Do refurbishers charge sales tax?
Yes, most refurbishers charge sales tax or VAT, but how it is displayed varies by seller and market. Some show tax-inclusive prices on the product page, while others add tax at checkout based on your shipping address.
How sales tax works in the US
In the United States, sales tax is determined by state and local regulations. This means:
- Tax rates differ by state. You may pay anywhere from 0% to over 10% depending on where you live. States like Oregon, Montana, and New Hampshire have no sales tax.
- Most major refurbishers collect sales tax automatically. Apple, Amazon Renewed, Back Market, and Gazelle all calculate tax at checkout based on your shipping address.
- Prices on RefurbMe are shown before tax for US listings, so the final price at checkout may be slightly higher.
How VAT works in Europe and the UK
In the UK and EU markets (France, Germany, Italy, Spain), prices displayed by refurbishers typically include VAT already. This means the price you see is the price you pay. VAT rates vary by country (20% in the UK, 20% in France, 19% in Germany, 22% in Italy, 21% in Spain).
How to check the final price
Before completing your purchase, always review the cart total on the seller's checkout page. Look for a tax or VAT line item in the order summary. If you are unsure about the tax policy of a specific refurbisher, you can compare seller details on RefurbMe or contact the seller directly.
What RefurbMe shows
RefurbMe is a comparison service. We display the product price as provided by each seller, but we do not process payments or collect tax. When you click through to a seller, you complete the purchase on their website where the final tax-inclusive total is calculated.