vat on purchases from Japan

[welun-6614]

I have just placed a bid on an item from a Japanese seller. despite the bid being over £135 the screen advised me that it was subject to 20% import vat. Why?

As this is over £135 I understood it will be subject to vat on arrival at Coventry National Hub (this comes to be delivered by Parcel force)

In addition this item is over 100 years old and therefore subject to 5%vat not 20%vat

I have imported two items from this seller so far this year the second (over £135) I only paid 5% vat and it took just over a week to arrive. The first (under£135) I paid 205 vat via yourselves and then vat on arrival and the item took a month to arrive

[tobiasd4]

See here:

Paying tax on eBay purchases | eBay