VAT on non-UK purchases via eBay's Linn Shop

[vicdiaz]

Hi,

Was just checking a pair of Katan stands on Linn's eBay shop when a small foot note caught my attention:

VAT price: 20.0% (included in the listed price)

Why should I pay 20% VAT when the item's destination is not the U.K.???

[tokenbrit]

(2011-01-26 02:07)vicdiaz Wrote:  Hi,

Was just checking a pair of Katan stands on Linn's eBay shop when a small foot note caught my attention:

VAT price: 20.0% (included in the listed price)

Why should I pay 20% VAT when the item's destination is not the U.K.???

You shouldn't and almost certainly wouldn't...

[ukandrewf]

(2011-01-26 05:59)tokenbrit Wrote:  [quote='vicdiaz' pid='106968' dateline='1296004060']
Was just checking a pair of Katan stands on Linn's eBay shop when a small foot note caught my attention:

Linn's ebay shop? Has the thread on second hand equipment had such rapid effect?

Andrew

[Keltik Klown]

(2011-01-26 10:17)ukandrewf Wrote:  Has the thread on second hand equipment had such rapid effect?

No -- it's been around for a while. Sells predominently what you might call sundries -- drive belts, lid hinges, interconnects, connectors etc: http://shop.ebay.co.uk/linnproductsltd/m...m=&_ipg=25

They do occasionally sell the odd used item through eBay via Cherished Linn (which has also been around for a while): http://shop.ebay.co.uk/cherished_linn/m....m=&_ipg=25

To answer Vic's question -- non-EU customers do not have to pay UK VAT, so you should be able to buy from the Linn eBay shop at ex-VAT prices.

[CJ1045]

Further to KK's comment you need to be outside the European Union to buy VAT free. If you are in France, Germany etc then you pay UK VAT rate. Flip side is that when you receive the item in France, Germany etc you will pay no import duty but you will pay import duty if you live outside the European Union - often this is the same rate a local VAT

CJ

[thodo]

(2011-01-26 02:07)vicdiaz Wrote:  Hi,

Was just checking a pair of Katan stands on Linn's eBay shop when a small foot note caught my attention:

VAT price: 20.0% (included in the listed price)

Why should I pay 20% VAT when the item's destination is not the U.K.???

If you ask the seller (the courteous way would be to do this before buying the item) they are normally happy to zero-rate the VAT for you (i.e. remove the VAT from the final price). Most ebay Business Sellers are generally happy to do this.

As noted the item has to be shipped outside the EU for them to be able to do this. Yes, you'll still be subject to whatever customs/VAT your own country may impose - but you'd be subject to that on top of whatever VAT the UK put on it anyway so you might as well only pay it once at your end!

[Auric]

(2011-01-26 23:56)thodo Wrote:  If you ask the seller (the courteous way would be to do this before buying the item) they are normally happy to zero-rate the VAT for you (i.e. remove the VAT from the final price). Most ebay Business Sellers are generally happy to do this.

So this doesn't happen automatically at checkout when completing the destination country in the delivery address?

[thodo]

(2011-02-13 10:21)Auric Wrote:  

(2011-01-26 23:56)thodo Wrote:  If you ask the seller (the courteous way would be to do this before buying the item) they are normally happy to zero-rate the VAT for you (i.e. remove the VAT from the final price). Most ebay Business Sellers are generally happy to do this.

So this doesn't happen automatically at checkout when completing the destination country in the delivery address?

No unfortunately not!