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

[myriad*seller]

The "prior warning" is given under the postage tab on the listing (see image) - you do have to click to see it, but it is stated in the listing that extra charges may apply depending on the buyers delivery location. If you were a buyer in China then no additional VAT would be added. It is only added for items that are sent to locations outside China. This is why it cannot be calculated until you checkout.

The "learn more" link goes to this page which explains about import VAT being added to the cost of the item 

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

[myriad*seller]

More info on tax and import charges on this link 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/fees-credits-invoices/taxes-import-charges?id=4121

[fargvs]

VAT cannot be added until the receiving Country is determined by the successful bid as rates vary in different Countries ... quick check before bidding/buying =

1.Item Location ... is seen under Postages in listings ... 

2.Seller Based Location  (Address) ... is shown in Feedback profile ... 

3.Country of  eBay Registration  ... seen by clicking their  'Items for sale /View listings' links to Seller information in left column.

Even with items located and sent from within the UK, if either the Seller/Buyer is Based or Registered outside the UK, it will trigger an additional VAT fee as per >

 https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/buying/paying-items/paying-tax-ebay-purchases?

[unclestein]

jadie13910 said "I think a lot of the above "community experts" are missing a huge point here"

It's because the 'community experts' are either AI robots, stooges or just happy to be ripped off!

Keep up with the struggle!

[papso22]

---

@unclestein wrote:

jadie13910 said "I think a lot of the above "community experts" are missing a huge point here"

It's because the 'community experts' are either AI robots, stooges or just happy to be ripped off!

Keep up with the struggle!

---

Wrong in every respect,  but keep up the misinformation if it makes you happy. 

[get_luck_7777-0]

hi i think your find the seller is in china as i get that also

the seller is not uk based

[Anonymous]

I am chasing this up also as vat has been added after purchase which I believe is not legal . We need to look at consumer rights and see if ebay is in accordance with uk law.

[ile136yz]

You are welcome to look at the legal side of paying VAT in the UK for items bought off a Seller from another country on an on-line sale. Citizen's Advice has information on buying on-line & how to sort out problems that occur.

If VAT needs to be collected, eBay will do this & send to the relevant Country. Different countries have different rates of VAT, so they cannot collect it until they know the Country they are dealing with.

Just a of couple notes:- 

1.    That Custom's Import Tax will need to be paid as well.

2.   Check also when you buy, the item may be in a warehouse in the UK, but if the Seller is Registered in another country, then Taxes will be applied.

It usually says on the advert what extra payment will be applied.

Hope you get it sorted out.

[ncee1405]

I too had VAT added to an item listed as being in London. I queried with ebay why had VAT later been added to be told the seller lived in France. Had the item been listed as anywhere other than UK I would not have purchased it. Currently no assistance from ebay

[ile136yz]

To find which Country the Seller is Registered with eBay:

Press    Seller's ID

Under the Seller's Feedback Ratings it will say which country they are registered with eBay.

It would make it easier for the Buyer if the Seller's Registered country was shown on the advert clearly.

[fargvs]

For information and Quick Seller check >

1. Item Location ... is seen under Postages in listings ... 

2. Seller (Based in) Location   ... is shown in their Feedback profile ... 

3. Country of  Seller Registration  ... can be seen by clicking their  'Items for sale /View listings' links to the Seller information in left column. >> (at 2/3 Based in/Registered site Locations can often be completely different.)

Even with items located  and sent from within the UK,  if either the Seller/Buyer is Based or Registered outside the UK ?... it will trigger an additional VAT fee as per >

 https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/buying/paying-items/paying-tax-ebay-purchases?

[jadie13910]

Any of you so called "community experts" should read the entire post from start to finish, and not jump in mid stream - Perhaps then you may understand the unfair position that some buyers are being put in - Please read the full post and lets see what your answer is then ! Go to the start and re-read !!!! 

[jadie13910]

Hi, do you really think that buyers want to wade through lots of pages before they purchase an item ?

