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Apple is changing App Store taxes and prices in several countries
Apple has changed App Store proceeds in three countries and will recalculate some app and In-App Purchase prices in four others from September 14. The update depends on taxes, exchange rates, and each developer’s base storefront.
Apple is changing how App Store proceeds and prices are handled in several markets, with the first changes already taking effect and a second round scheduled for September 14.
Apple said in a developer notice dated August 27 that proceeds from eligible apps and In-App Purchases have been modified in Morocco, the Republic of the Congo, and Tanzania. Morocco has introduced a 20 percent value-added tax (VAT), the Republic of the Congo has introduced an 18 percent VAT, and Tanzania’s digital sales tax has increased from 2 percent to 3 percent. Apple also said it will collect and remit the applicable taxes in Morocco and the Republic of the Congo.
A separate price update will begin September 14 in Israel, Indonesia, Morocco, and the Republic of the Congo. It applies when a developer has not selected one of those storefronts as the base storefront for an app or In-App Purchase. Apple says the affected prices will be adjusted to maintain equalization with the chosen base price, but it has not published a blanket percentage change for customers.
The impact depends on how each developer manages pricing. Storefronts selected as the base remain unchanged, while other storefronts may be recalculated. Auto-renewable subscriptions are excluded from the price update, as are storefronts where developers manually manage prices instead of using Apple’s automated equalization.
Developers can review the upcoming changes in App Store Connect’s Pricing and Availability section. For users, the practical takeaway is that prices for some apps and in-app purchases may change from September 14, but the notice does not mean every App Store price will rise.
Source: Apple Developer
Additional reporting: 9to5Mac