Closed petition Stop the ‘de minimis’ threshold of £240 from being lowered on online purchases.
There are plans to lower the 'de minimis' threshold from £240 on all online purchases, which sees a 5% tax on all items above £240. There are arguments that suggest it creates an unfair advantage for online retailers. The move is being called for by high street retailers and Sandpiper.
More details
The 'de minimus' threshold was discussed in the States on 25/09/2018 see 7.2, 7.10: https://statesassembly.gov.je/Pages/Hansard.aspx?docid=E4DA360C-49ED-435A-9FD2-77E3CA7128C4#_Toc526164159
It was also discussed in the States on 09/10/2018 at 3.14: https://statesassembly.gov.je/Pages/Hansard.aspx?docid=7AECB751-D608-44CA-AF12-5F960B168379#_Toc527533980
This petition is closed All petitions run for 6 months
1,341 signatures
5,000
Ministers responded
This response was given on 26 October 2018
The Minister for Treasury and Resources has decided not to adjust the de minimis level in Budget 2019.
Read the response in full
The Minister for Treasury and Resources has decided not to adjust the de minimis level in Budget 2019. The Minister will keep that level under review, taking into account any changes in the costs of collecting the GST currently foregone. It is expected that the de minimis level will be abolished shortly after the European Union implements changes (possibly as soon as 2021) requiring online retailers to account for tax in the jurisdictions to which they deliver taxable goods.
The Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture opposes lowering the de minimis level at this time. He anticipates that a lower de minimis level would have minimal impact on the prevailing on-Island environment for retail. The Minister is devising a retail development strategy that aims to support the industry’s own efforts to deliver, amongst other things: a thriving St Helier Experience; focused market information; and, leading edge skills and talent. He anticipates that this work should have a greater positive impact on retail trading conditions than a change in the de minimis level or GST.