eBay / HMRC clamping down on VAT evasion?

StewartR

StewartR

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I tried to buy something on eBay today. UK-based seller, next-day delivery available so the item is clearly actually in the UK, VAT number confirmed on VIES as legitimate.

But then at the checkout I saw this:

upload_2018-6-8_17-42-22.png

Wow. Hooray. At last.
 
Not paid their bill?
 
Isn't that notification contradictory?

In the first line it says that the seller can't sell to UK buyers. Then it goes on to say .....so we have restricted their sales to UK buyers :facepalm:
 
David_H said:
Isn't that notification contradictory?

In the first line it says that the seller can't sell to UK buyers. Then it goes on to say .....so we have restricted their sales to UK buyers :facepalm:
Click to expand...
Not so much contradictory as ambiguous as I read it.

Sales to UK buyers are restricted (i.e. limited items can be sold to UK buyers) rather than only UK buyers can purchase from them.
 
StewartR said:
I tried to buy something on eBay today. UK-based seller, next-day delivery available so the item is clearly actually in the UK, VAT number confirmed on VIES as legitimate.

But then at the checkout I saw this:

View attachment 128230

Wow. Hooray. At last.
Click to expand...

I just wonder if they will also apply this to EU buyers and EU suppliers, where clearly items are being shipped into the EU and somehow the local VAT/TVA/BTW is avoided

The last time I looked there seemed to be a few German suppliers and their prices were at a level where I suspect German VAT, (MwSt), had not been paid
 
Hmmm the shape of things to come .
 
I wonder what will happen when the UK has left the EU - buy stuff in Europe, Euro VAT paid and then bring it back into the UK - will UK VAT be then payable, with no deduction for say French TVA paid - I cannot see the French giving a refund at the border!!?
 
BillN_33 said:
I wonder what will happen when the UK has left the EU - buy stuff in Europe, Euro VAT paid and then bring it back into the UK - will UK VAT be then payable, with no deduction for say French TVA paid - I cannot see the French giving a refund at the border!!?
Click to expand...

It'll be a shambles likely.
On the Ebay thing - remember not all business's need to be VAT registered, only if sales will exceed a certain threshold (£85k a year currently I believe)
 
It would also help if Stewart told us the name of the actual seller
 
Saves us the hassle of buying something then finding you can’t
 
the black fox said:
Saves us the hassle of buying something then finding you can’t
Click to expand...
There are over 25,000,000 sellers on eBay. What are the odds that (a) you want to buy something from this particular seller, and (b) this particular seller is the only one that has been restricted by HMRC?
 
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