The fee will apply to image and video ads across Meta’s platforms, including WhatsApp click-to-message campaigns and marketing messages, and is set to take effect from July 1. Meta said the charge will also cover other government-imposed levies, which the company had previously absorbed.
“Until now, Meta has covered these additional costs. These changes are part of Meta’s ongoing effort to respond to the evolving regulatory landscape and align with industry standards,” the company said in its blog.
The new location fees are calculated based on where the ad audience is located, rather than the advertiser’s own business location. Meta identified six countries where the charges will apply: 2% in the United Kingdom, 3% in France, Italy, and Spain, and 5% in Austria and Turkey.
Digital service taxes, which take a percentage of revenue generated by major tech firms within individual countries, have drawn criticism from the U.S. government, which argues they unfairly target American companies. Bloomberg was the first to report Meta’s announcement of the new fees.
