Sellers backing out over VAT charges/Sale refund

[rayexup]

Been trying to sell a motorbike on ebay in the UK only to be told by the buyer they were going to be charged the 20% VAT on the sale so they backed out, why is ebay charging this on a private UK sale?, and can i get a sale refund because of this charge?

[fargvs]

Is your Buyer based outside the UK ? ... VAT @ 20% is inclusive on all UK >< UK sales, ... but ... 

Even with an item showing as being located in the UK,  if either the buyer or seller uses an account that is or has been Registered outside the UK  site at any time, it will automatically trigger an additional UK 20% VAT  fee payable to HMRC/UK Government >

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/buying/paying-items/paying-tax-ebay-purchases?id=4771&st=2&pos=2&query=P...

[myriad*seller]

If your account (or the buyers account) is registered outside the UK then eBay has to add 20% import VAT to your listings by law, as sales from sellers outside the UK attract import VAT, even if the item is in the UK. 

If you wish to continue to sell, you, and the buyer, need a UK registered account and an address in the UK, then buyers won't have 20% added. Having checked your account, it seems you are registered with a UK account, so it must be the buyer whose account is registered overseas. 

[papso22]

Or it's the frequently recurring glitch where buyers are told it will be added and then when they get to checkout, it's not.

[papso22]

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@rayexup wrote:

Been trying to sell a motorbike on ebay in the UK only to be told by the buyer they were going to be charged the 20% VAT on the sale so they backed out, why is ebay charging this on a private UK sale?, and can i get a sale refund because of this charge?

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What 'sale refund' do you mean?

[myriad*seller]

Oh yes I forgot about Option 3 - the old Ebay glitch 

[papso22]

There is always the possibility of Option 3!

[myriad*seller]

At least it wasn't Rule 6!