VAT mismatch

[soisjack]

Anyone else who is VAT registered received an email from Ebay advising their VAT details are mismatche with HMRC . This happened 3 years ago and ebay admitted an error on their part back then . 

Again , the same today and all details I have match so cannot understand the issue. Been given a 30 day period to rectify but not rectifiable as I see it.

Anyone experiencing the same / can offer help here as want to avoid the issues from three years ago. Thanks 

[soisjack]

Exactly , it's clearly due to some backroom tinkering that has created this and whoever did the tinkering with the system was most likely blissfully unaware this would be the result and now we as sellers are all in the firing line 

[vagbolts]

Ebay's system considers your VAT registration no longer valid - when this happens the VRN is no longer displayed on any listing.

Until the VRN returns you know that the system considers your VAT registration invalid, and based on what happened back in 2022, after 30 days if your VRN is not on your listing the system will nuke your account, remove all your listings and kill your business dead - regardless of what a clueless person at customer services says.......hence the panic by those who went through this a few years ago.

[ojewellery]

---

@vagbolts wrote:

Ebay's system considers your VAT registration no longer valid - when this happens the VRN is no longer displayed on any listing.

Until the VRN returns you know that the system considers your VAT registration invalid, and based on what happened back in 2022, after 30 days if your VRN is not on your listing the system will nuke your account, remove all your listings and kill your business dead - regardless of what a clueless person at customer services says.......hence the panic by those who went through this a few years ago.

---

My VAT number isn't showing, hasn't for a week or so.  I haven't had the email (yet).   I also haven't come across a single UK seller with theirs showing.  I've checked out some of the big recognised brands on eBay and they're the same.

I did wonder if the new VAT invoices trial in beta test has caused an issue.  Its all speculation though.

[vagbolts]

Yes it appears the VAT number is now not showing on any listing - it was yesterday on numerous listings that i checked, but now i can't find a single one with it on.

[postgenesis]

Hi

the VAT number is also not appearing on any invoices printed out for cutomers, even though the "Show VAT ID number on invoices" box is checked in my Public Business Info section. Is that the same for yourself (no VRN showing on your customer invoices)?

[mteconlineshop]

Do you have to be a LTD company on Company House?

We are a Sole Trader so i can not find us on Company's House

[ojewellery]

---

@mteconlineshop wrote:

Do you have to be a LTD company on Company House?

We are a Sole Trader so i can not find us on Company's House

---

Companies house holds the registry of 'companies' so as a sole trader you wont be on their books

companies as a legal entity as apposed to a business trading as a sole trader

[mteconlineshop]

Thanks, so possibly that won't be anything to do with eBays latest farce

I was told to upload our VAT certificate to eBay which i did so

[soisjack]

Just for info , the last invoice displaying my VAT number was 13 Feb, so whatever happened with the system changes did so between then and yesterday (weekend in the middle - coincidence ? ) 

[kat@ebay]

Hi All,

As there has been alot of posts since my initial reply on this thread some users may not have seen it.  We are aware of the email you have received requesting to update your VAT information. It is currently being worked on with high priority and as soon as I have further information I will update the thread.

Thank you,

Kat

[4_bathrooms]

---

@papso22 wrote:

How would an address mismatch result in ebay removing the VRN from the business contact section of a listing?

---

I think it's typical eBay behaviour. Similar to how the name and address needs to be an exact match for AML checks it seems eBay requires the details HMRC holds for a VAT registered seller to match exactly what the user has entered in their eBay account. If they don't exactly match the VAT number is rejected and the threat of a selling restriction is imposed due to HMRC holding online marketplaces jointly and severally liable for the VAT obligations of their sellers. It seems from the message @postgenesis posted if the seller is also a registered company the details held by Companies House must also match exactly as well.

The weird thing is I have not received the email; I only noticed my VRN was missing when the first two posters reported problems. Since then I can't find a single seller who has a visible VAT number including big companies I know to be VAT registered. I doubt the timing of the OP's post and the sudden disappearance of every VAT registered sellers' VRN is coincidence; something has gone very wrong here.  

[soisjack]

Dear Kat

Maybe a seller announcement udpate wouldn't go amiss then on the Sales Hub page to tell everyone you're aware of the issue  ?

Thanks

[scancomputers_outlet]

I had the same message this morning. Everything is in order so hopefully a glitch

[western-electrical-supplies]

Same issue on both our business seller accounts.

Yesterday after re-adding the VAT number the warning message would be re-sent after approx 20 mins.

Today after re-adding our VAT number they briefly re-appeared on the listings before disappearing again. No message was received.

[colinwilloughbymotorcycles]

I had the message on the 18th, This happened to me in 2022, 

Ebay told me then everything was in order with my VAT, I've only been VAT registered for 30 years ???

Then 2 days later wiped everything out my shop

Looks like its going to happen again ?????

WE NEED TO STAND TOGETHER ON THIS 

[soisjack]

I've noticed there has been a distinct change in layout in the past few days of the item for sale page , notably the business contact info and seller terms and conditions. This must have something to do with the removal of the VRN displayed details that what was always there and visible previously and must be instrumental in  triggering this issue and triggering the email warning to all VAT registered sellers.

[carparts-express]

just checked and VAT number is back on my listings so hopefully all fixed

[soisjack]

Great - mine too .  Let's hope this nullifies the email threat . Hopefully it will overide and Ebay will ensure that mechanism is double and treble checked so ensure in 30 days it still doesn't kick in and wipe out our listings.

[hvac-online-ltd]

NOTE FROM EBAY

On 17-19 February, some sellers received an email asking them to update their UK Value Added Tax (VAT) registration on eBay or potentially be restricted from selling.. This email was sent in error. Rest assured, this does not affect your ability to sell on eBay and you can continue to operate your business as usual.

As a result of this issue, some sellers' VAT numbers will not display on their listings temporarily. The team is working to fix this and no action is required from you at this time. We will reach out directly to relevant sellers if anything changes.

We’re sorry for any confusion and thank you for your understanding and patience.

[kat@ebay]

Hi All,

Just to update, please see eBay's announcement on the Vat email here.

"

On 17-19 February, some sellers received an email asking them to update their UK Value Added Tax (VAT) registration on eBay or potentially be restricted from selling. This email was sent in error. Rest assured, this does not affect your ability to sell on eBay and you can continue to operate your business as usual.

As a result of this issue, some sellers' VAT numbers will not display on their listings temporarily. The team is working to fix this and no action is required from you at this time. We will reach out directly to relevant sellers if anything changes.

We’re sorry for any confusion and thank you for your understanding and patience.

Your eBay Team "

---

---

Thank you,

Kat