Postage from Germany to the UK

Robocop35

Hi,

I bought a lot of antiques at auction last week in Germany which was around £190 Sterling.  I have been told I have to pay Germany VAT at 19% on top of their postage and commission and they are saying they cant send out of the EU as well,
Please can someone advise me regarding the VAT,

Many thanks James

unforeseen

German VAT rules not ours

soolin

Robocop35 said:

Hi,

I bought a lot of antiques at auction last week in Germany which was around £190 Sterling.  I have been told I have to pay Germany VAT at 19% on top of their postage and commission and they are saying they cant send out of the EU as well,
Please can someone advise me regarding the VAT,

Many thanks James

Due to new VAT rules and the UK leaving the EU many companies in the EU have suspended sales to the UK until they get their head round collecting VAT for HMRC, many of my usual sellers are refusing UK sales at the moment. . If they are charging German VAT and assuming you have an agreement with them in place to ship to the UK, then you will need to pay the 20% VAT to HMRC as well, possibly on arrival along with handling charges. This is not my area as I am already struggling with import questions myself, but I have been told that the German VAT can be reclaimed, but I have no idea how or whether it is simple or not.

When you arranged to buy had you previously agreed they would ship to the UK?

martindow

The age of the antiques also matters from some EU countries.  From France you can import items under 50 years old without a problem, between 50 and 100 years old it is allowed as long as they are under a certain value (10,000 Euros I think). 

Anything older than this needs a certificate from the Louvre regardless of its value.  This is why there have been notices at the Gare du Nord in Paris warning about 1st World War mementos not being allowed on Eurostar.  I thought it was to do with munitions, but it is for anything although they probably would prefer that you didn't bring bullets on the train either.

Each European country sets its own rules but Germany looks similar

https://www.zoll.de/EN/Private-individuals/Travel/Leaving-Germany/Restrictions/Cultural-assets/cultural-assets_node.html

These rules are not Brexit related and were in place previously.

Robocop35

Hi,
Thanks for your comments.  They agreed to posting the lot before I bid on it.  They did not make me aware that I would have to pay 19% VAT before they ship it to me on top of their charges and the postage charges.  I am waiting for them to come back to me.  I should get a reduction on the VAT charged at 20% when it arrives in the UK as VAT is charged at 5% if they are over 100 years old which they are.
Many thanks
James

martindow

I don't think they should be charging German VAT at all for an export outside the EU.  I assume from what you have said about the age of the items that there are not the same regulations as from France.

Robocop35

Thanks.  They told me that If I use them to post it I would not have to pay the VAT and would be posting it via DHL.  I asked them to box the items up and I would arrange for UPS to come in and collect on my behalf as it would be quite a bit cheaper, and they then said that I have to pay the VAT!
Its all rather confusing to say the least!

martindow

I think that is correct.  If they hand it over at the door to your carrier it is deemed to be still within the country so German VAT is charged.  If they organise the delivery the end point is then the UK and so no German VAT.

UK VAT works in a similar way.  A few years ago I had an Irish buyer who happened to be in the UK and wanted to pick up in person to avoid the carriage charge.  Even though everyone knew it was going to Ireland, the VAT could not be removed unless we sent it ourselves.