Not VAT charged from eBay Global Shipping

sebtomato

Hi,

I have purchased today an item based in the USA, and worth about £40 (excluding delivery).

Item is being sent to me in the UK via the eBay Global Shipping program. However, import charges was showing as $0.

Am I not supposed to pay import tax/VAT for such item? Can I be charged something when I receive the item?

Thanks,
Seb

soolin

sebtomato wrote: »

Hi,

I have purchased today an item based in the USA, and worth about £40 (excluding delivery).

Item is being sent to me in the UK via the eBay Global Shipping program. However, import charges was showing as $0.

Am I not supposed to pay import tax/VAT for such item? Can I be charged something when I receive the item?

Thanks,
Seb

As you are buying via the GSP all the import coats and duty etc should be covered in the cost of the 'postage' you paid.

sebtomato

Thanks. What I don't understand is that, since the VAT threshold in the UK is £15, why eBay is not adding VAT to my purchase??

mrcol1000

sebtomato wrote: »

Thanks. What I don't understand is that, since the VAT threshold in the UK is £15, why eBay is not adding VAT to my purchase??

Last week I brought a book via Amazon USA website. It was around £25. I was also not charged any import duties or VAT. It arrived no problem.

Carl31

Vat is applied by the supplier. As it's a US supplier, it is outside the scope for uk VAT, but you may be charged once it's received by uk customs

It's nothing to do with ebay

shaun_from_Africa

mrcol1000 wrote: »

Last week I brought a book via Amazon USA website. It was around £25. I was also not charged any import duties or VAT. It arrived no problem.

That was because there was nothing to pay.
"Real" books are VAT free (as opposed to e-books which attract 20% VAT).

Carl31 wrote: »

Vat is applied by the supplier. As it's a US supplier, it is outside the scope for uk VAT, but you may be charged once it's received by uk customs

It's nothing to do with ebay

If you purchase something from a non EU based seller and that purchase is done through the ebay Global shipping program, any import charges are collected as part of the payment and paid directly to HMRC so there shouldn't be anything else to pay when the goods arrive in the UK.

soolin

Carl31 wrote: »

Vat is applied by the supplier. As it's a US supplier, it is outside the scope for uk VAT, but you may be charged once it's received by uk customs

It's nothing to do with ebay

Actually this has everything to do with ebay

http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/buy/shipping-globally.html


When you purchase an item through the Global Shipping Programme:
You pay any applicable import charges upfront. There are no additional charges at delivery.
You get international tracking at no additional charge.
Your purchase is eligible for coverage through the eBay Money Back Guarantee and PayPal Purchase Protection.

LadyDee

http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/buy/shipping-globally.html

You may still be liable for charges & taxes.

sebtomato

LadyDee wrote: »

http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/buy/shipping-globally.html

You may still be liable for charges & taxes.

Where does it say I would be liable for VAT (which was the original question)?

LadyDee

sebtomato wrote: »

Where does it say I would be liable for VAT (which was the original question)?

VAT - Value Added Tax

sebtomato

LadyDee wrote: »

VAT - Value Added Tax

Yes, part of the import charges included in the price paid during checkout, as per the page/link you gave says...