just bought on eBay and I saw suddenly a “UK VAT added to price” for the first time is this correct

[laugb2001]

Hi,

I just bought an item on eBay and I saw added to the final price before payment a "UK VAT added to price" to a value of 20%. I have never seen that before in more than 18 years on eBay. The seller is in UK and I am also in UK. Is this correct and have I really to pay it?

thanks.

Lau

[61stephenuk]

Seller is in China so Uk import VAT 20% will apply to all purchases.

[uluzyarx]

It matters not a jot where the seller is.

If he / she advertised on ebay.co.uk

the Law says the selling price must include VAT.

Advertising the price without including VAT on ebay.co.uk

without including VAT seems to be a swindle

that's is getting more popular amongst Chinese sellers.

It's high time ebay acted to protect our interests.

[sml192]

If the item is located in the UK at the point of sale and is being sold by a UK vat registered seller  then the seller is responsible for collecting Supply Vat. This must be included in the sale price.

However, if the item is located in the UK at the point of sale but is being sold by a seller registered overseas then eBay are responsible for collecting Supply Vat.  This is nothing to do with the seller and, therefore, has to be added at checkout.

[uluzyarx]

Whatever, the ad must make it clear that the price does not include VAT.

Hiding the fact that the price does not include VAT is a criminal offence.
That's it and all about it.

[61stephenuk]

Did you not see on the listing under Postage,returns and payments

Taxes

Price displayed includes VAT. The final charge may be different depending on the delivery address. Learn more Clicking on the Learn more link takes you to  https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/buying/paying-items/paying-tax-ebay-purchases.html?id=4771 Many countries and jurisdictions around the world apply some type of tax on consumer purchases, including items bought on eBay. Whether the tax is included in the listing price, added at checkout or charged at the border depends on the order price, the item's location, and your delivery address. If additional tax is applicable on your eBay purchase, you'll see this indicated on the listing page and the tax amount will be shown on the checkout page before you pay.

[papso22]

---

@uluzyarx wrote:
Whatever, the ad must make it clear that the price does not include VAT.

Hiding the fact that the price does not include VAT is a criminal offence.
That's it and all about it.

---

That may be true in some circumstances but not in the cases you describe where it is import vat and not sales vat that is being charged.

What you are advocating and crowing about, verges on fraudulent misuse of the money back guarantee. 

[uluzyarx]

I have no tax liability on an import that cost less than £125.

Further, the tool was in this country.
Ergo, the advertised price must be tax inclusive.

[papso22]

---

@uluzyarx wrote:

I have no tax liability on an import that cost less than £125.

Further, the tool was in this country.
Ergo, the advertised price must be tax inclusive.

---

Wrong. 

There is no lower threshold for import VAT.   There is a £135 threshold for duty.

[uluzyarx]

You best tell the Government then Matey 🙂

[fargvs]

Ongoing post from 2021 .... Is the Seller based/Registered overseas ?... Domestic VAT is inclusive on all UK to UK sales but even if the item is located in the UK ,..  if the Buyer /Seller is registered (or has been at some time) outside the UK, additional Import VAT at 20% will be added. >>>

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/buying/paying-items/payin g-tax-ebay-purchases?id=4771&st=2&pos=2&query=...

[papso22]

---

@uluzyarx wrote:
You best tell the Government then Matey 🙂

---

It would be easier if you provided the source of your (incorrect) information. 

[61stephenuk]

No need to tell the government,they already know.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-and-overseas-goods-sold-to-customers-in-the-uk-using-online-marketpl...

You probaly wont bother to use the link so heres a brief overview.

[uluzyarx]

You do not have my permission to mentor me.

[jlg1152]

Late response but, this has everything to do with Brexit. If the UK were still a EU country this change of VAT rules wouldn't have affected OP or other UK buyers when buying from other EU countries.

[uluzyarx]

.
Absolutely nothing to do with Brexit Matey.
I bought from a UK based supplier.
The item was already in the UK.

As far as I am concerned, was well dodgy as did he not warn me that he
would add VAT to his asking price.

[delna75]

That's true the government brought that in at the same time it did the same
to other sales apps.
I think vinted also... Just another way to put Thier hands in your back
pocket

[uluzyarx]

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said "Just another way to put
Thier hands in your back
pocket."

However, good old ebay gave me all my money back, so trying to get
their hands in my back pocket cost them 2 lots of post.

[sml192]

---

@jlg1152 wrote:

Late response but, this has everything to do with Brexit. If the UK were still a EU country this change of VAT rules wouldn't have affected OP or other UK buyers when buying from other EU countries.

---

The changes to the rules for collecting vat and the removal of the £15 lower relief threshold were agreed before Brexit.  They are, therefore, nothing to do with Brexit and would have applied anyway. 

Whilst Brexit has indeed had an affect on buyers when buying items located in EU countries at the point of sale it has, however, had no affect on items bought from EU sellers where the item is located in the UK at the point of sale.    

[sml192]

---

@delna75 wrote:
That's true the government brought that in at the same time it did the same
to other sales apps.
I think vinted also... Just another way to put Thier hands in your back
pocket

---

The changes to the rules for collecting vat applies to all online marketplaces. 

The changes were made to make the collection of vat on overseas sales fairer and more effective and to protect UK businesses from being disadvantaged by competition from vat free imports, not as a way of taking more money from you. 

[sml192]

'I bought from a UK based supplier.
The item was already in the UK.

As far as I am concerned, was well dodgy as did he not warn me that he
would add VAT to his asking price.'

'However, good old ebay gave me all my money back, so trying to get
their hands in my back pocket cost them 2 lots of post.'

You don't seem to understand that it is eBay, and not the seller, who are responsible for collecting the vat in this instance which means that it is eBay that needs to inform the buyer of the additional vat charge, nothing to do with the seller.   There is nothing dodgy or out of place with the seller. 

Whilst all the information required, to ascertain whether an additional vat charge is likely to apply, is in the listing eBay could, definitely, make it a lot clearer.