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

[unclestein]

With respect Papso, but the same article also states:

The normal rules for the content and format of VAT invoices will apply.

The online marketplace should issue a full paper or digital invoice for goods.

(Normal - meaning the way the rest of the UK conducts business I guess?).

I illustrated in my last post how Ebay are adding the VAT to the total at the beginning, which goes against everything you just said!

So it's either IS a glitch or they are too lazy to make it work properly in the first place!

But with Ebay normal rules don't apply!

[the_coxswain]

Thank you papso22.

My goods were listed as being in the UK.

I suspect that, as delivery is taking over a month, the goods are coming directly from Hong Kong.

Ebay would then be correctly charging VAT, but how did they know the goods were not in London as advertised !

[jadie13910]

Hi papso22,

they know exactly where both parties are as both parties are registered on the site PRIOR to being able to buy or sell on the site - so all the who-har about not knowing is bunkum ! and that is woldwide ebay. 

When you " sign in " to your ebay account - it automaticaly registers and conects all the details you listed when you first " registered " with ebay, this is how " basic " software works, it is very cleverly put together and does not need the intervention of a human person - tech is brilliant - it is ebay that does not give a toss !!!!!

They could sort this out in a jiffy if they wanted to - they dont give a toss - why should they ? the system is generating an awsome ammount of revenue/profit - and please dont get me started on the tax that they are NOT paying - Vote with your cash, purchase from elsewhere !

[unclestein]

Spot on Jadie!

I too think the original front-end was flawless back in the day. Maybe the original coder left under duress from a management hell-bent on beefing up their E-commerce division to compete with Amazon's ocean of relentless tat, leaving the lesser geeks to tie-up the private/secondhand sales before they kill it off...

Meanwhile the sellers (and ex-sellers) are gaslighted by Ebay representatives into believing they are complete idiots.

I stay well away from the fiasco, I'd rather give stuff away to charity than to lose my sanity and self esteem for a tax-evading money-grabbing corporation.

[unclestein]

...but how did they know the goods were not in London as advertised !

Of course they know! They must have a special deal with Chinese suppliers allowing them to sell fakes, mis-represent items, and appear at the top of "only from the UK" search filters!

[myriad*seller]

---

@jadie13910 wrote:

Hi papso22,

they know exactly where both parties are as both parties are registered on the site PRIOR to being able to buy or sell on the site - so all the who-har about not knowing is bunkum ! and that is woldwide ebay. 

When you " sign in " to your ebay account - it automaticaly registers and conects all the details you listed when you first " registered " with ebay, this is how " basic " software works, it is very cleverly put together and does not need the intervention of a human person - tech is brilliant - it is ebay that does not give a toss !!!!!

They could sort this out in a jiffy if they wanted to - they dont give a toss - why should they ? the system is generating an awsome ammount of revenue/profit - and please dont get me started on the tax that they are NOT paying - Vote with your cash, purchase from elsewhere !

---

The buyer can have the parcel sent anywhere in the world, so the BUYERS location does not matter UNTIL they select the delivery address at checkout! 

The VAT cannot be calculated until the DELIVERY address is known. The delivery adress can be anywhere in the world and the VAT and Duty will vary depending on the delivery address. The buyers location does not matter unless the item is being sent to them.

So no, eBay cannot calculate the VAT due until the buyer goes through checkout and selects a delivery address!

Not sure why this is such a hard concept for people to understand, it is REALLY simple! 

Delivery address matters, buyers location is immaterial until the buyer goes through checkout. Checkout is the only place where VAT can be calculated! 

[a.f.d]

Buyers register s default delivery address - No?

  AndyD

[dodgeram-durango]

Exactly - they pay extra for this Ebay profit.

[myriad*seller]

You would have to only allow delivery to the buyers home address

Many buyers would stop using eBay if this were the case

60% of my purchases go to addresses other than my home address

All the other online retailers offer delivery elsewhere, are you suggesting eBay stops this, stops people sending to addresses other than the account holders address and damages their business and loses money for shareholders just because someone moaned about paying import VAT? Why on earth would they take such a backward step?

It won't be happening... eBay is a business, like all the other online retailers who offer shipping to other addresses (who also will add VAT etc!)

[orders]

Have noticed exactly the same over the past couple of months. I have complained to flea Bay as I purchase items for private use and my account is a personal one, that said all priced should be inclusive of VAT and not plus VAT.

Have started to abandon cart and delete items added to basket when I see additional VAT about to be charged.

Like everyone else it is not clear if it is flea bay or the seller adding the VAT.

[msnowy21]

I am a UK private seller who sold a used trampoline for £600. Why did the UK buyer have VAT added and paid £720. Transaction cancelled now but its a real pain as I may lose out on the sale because of the hassle caused.

[sam782345]

A technical hitch on eBay?
if so, and not corrected, my relationship with eBay would end.

I was highest bidder on a soon to end item - I live in England, the seller lives in England and the item resides at her house.

Suddenly, in the emails informing me I was highest bidder, appeared '20% VAT will be applied'.

I informed the seller, who knew nothing about it and offered me the chance of cancelling.

I decided to stick with it, but decided I would refuse to pay, if it was added and allow the seller to cancel for me - it was not applied.

She has sold many items and has never seen this problem before.

This came up on a totally UK TO UK transaction.

Sort out these issues please eBay or you will lose business.

[dodgeram-durango]

I too have had the same on items I have bid on and the informative email ( VAT at 20% payable ) from Ebay states the same thing!

I got so fedup with this mismanagement and Ebay not replying that I inform the seller and cancel my bids on the items.

Everyone will soon get the message that there is a problem - which Ebay must sort out to save their business!

D

[04sillytart]

I too, keep getting caught by this hidden charge, it so wrong! The price stated should be the price you pay, you can usually see whether postage is free or exactly what P & P will be. But when you get to checkout unless you read slowly/accurately some sellers add VAT @ 20% on at last minute.  I find this outrageous. All sellers should seller goods at a advertised price which includes VAT.

THE SELLERS ARE MISLEADING BUYERS.

[fargvs]

May be a VAT glitch but check the Seller stated Location and Country site  of Registration 

which may/can be entirely different ?.   VAT should be inclusive on all UK >< UK sales.

Even with an item showing as located in the UK,  if either the buyer or seller uses an account that is or has been Registered outside the UK site, it will automatically trigger an additional UK 20% VAT Import fee payable to HMRC/UK Government >

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

[purveyor_of_tat]

---

@04sillytart wrote:

....I find this outrageous. All sellers should seller goods at a advertised price which includes VAT.

THE SELLERS ARE MISLEADING BUYERS.

---

How about the "sellers" are not misleading buyers and that buyers need to make themselves aware of how importing goods to the UK works?

I find it "outrageous" that people want spoon feeding, but there you go!

[msnowy21]

You're missing the point, ebay screwed up my account (and many others) so anyone buying from me, ebay automatically added VAT once the sale was made. I made a complaint over 2 months ago and still don't know if they fixed the problem.



Sent from my Galaxy

[purveyor_of_tat]

Which post are you responding to?

[delna75]

Sadly the government has brought in tax on eBay, vinted etc  so we are now  being taxed on things we own and want to sell

[holliepolly-2008]

Seller is probably vat registered, he can advertise with or without vat, but either way it needs to be paid. I believe the seller doesn't pay eBay fees on the vat portion, but would do if vat was included in the price.