Being charged VAT on purchase from private seller

[ajmayo2005]

I purchased a vintage calculator from a private UK eBay seller. eBay has charged me VAT on this purchase. I am also resident in the UK and I have never been charged VAT on local purchases before. Why is eBay charging me?. The seller is clearly listed as a private seller so presumably VAT registration does not apply.

[fargvs]

FYI >  Even if the item is located within the UK;  if either the UK located Buyer/Seller is using/or has an account that was originally registered outside the UK ,  then an additional 20% Import VAT and any other duty is charged.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/buying/paying-items/paying-tax-ebay-purchases?id=4771&st=12&pos=3&query=...

[papso22]

Are you sure its VAT on the item and not VAT on the buyer protection fee/postage?

[ajmayo2005]

No, it's on the purchase amount. But looking at the sellers profile it has their country as Spain. However they're certainly now in the UK as they posted the item themselves locally. 

I suspect they moved and forgot to update their profile. Annoying because I probably didn't have to pay vat but I doubt I can get a refund as eBay will argue they have to do this based on the sellers profile location.

[papso22]

You should be able to claim that VAT back through ebay.

It is the seller's country of registration that is causing the issue.  They need to open a new UK based account or it will keep happening.