I don't know what to do about this anymore. Do I open another ticket? It has added up to a noticeable amount now and it is just retained from me with no cause, and... wouldn't you know? I need that money.

[g_vasilevski]

Hi Marilena,

Please be patient as our team is working on your ticket and they will respond back to you in details soon. Feel free to state the contracts ID`s that you have been charged VAT on, and our team will review them as well.

[mmorini]

Thank you, Goran,

Well the contracts ID's is ALL of them, do you think it will speed up things if I give them a detailed list, nonetheless? Ald should I open a new ticket or just reply to their reply?

Thanks again!

[dalilarodriguez]

Hi!

I'm just starting in Upwork and my first report is also charged with VAT. I live in Canary Islands so I don't need to get charged by that. Can you help me out with this too? Thanks!

[andregutierrez22]

Hi Dalila,

Someone from our team will reach out to you via support ticket in order to assist you further.

Thanks!

[g_vasilevski · Accepted solution]

Hi Marilena,

Its best to keep all of the communication on one place so that we can be more efficient in assisting you, there is no need to open new ticket. 

[mmorini]

Thank you so much, you have been a great help. Have a good Sunday!

[pj_p]

I am about to start working via Upwork and I live in the Canary islands. Can someone tell me how this non-VAT issue was solved? Thanks!

[mmorini]

I was the one writing this post in the first place. I contacted Customer
Support twice about it by email and after prooving with all the due
documentation (NIE, Alta, etc.) that I indeed lived, was registered as
autonomous worker and paid taxes in the Canary Islands, they refounded all
my VAT fees and never charged me for it again.

[pj_p]

Thanks, that is very useful information! Saludos desde GC.

[mmorini]

Any time! Saludos!

[bstojadinovic]

Hi Patricia,

We'll have one of our team members reach out to you directly to assist you and advise you further regarding your concern. Thank you.

[egroenestein]

So I live on the Canary Islands as well, I filled in my Tax number for VAT and it didn't get approved, can someone please contact me to get the same treatment I am happy to provide my ALTA registeration if i can then get my VAT back thanks! 

[g_vasilevski]

Hi Esther,

One of our team members will reach out to you via ticket as soon as possible and assist you further with your VAT number. Thank you.

[mmorini]

You need to write to customer support and send them all your work and tax
documentation that proves that you are outside of the VAT system, then they
will take away that requirement for you.

It took me a few emails to Customer Support, as they were not used to it,
but it was a few years back, so it should be smoother for you.

Good luck and all the best!