EU's VAT Digital Sevices Directive

[thegrafixguy]

Anyone familiar with this piece of work?

It seems that the leaders in Europe want me to be a tax collector for them becasue their citizens hire me to build a web site, host it, or other "electronic service."

Mind you, I do not charge a VAT as I live in the US and do not recognize the taxation process of another state, it is up to that state to collect their own taxes from their own residents.

Despite doing an intesive Google search, all I have discovered is that a few of the big players (Microsoft, Symantec, IBM and so on) have decided to play ball. However, they also have regional offices in the EU if I am no mistaken.

So how can they expect to force Bud and Polly's clip art site (based in the US and operated out of Bud's house) to verify a purchaser is from Sweden and then collect a "sales tax" for Sweden???

Sounds like a bunch a malarkey to me, but I'd love to hear what others have to say and also any "penalties" if US companies "using the british term here" tell the Vat to pi*s off.