- The ECJ ruled that trading in-game currencies (like “in-game gold” from Runescape) for conventional currencies is subject to VAT and not exempt as transactions in legal tender.
- In-game currencies are not considered legal tender or equivalent means of payment since they are only usable within the game environment.
- The total amount received from customers is the taxable amount for VAT purposes, not just the margin between purchase and sale price.
- The ECJ distinguishes in-game currencies from cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which can function as payment outside closed systems.
- Trading in in-game assets for real money outside the game constitutes a taxable supply of services for VAT purposes.
Source: kmlz.de
Note that this post was (partially) written with the help of AI. It is always useful to review the original source material, and where needed to obtain (local) advice from a specialist.
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