Double charging of VAT on items purchased via Ebay DE/IT/FR for delivery to the Uk

[1wish2fish]

I have tried to take this up with Ebay as an 'International' entity, but can not get a rational response beyond "the Uk now has to pay VAT on goods arriving from the EU".

I FULLY understand that - BUT - Goods purchased from the EU SHOULD be '0' rated for VAT, ie, discounted to the value of the relevent VAT - generally +/- the same 20% we, in the Uk are obliged to pay.

As far as I can establish items listed on Ebay DE/IT/Fr ( etc ) - as occurs in the Uk - are listed "inc of VAT". acording to Ebay's own information.

Therefore an item listed on Ebay DE is listed with the relevent 20% (EU) VAT included in the (end of ) listing price for the 'winning' bidder.  Uk buyers competeing with EU/German bidders are seeing an 'end price' - say €90, the same as EU/DE bidders, which is inclusive of (their) EU VAT.  Uk buyers, if winning the item are then being charged an additional 20% VAT for the Uk revenue by Ebay, but the 20% German VAT is also being applied so a Uk buyer is paying - as far as I can see - 40% VAT ?

EU sales to a Uk buyer should be '0'rated for VAT.......one wonders where the EU/Ebay DE VAT is going? - possibly to the seller initially, who may or may not be being charged ( as well ) as part of their transaction.

I  can not seem to get past the "first line of defence", ie, the 'general advice' level of Ebay "Help" representatives, who seem to have a very limited grasp on the issue or what an EU/UK '0' rate "at source" might be.   

Are there any other buyers from Europe out there who take the same view or am I failing to see a simple /justifiable explanation ( it would not be the first time! )

[1wish2fish]

Indeed, it would be very useful - should there be USA/Canada based Ebay users who purchase from the EU based sellers what the proceedure is for having their purchases '0' rated / discounted for (EU) VAT at point of purchase ? is it discounted within the checkout or in the listing price which they see ?

[*vyolla*]

Why do you think that imports from the EU to the UK are zero rated for VAT?

Youll be charged an extra 20% VAT at checkout, eBay collect this and pass it on to HMRC.

[1wish2fish]

Because VAT is charged by Ebay via it's EU platforms for payment to EU states. It is also now charging VAT "on behalf of" the Uk. It is a matter of fact that EU VAT is not chargeable for Goods for Export from an EU State to a 1/3 Country, which we now are. Goods for Export to a 1/3rd Country should be '0' rated and any taxes due charged either by agreement - which is what Ebay are doing on behalf of the Uk Govt. or at the point of 'Import' ( which is overridden by the Ebay process for items below €150 ) Therefore Ebay are charging EU VAT at 20% and then collecting 'another' 20% on behalf of HM Gov, so the VAT is being charged twice. At the point of 'sale' via Ebay De / Fr / It etc. for sale to a Uk based bidder, the End of Listing price should be discounted by the value of the VAT - as I believe was ( and may still be the case ? ) for buyers in USA etc when eligible to bid/buy via EU promoted Ebay sites..

Worthy of note too.......Uk Sellers to EU buyers should also be '0' rating the item for VAT in the 'list price', ie. not showing a price inclusive of Uk VAT albeit Ebay.co.uk, will ( or should be ) adding the relevent EU State VAT at point of sale to forward to the EU State under "new" post 01/07 rules.  Again - Ebay Uk should  not be taking UK VAT AND EU VAT or the same double charging of VAT will apply.