VAT added to private seller

[jonwillis81]

Hi. 

I've had VAT added to my item. I am a private seller, not selling for profit, I'm not vat registered. I'm selling from the UK to the UK. Why is eBay adding 20% vat to my listing. 

I spoke to that support and they are absolutely sure this is correct behaviour. But to me it's wrong as I'm not vat registered so it's illegal for me to charge VAT. Unless eBay is buying it from me then reselling it, then surely they can't charge VAT as I've already paid VAT on it as the end user when I brought it originally. 

Can anyone shed light on this issue?

[jonny_leonard]

When I get back home I'll send the info
But this guy is registered as a private seller on eBay

[le-web3]

They've just done this to me too. Sold a dress from cornwall sent to Southampton.  VAT added. I'm a private seller to a private buyer. This is so wrong. Ebay sort it out!

[jonny_leonard]

I already did just after you asked

[jonny_leonard]

The odd thing is that eBay doesn't make anything from VAT we're ending up
giving it to the tax man. There system is picking up on a word somewhere
and deciding on payment as you said, eBay sort it out

[benidicta]

Totally agree crazy.


Sent from the all-new AOL app for iOS

[benidicta]

Yes they need to get their act together no sure what’s happening with eBay at no but I promote but my listings are ending with no traffic at all Hhmm


Sent from the all-new AOL app for iOS

[4_bathrooms]

---

@jonny_leonard wrote:
I already did just after you asked

---

You posted "When I get back home I'll send the info". You so far haven't posted the information I requested from the sales record such as the item price, postage, BPF and the amount of VAT charged.

I'm pretty certain you're looking at the VAT that was charged on the postage label; i.e. there was no VAT charged on the item price. Until you post the information requested (or the item number) that is what I'm going to continue to believe. In not a single case in this thread where the poster has provided that crucial information has VAT been shown to have been charged incorrectly.

[jonny_leonard]

I think your answer is totally incorrect I have never paid VAT on any
purchase from private sellers in over 20 years on eBay Also if this
continues I will finish my account and eBay can go suck.

[4_bathrooms]

---

@le-web3 wrote:

They've just done this to me too. Sold a dress from cornwall sent to Southampton.  VAT added. I'm a private seller to a private buyer. This is so wrong. Ebay sort it out!

---

Are you able to take a screenshot of the amounts that are shown in the sales record? Obviously leave any of your buyer's details out.

If you are not able to take a screenshot can you please provide the breakdown that is shown of what the buyer paid such as the item price, Buyer Protection fee, postage label and the amount of VAT charged? Or even just the item number?

[papso22]

---

@jonny_leonard wrote:
I think your answer is totally incorrect I have never paid VAT on any
purchase from private sellers in over 20 years on eBay Also if this
continues I will finish my account and eBay can go suck.

---

But you will pay VAT when you buy from a private account.  That is not VAT on the item but VAT on the buyer protection fee and possibly the postage.  That VAT is  charged by, and paid to, ebay. 

[fargvs]

@jonny_leonard    --- Not related to item Country of manufacture issue --- but for information >

Even if the item is located within the UK;  if either the UK located Buyer/Seller is using/or has an account that was originally registered outside the UK ,  then Import VAT and any other duty is charged.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/buying/paying-items/paying-tax-ebay-purchases?id=4771&st=12&pos=3&query=...

[le-web3]

I have a screenshot but it can't be uploaded 🤷🏼‍♀️. Basically. Dress sold for  £5.99

Buyer protection 96p

Postage £2.45

VAT 49p

Dress has even been delivered and I've still got payment pending too!

This is all becoming so stressful, after my listing's have expired I'm closing down account.

[le-web3]

Yes buyer paid delivery. It's only 49p VAT added but there's no explanation as to what the vat has been added to.

[benidicta]

Sent from the all-new AOL app for iOS

[4_bathrooms]

---

@le-web3 wrote:

I have a screenshot but it can't be uploaded 🤷🏼‍♀️. Basically. Dress sold for  £5.99

Buyer protection 96p

Postage £2.45

VAT 49p

---

That is the VAT charged on the postage label which the buyer purchased from eBay. Your buyer paid £9.89 in total but no VAT was charged on the item price. The two amounts they paid to eBay (not you) have a VAT element because eBay is a VAT registered business. eBay charged £2.94 postage which was £2.45 plus VAT. If you check the rates eBay charges for postage/shipping labels here (under "Courier and postage rates") there isn't a £2.45 rate but there are a couple of £2.94 rates depending upon the "Simple" Delivery options chosen.

I have no idea why eBay shows the information the way they do. The Buyer Protection fee has a VAT element but this isn't shown broken down into a net amount and VAT. If you look closely you will see a small asterisk next to the "Postage" charge and an identical one next to the "VAT" charge indicating the VAT shown is applicable to the postage label.

eBay have not charged any VAT that they shouldn't have. 

[jonny_leonard]

Ok so your saying if you choose the eBay auto delivery charge because they
are a business VAT is applicable
As most all of use private sellers and buyers never ever came across this
before when using say packlink why the heck haven't they been clear to us
to stop people being miffed about a charge we mostly did not understsnd.
They have all our email addys

[2006jrgenpeter]

Evri send me the message that the postcode ist wrong.
And now?

[4_bathrooms]

---

@jonny_leonard wrote:
Ok so your saying if you choose the eBay auto delivery charge because they
are a business VAT is applicable

---

It is because eBay are a VAT registered business.

---

@jonny_leonard wrote:

As most all of use private sellers and buyers never ever came across this
before when using say packlink 

---

You did; you just didn't see it. Here is Packlink's eBay UK delivery charges; note the line that states "The prices listed below are indicative and include VAT." Even if you purchase Tracked 24 or Tracked 48 directly from Royal Mail the price includes VAT because Tracked services are not VAT-exempt retail postal services. The only difference - apart from eBay charging more - is eBay have chosen to display the VAT element separately. The Buyer Protection fee also includes VAT but eBay aren't showing the BPF broken down the same way they have with postage. 

It should really be displayed clearer and with more consistency; i.e. both the postage/shipping and the BPF should show a VAT breakdown or neither should show one. eBay have hinted that "Simple" Delivery might be an option for business sellers in the future so perhaps that's the reason a VAT breakdown is shown; I have no idea.  

[4_bathrooms]

---

@2006jrgenpeter wrote:
Evri send me the message that the postcode ist wrong.
And now?

---

This is a separate issue but are you the buyer or the seller in this case? You would probably be better off opening a new thread for your issue. 

[jonny_leonard]

Well look up the address on Google to see if they are right you can alter
it on the postage label if it is
If it isn't just ignore it sometimes a gap makes their system thinks it's
wrong
Regards John