Import Charges on purchase below £135

[2015.banag]

I just bought a car part from Japan, The Original price was £136.24 but EBay had a 20% Black Friday discount so the price was £108.99 total including shipping but now I’ve got a £41.54 customs charge to pay as the courier says it was over £135, is this correct or should I have no extra charges as I’ve paid £108.99 total ? Thanks 

[4_bathrooms]

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@papso22 wrote:

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So just to be clear, your £108.99 already included VAT?

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I'm almost certain it did not. If it did eBay would have needed to provide a VAT invoice/receipt which they haven't done. It sounds like DHL forwarded the eBay sales record - which would not have shown a VAT breakdown - and the corresponding debit from the OP's bank account to customs. Despite the fact the evidence provided didn't show any VAT being paid - and no IOSS data being provided with the consignment - someone in customs decided no VAT or duty was due.

I'm guessing whoever it was in customs just saw it was an eBay order with a total of £108.99 and therefore assumed the VAT had been paid and no duty was due.

[2015.banag]

Yes it must have been, when going to buy other items from same seller it says VAT added to prices based on delivery address no additional charges will apply, so hopefully I don’t get a later invoice from DHL🤞 they didn’t mention it on the email anyway just told me it’s been released for delivery 

[2015.banag]

When going to buy the same item, they have now put the price up to £150.00 but it says this when going to pay 

 

[4_bathrooms]

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@2015.banag wrote:

Yes it must have been, when going to buy other items from same seller it says VAT added to prices based on delivery address no additional charges will apply

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What is the value of these other items? Try looking in the "see details" for an item listed for over £162...

The reason I've given £162 is because the seller could have an item that is being offered for £135 but the VAT eBay is obliged to charge would make it £162. I suspect the item you originally purchased was listed at £136.24 (not £113.53 + VAT) because you would have received a VAT invoice/receipt from eBay. You will need to check the listing you actually purchased via to see if VAT was included in the price or not. 

[2015.banag]

Yes when looking at more expensive items from the same seller it doesn’t mention VAT added to prices based on delivery address 

 

[4_bathrooms]

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@2015.banag wrote:

Yes when looking at more expensive items from the same seller it doesn’t mention VAT added to prices based on delivery address 

 

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That's because VAT hasn't been added to the price; it will be payable on import (along with customs duty and the carrier's handling charge).

The listing you purchased from was either listed at £136.24 - meaning no VAT was applied - or it was listed at £113.53 with £22.71 VAT applied by eBay. I have a strong feeling it was the former. You need to go to the listing you purchased from and find this link:

  

If the price shown included a VAT element it will show this:

However, if the price shown did not include a VAT element that section will be missing:

[sml192]

If the £108.99 that you paid included VAT then you will be able to download a VAT invoice from the 'Order details' in your purchases, under 'More options'.  The payment section in the original listing will also show whether VAT was included in the listed price.

If the original listed price of £136.24 did include VAT then the invoice issued by the seller, and the amount declared to customs, should have been for the net amount (amount excluding VAT) as the seller is deemed to have made a zero rated supply to the marketplace (eBay).  

[2015.banag]

For some reason I don’t get that see details option when using the app or desktop 🤷‍♂️ I think the seller must be including vat in they’re prices tho as anything below £150 says vat added to prices no additional charges will apply but anything over £150 doesn’t mention it so I assume vat will be required on arrival to U.K. for those items 

 

[2015.banag]

I don’t get these options under order details for some reason either using the app and desktop  🤷‍♂️ 

 

[sml192]

If the option to download a VAT invoice is missing then that means that VAT was not collected by eBay.  

The original listing should show whether VAT was included in the listed price in the 'Payment' part of the 'Postage, Returns, and Payment' section.  If using the app then you will need to expand that section to see the line relating to taxes, which will be directly below the payment options.

[2015.banag]

I have found that payments section on the listing now and yes it says price displayed includes VAT 👍

 

[returns_andexdisplay]

It could be a eBay co funded coupon where the seller receives the full amount and then billed later for the seller funded amount.