VAT to jump from 7% to 19% in Germany from 2014?

My German is a little rusty but from I can gather it's saying that VAT for silver in Germany will rise to 19% from January next year. Is this a very steep increase or is it bringing Germany into line with other European countries level of VAT? Can anyone confirm this?

http://deutsche-wirtschafts-nachric...ag-erhoeht-mehrwertsteuer-auf-silber-muenzen/

 

http://forums.silverstackers.com/to...om-7-to-19-in-germany-and-rest-of-europe.html

 

I'm a little surprised this hasn't been getting a little more coverage in the PM media circles. It's a pretty significant increase. I wonder when Australia decides to increase the GST that the government won't try to slap GST on gold, silver and plantinum. There's not enough stackers in Australia to put up a vocal resistance to stop the government from doing it.

 

If we were slugged by a 10% GST on all new bullion, we immediately have a 10% windfall on our current stack. All new purchases will be relative, we buy and sell at 10% more.

The real problem is trading, dealers will need to sell and buy with the new rate applied ad infinitum, whereas stackers adjust to the increase and trade tax free at the current market value. We will all become criminals! I believe this will have an effect on premium and numismatics which are publicly traded. Will they maintain their premium?

 

Private sellers can't charge gst, even if selling to a dealer, so there would be no increase.

 

private sellers can charge whatever they want

 

One good thing about living in Norway.. no VAT. Tax on bars though, but not on coins.