New taxation rules for online alcohol purchases introduced in Finland

Starting next month, the taxation rules for alcohol purchased through online shops will change. Under the new regulations, buyers will also be held responsible for ensuring that excise duties on alcohol are paid. Until now, the responsibility for paying these duties lay with the seller, particularly if they were involved in the transportation of the alcohol.

It has been highlighted that consumers often have little means of verifying whether sellers have fulfilled their tax obligations. The Finnish Tax Administration has previously noted that a significant majority of online alcohol retailers may not be paying the required excise taxes to Finland. Such taxes can nearly double the price of alcohol bought online.

This shift in responsibility aims to increase accountability among both sellers and buyers in the online alcohol market and ensure compliance with tax laws.