Ebay VAT

Jazzguy1

Hi all
Has anyone had experience as a business seller with ebay regarding VAT ? I am new to it and not sure of ebay takes the VAT from the buyer and pays in directly to HMRC or do i?
I know they take it and remit it for european buyers.
The reason i ask is that they  have on my listing  VAT included at 20% but  i dont want it included , i want it added on , otherwise i lose out
Ie
Sell an item for 10£  i want my final price to be 12£  so i keep my 10 and send the £2  to HMRC on my return.

I dont see VAT  added to my recent ended listings   just the end amount and ebay fees.   . 
Is there not an option  to add 20% not include it. They are auctions not fixed price
Thanks

Grumpy_chap

Jazzguy1 said:

Hi all
Has anyone had experience as a business seller with ebay regarding VAT ? I am new to it and not sure of ebay takes the VAT from the buyer and pays in directly to HMRC or do i?
I know they take it and remit it for european buyers.
The reason i ask is that they  have on my listing  VAT included at 20% but  i dont want it included , i want it added on , otherwise i lose out
Ie
Sell an item for 10£  i want my final price to be 12£  so i keep my 10 and send the £2  to HMRC on my return.

I dont see VAT  added to my recent ended listings   just the end amount and ebay fees.   . 
Is there not an option  to add 20% not include it. They are auctions not fixed price
Thanks

eBay is predominantly selling to consumers so the headline price (auction close price) is the total cost including all costs of doing business (VAT, listing fees, final value fees etc.).

Auction listings would be very confusing if some you paid the final price but others you paid the final price plus VAT.

You could list as Buy It Now, where your listed price would include VAT, but you can control whether an item is £10 or £12.

Is your business large enough that it must be VAT-registered?  If not, you could de-register and make it simpler.

Devongardener

If you are not VAT registered you cannot charge it at all.  I don’t know whether EBay ask business sellers whether they are registered when you set up an account.    If you are registered you should be familiar with the process of submitting VAT returns and paying and net VAT due.

soolin

As above, eBay requires a total inclusive amount to be charged . If you are a business seller registered for VAT then speak to your accountant who I’m sure has dealt with eBay sellers before. They Cana devise you how to deal with your VAT pricing and breakdown . 

It’s just like going to a shop really, as a consumer I see a final price , my receipt may show the breakdown for VAT, but ultimately all I see as a headline figure is a single price. The shop then accounts for the VAT by separating out the various elements for reporting purposes. 

400ixl

Ebay is a marketplace (be it with an auction facility), they are not responsible for your VAT returns. To use the platform they charge a fee, bidders buy at VAT inc prices, Ebay don't take the VAT from that, you as a business do that.

If you want something to be £12 (£10 + VAT) then you need to put it as Buy It Now at £12. If it is an auction then the risk you take includes the VAT.

soolin

OP now has several threads running about businesses and it is getting rather muddling trying to keep up. Here is one from the eBay board 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6480481/vat-issue-with-ebay#latest