Claiming back VAT?

moneysaverz83

I've bought a high value item from a gallery in LA.
I'm using a London shipping company to get it here safely and insured.
There is no customs as it's artwork, I've been advised.
Though I'm liable for 5% VAT. I was going to mark down the value of the package.
The shipping company says I can no longer do this as the item is above 2500 USD and the invoice shows they haven't added on state of California tax or something?

Anyway, fine.

But is this VAT something I can claim back? I have no idea.

FYI, it's not work related and I'm self employed, if that matters

custardy

moneysaverz83 wrote: »

I've bought a high value item from a gallery in LA.
I'm using a London shipping company to get it here safely and insured.
There is no customs as it's artwork, I've been advised.
Though I'm liable for 5% VAT. I was going to mark down the value of the package.
The shipping company says I can no longer do this as the item is above 2500 USD and the invoice shows they haven't added on state of California tax or something?

Anyway, fine.

But is this VAT something I can claim back? I have no idea.

FYI, it's not work related and I'm self employed, if that matters

Why would your personal purchase be eligible to claim VAT back?

agrinnall

And if HMRC had discovered that you had undervalued the item you should have expected to be investigated for tax evasion.

le_loup

moneysaverz83 wrote: »

I was going to mark down the value of the package.
is this VAT something I can claim back? I have no idea.

Clearly.
....................................

TheCyclingProgrammer

Gotta love people who come on here asking for free advice then flounce when they don!!!8217;t get the answers they were hoping for.

le_loup

moneysaverz83 wrote: »

FYI, I mark down packages all the Time, buying and selling, and so do various companies and people on places like ebay and individual stores around the world. Common practice, and common sense.

Oh! I am sorry. If other people do it, it must be the right thing to do. How naive of me.
You carry on using your common sense and we all hope that no one ever finds out.

uknick

le_loup wrote: »

Oh! I am sorry. If other people do it, it must be the right thing to do. How naive of me.
You carry on using your common sense and we all hope that no one ever finds out.

Thanks for quoting their post, as it appears to have been deleted now.

I last worked in export/import nearly 30 years ago, and the same question used to arise then. Our answer was always, you need to quote the correct price as a) that's the correct/legal way and b) if you do put a lower price, will you be happy with the insurance payout if it gets lost?