Can I make an order from abroad whilst on UC?

biggsy147147

Hi, I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this question but I just need a bit of advice and I haven't been able to find any elsewhere as of yet! 

I am looking to make a small order of products from abroad, I'm not currently working and am on UC but it is something I would like to start doing, my question is simply this, can I just make the order and then pay the custom fee's and that's it? Or do I need anything else as I have been told since Brexit you need some sort of self employment code? I am only making a small order of potential products I am interested in selling, I would like to move onto being self employed and working again as soon as possible and would just like to know what the right steps would be first of all. 

Any help would be great. 

Thanks 

poppy12345

A quick google search gave me these.. https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/buying-online-from-europe-post-brexit/

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/somethings-gone-wrong-with-a-purchase/shopping-online-after-brexit/

It has nothing to do with UC. If you're thinking of going self employed then of course you will need to report the changes on your journal and then report your earnings and expenses each month.

Spoonie_Turtle

biggsy147147 said:

Hi, I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this question but I just need a bit of advice and I haven't been able to find any elsewhere as of yet! 

I am looking to make a small order of products from abroad, I'm not currently working and am on UC but it is something I would like to start doing, my question is simply this, can I just make the order and then pay the custom fee's and that's it? Or do I need anything else as I have been told since Brexit you need some sort of self employment code? I am only making a small order of potential products I am interested in selling, I would like to move onto being self employed and working again as soon as possible and would just like to know what the right steps would be first of all. 

Any help would be great. 

Thanks 

 Not sure what the has to do with UC, but okay.

If you are ordering from an online marketplace (eBay, Amazon, anywhere else that stocks multiple sellers' wares) they should charge you import VAT at the point of sale if your order is below £135.

If you are buying from an independent seller (and under £135), they likely will not have registered with HMRC to collect import VAT from buyers so you would be charged when the order comes into the country.  You would have the import VAT plus handling fee of whatever postal company or courier is dealing with it.

If your order is over £135 you will have customs duty to pay as well as import VAT, which will be done when it enters customs over here whomever you buy from.  As a retail consumer I assume it should be straightforward.  If it's classed as a business-to-business transaction (I'd have thought unlikely, if you're not registered as self-employed) then I'm not sure how it works.

You may have more thorough advice on one of the other parts of the forum, regarding work or cutting tax(?) or something.  I'm not sure.

biggsy147147

Yes I was unsure where to post this so I apologize if this was the wrong place! The order itself is from China and is roughly £500 so I know there will be custom fee's on that but I am just unsure about if there is anything else to do, I'm not self employed and this is the first time I have bought in bulk with the view to sell eventually. The order would be with a view to sell closer to Christmas time given me a chance to see if the product or even idea will be worth it, I just wanted to take the right steps before paying for it in the first place. Thanks 

Spoonie_Turtle

It's not a problem, we just want you to be able to find the advice you need   I don't frequent many other areas but this one looks like possibly more people may have experience or know about importing 
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/small-biz-charities-moneysaving

biggsy147147

Thank you, I have posted in that forum now instead