import VAT from EU to UK

[keithchapmanuk]

I bought a comic from the EU - and Ebay automatically added 20% VAT to the purchase price and shipping charge  - a comic is 'printed matter' and zero-rated for VAT [customs commodity code: 4902900000] - so there should have been no charge at all.

I contacted their 'chat' section who were of no help and suggested that 'the government' was adding the charge, not Ebay - 'the government' would NOT want the 20% added as they know it is a zero-rated item.

Ebay seem unwilling to listen to me, sadly - and say they can do nothing about it.

Where does this 20% go - not to HMRC, as they would not want to collect this on a zero-rated item [0% VAT]? So, just into Ebay's bank account, I assume ?

Has anyone else experienced this situation? A huge amount of money could be involved.

[red_magpie]

Has anyone else experienced this situation?

Yes, there have been other questions about eBay adding VAT to VAT exempt items.

I don't think anyone knows what happens to the payments. There's not much point in asking customer support. It's basically only a call centre and they either can't discuss or genuinely don't know the answer to many questions about eBay.

As eBay has claimed that "the government" has added this charge, why not write to HMRC to ask why it was charged, and how you can claim it back?

[plpmr]

eBay won't give a hoot as Global has been charging import duty etc for years on items that attract not import duty etc