It should be clearly stated on the add and not somewhere else ! How hard can it be ?

Please read the full post from the start.

[jadie13910]

eBay MUST and DO KNOW where in the world a seller is located as they have to be registered to sell as well as to buy !

So the eBay system is flawed beyond belief ! C`mon people vote with your money and buy elsewhere !!!!!!!!!!!!

Anybody reading this thread should read the full thread right from the start to see the confusion it is causing - People who buy on eBay want a fast, simple easy and satisfying experience - NOT to be confused,  missled. conned and left feeling robbed - and they do NOT want to get embroiled in a never ending dispute !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Technology can be great if used correctly - Come on eBay, get your act together and sort it out !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[fotherbale]

A separate charge for VAT is only made on listings which are supplied from outside your own country and where the seller is not registered for VAT, and therefore there is no VAT included in the listing price.  Cross border selling requires VAT to be charged at the rate set for the destination country, and where the sale is via an internet portal such as eBay, the law requires eBay to collect VAT on behalf of the tax authority in the destination country.   It used by collected by the delivery carrier, usually with an exorbitant handling charge levied on top for the benefit of the carrier.

Where the seller is VAT registered,  VAT is already included in the item price, or calculated on final value, but in this case eBay have to subtract the VAT from that value at the rate set in the country of origin and add VAT at the rate in the destination country.  Normally, eBay's system takes care of this automatically and will display the item price including VAT at your country's rate. 

Where extra VAT needs to be added to the final bid/BIN, it will say so under the price on the listing.

Ebay have made a pretty good fist of implementing a quite complex set of calculations bearing in mind that VAT rates vary, not only between countries, but also between different classes of goods.

The application of cross-border VAT really isn't complicated and if folk can't/won't understand it, that really isn't eBay's problem, and nobody is misleading or conning you out of anything. 

You should never get a supplementary VAT charge if the seller/item and buyer are both in the same country.  If you get this, you will find that the seller has lied about their own or the item location (sadly, not unusual for Chinese and Eastern European sellers and eBay don't seem to clamp down on this).

[Anonymous]

The seller says based in Britain but goods are from China. I am confused .com!

[fargvs]

See previous post > Message 6 of 96  below re:- Seller check  ... should confirm Location/Registration .

[jadie13910]

If you all read the full article you will see that (in my case) the product stated - in was in UK, it came from China - even more confusing is the actual seller was in California ??????????? and that is where the payment went !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Totally confusing !

Computers are a wonderful tool, if used properly -- obviously eBay are not capable - perhaps they should employ someone who knows what to do - they are making enough profit - and don`t get me started on the fact they should be paying their fair share of tax !!!!!!!!!!!! This subject is now finished as far as I am concerned.

[jadie13910]

Please see my previous post`s and PLEASE read all the post`s regarding this issue from the start - make it simple and people use it ! make it confusing and people go elsewhere - Oh so simple !!!!

[myriad*seller]

Import VAT and duty cannot be calculated until the moment the sale takes place

Eg you buy an item located in Spain from a Spanish seller. Now if you want it sent to you in the Uk, then import VAT and possible duty is payable

HOWEVER, if you decide you want to send this item located in Spain, sold by a Spanish seller to your ficticious sister in Spain as a gift, then no import VAT or duty is payable

The destination of the sold item makes a massive difference to the taxes/duty payable. This is why it cannot be calculated until you go through checkout.

Not sure why this is so difficult to understand, but being abusive to other posters won't get you very far on these boards.

Perhaps now you understand *why* eBay cannot list the prices inclusive of VAT or import taxes, you will stop being so abusive to others.

It is NOT possible to show VAT inclusive prices until the buyer goes through checkout - so you can stamp your feet as much as you like, but it won't change what eBay are LEGALLY required to do. 

Import VAT is required to be collected by eBay as it is a legal requirement. Import VAT is due on ALL sales from overseas, not just eBay sales. 

By the way, it takes one single click to find out the sellers location, so the hyperbole about wading through pages doesn't really stand up to scrutiny either.