Online Market Place (OMP) & VAT

[001uk]

Right eBay is now an OMP and VAT is on imports into the UK etc. I get that.

However, why is VAT being raised at the Point of Sale by eBay on items which do NOT attract the tax? (ie Antiques [items over 100 years old], books and unused GB decimal postage stamps).

I am having to pay a tax on something which is CLEARLY not taxable.

Will eBay sort this out or will it be possible to claim back the tax from HMRC? (Both probably pipe dreams)

[redwick1]

If it has been charged the ebay obviously think it is a chargeble item

You have probably seen this anyway

Starting 1 January 2021, eBay is required to collect VAT on certain orders delivered to UK addresses:

• Orders up to £135 sent from outside the UK
• Orders where the item is located in the UK, but the seller is not a UK seller

You'll see the VAT included in your order total at checkout, and you can view and download a tax invoice from the Order details page in your purchase History

We are still trying to work out what should be charged and how the charge is decided

Why not just phone HMRC and ask them or check out their site

when you find out it would be very helpful if you let us know

I must say I have found the Gov.uk site excellent and when contacting the tax office they have been very good so I would not hesitate to ask them about it

They have been good with me when returning tax I should not have paid

[001uk]

redwick1
Hi, Yes I have read some of the gubbins on the HMRC pages (upon pages) re OMPs & VAT and certainly saw the bits you highlighted. However, it's a complete minefield for the OMPs. How on earth are they to know if something really IS an Antique, do they know what Decimal mint stamps are for postage as opposed to any other stamps? Plus there must be SO many other instances where things are not VATable or zero rated. It's an imposition they haven't got a hope in hell to monitor properly. Nobody should have to pay a tax if it is not applicable. I don't own a car so the DVLA doesn't come after me for Car Tax!

[redwick1]

Exactly.

Honestly I have read so much and it is still not clear.
Sorry not much help to you.