VAT Invoice extraction from a difficult seller

[ojewellery]

I try to make business purchases off eBay but as a VAT registered seller its a ridiculously frustrating process to get invoices.

I've developed this method of messaging sellers when I purchase and asking for a VAT receipt to be included as a fellow VAT registered seller I'd like to offset the VAT.

Invariably 50% of sellers don't do this.

I then send a please could you download a VAT invoice save in picture format and attach to an eBay message again around 50% don't do this.

So around 25% of VAT registered purchases I pay 16.67% more than I've agreed to.

I'm on message 4 with a particularly frustrating business seller - he insists I can download a VAT invoice and should just do it myself from my order details page.  I just wanted to check is there some magic button somewhere I'm missing to turn on this wonderous download VAT invoice this seller is talking about but wont tell me how to access?

[moldosgifts]

I think the one your seller is referring to is the standard order details print copy.

Which is not a VAT invoice.

So i cannot see a place to download of ebay the VAT invoice for a single purchase

They will need to supply one keep at them

One of the reason buying of amazon is so much easier for business purchases

[ojewellery]

I've got what I think are a polite string of emails including what needs to go on a VAT invoice, how to download it seller side, how to send it via messages because you can't send a PDF.

I've screenshot the order page and supplied it, showing it doesn't show VAT.

I usually give up, buy elsewhere for a while, come back to eBay for moral reasons get frustrated, repeat infinitum!

Thank you for clarification I'm not, on this, completely on the wrong track!

[game_raid]

There is no option to download a VAT invoice this is one of the reason as you mention above I don't buy business supplies on here.

There is legislation in place but it's rarely enforced.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/2518/regulation/13/made

https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/vat-trader-records/vatrec4000

[eyewear247]

I have previously had this situation where a VAT registered seller ignored my request for a VAT receipt. I found  simple return request for item not as described with the reason it was listed as a VAT inclusive price but no VAT information supplied has yielded results. The seller not wanting a return nor wanting to pay for privilege soon provided said VAT receipt !

I have also found that after delivery of an eBay order I have sent a message to requested a VAT receipt either direct to my email address or via eBay messaging. I have never had a problem quoting my direct email address in an eBay message when discussing an order I had made on eBay with that seller. 

As previously mentioned, Amazon is a lot easier because as a seller a VAT receipt/ invoice can be simply downloaded from your order history.  

[sml192]

You can only download a VAT invoice from your order details if eBay is responsible for collecting the VAT (i.e. overseas sales). 

If the seller is responsible for collecting the VAT then providing a VAT invoice is their responsibility as well. 

[ojewellery]

@sml192 Its so useful buying from international sellers for that reason but I like to support small UK sellers.  

I agree with Amazon being great for business supplies purchases and making our accounting easy but their ethics (do machines have ethics?) copying successful products and effectively blacklisting the original product supplier or in the case of jewellery, designer, with a near carbon copy and calling it brand 'Amazon Essentials'  which are not Amazon originals is so, so wrong.  I really want to not add fuel to their fire.

Maybe I need to start a new eBay campaign!

[4_bathrooms · Accepted solution]

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@ojewellery wrote:

Invariably 50% of sellers don't do this.

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You can make out the invoice yourself (it's in the VAT Regulations):

"Where a registered person provides a document to himself which purports to be a VAT invoice in respect of a supply of goods or services to him by another taxable person registered in the United Kingdom, that document may, with the approval of the Commissioners, be treated as the VAT invoice required to be provided by the supplier under paragraph (1)(a) above."

What I suggest you do is keep a copy of your request(s) to the seller for a VAT invoice, a screenshot of the seller's business information section on the listing showing their VAT number and business details then check the VAT number here - when checking the VAT number make sure you tick the box to request proof of the check. That should be all the records you need for HMRC.

[ojewellery]

That's brilliant and I can cut and paste it to my fastidious accountant trying to keep me on the straight and narrow with my books.  I've been audited twice so try to dot every I and cross every t anyway.

Whilst I shouldn't have to its worth a good few pounds a transaction and means I can buy for the business on eBay!

[therenewalworkshopltd]

I must admit, I've always found it considerably easier for a quick business purchase, to be via Amazon.

Where you are guaranteed a VAT receipt.

Though I have bought of Ebay in the past, it's when I have hit situations as you are describing, I've given up buying anything that requires a VAT receipt on Ebay.

But I must admit, I would far rather buy directly from the wholesaler etc as the prices tend to be better anyway.

[ojewellery]

I'm keen on frugality.  Love a bulk wholesale purchase, you're right wholesalers are a great way to go.  Some things are one offs and only need a small volume of -  things like office accessories.  In this case a wifi extender because I hard wired my office with a fibre connection and my latest couple of lasers require a 2.4ghz wifi connection for syncing the cameras.  A wifi extender off the network extender box thing appeared to be a very cheap solution to this (very technical explanation)

I've fallen into the trap of buying 1000 when I need 100 and then have to store the bargain 900 extra items.  Ends up less of a bargain.

[papso22]

Providing an invoice to yourself is known as 'self billing,' and comes with a host of very specific requirements, including a signed agreement between the parties.

You can't just create one because the seller is not meeting his legal obligation to provide one.

But you can keep alternative evidence of receiving, and paying for, a taxable supply.

[unclestein]

Ebay is so frustrating!

Just about every online retailer can provide an invoice of purchases made throughout the tax year - except for ebay! It's as if ebay have no idea how business accounting works!

Even if it didn't show the individual VAT element it would help with my tax return - basic stuff you know.

Maybe if they have no records it will assist them with their offshore tax avoidance scam?

[therenewalworkshopltd]

You are aware than when making a purchase, you are not buying from Ebay?

So why on earth would Ebay provide you with an invoice?

It's the seller that you need to contact as they are responsible for providing you with an invoice.

[sml192]

As advised it is the responsibility of the seller to issue a VAT invoice/receipt, except for certain overseas sales where eBay is responsible for collecting and remitting the VAT in which case a VAT invoice can be downloaded from your order details. 

However, Ebay are currently working on a system to assist sellers with issuing VAT invoices:

https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Announcements/Introducing-downloadable-VAT-invoices-for-sellers-opt-...