eBay now look to add the 20% VAT from EU sellers

[qjuk]

Does anybody know how these parcels are being “policed” by Customs?

I’ve had quite a few parcels now since January and not one of them has any indication that the UK VAT has been paid on the packet. Is it a case that Customs are now waving anything under £135 through with the assumption that somewhere the VAT has already been pre-paid?

Edit to add: AliExpress charge the VAT on the total goods price including the postage cost, whereas it appears that some eBay purchases (ie, from China) are only charging the VAT on the goods but not the postage. I thought the VAT is meant to be calculated on the goods and the postage fee.

qjuk2021-03-18 22:29:04

 

[Vamino]

So far this year I've had 2 parcels delivered from overseas by Fedex and I've not had any bills yet which is unusual. One parcel was delivered in January. Both were valued at under 10k yen excluding postage.

Not sure about how VAT on postage is worked out, UPS and Parcelforce definitely charged VAT on postage as I got stung big time whereas in the past Fedex didn't seem to. I always thought paying VAT on the postage was a big con to be honest.

Seems to be a bit of a mess!

Vamino2021-03-18 22:56:26

 

[mysticmonk]

From another angle, my brother was telling me about eBay stuff from the UK and it seems farcical.

Basically, if a UK seller puts up a postage cost for the rest of the EU, eBay automatically adds on some big chunk.

Example, something for sale at 140 quid, then it tells you there is an extra charge of 45 on top. That doesn't include postage. Essentially an extra charge of over 30%.

So here's the tip: if you want to sell outside the UK on eBay, do NOT fill out whatever thing about international postage. Just leave it as "ask the seller", then that extra charge isn't added on, even if it's sold.

 

[Outrun2]

Has anyone had trouble with posting to Germany recently, I sent a low value 'gift' to Germany last week and it hasn't arrived yet. Hoping it's just delayed but I'm starting to worry now

I'd given up sending anything overseas as it's just not worth the hassle any more, but this was a special request.Outrun22021-03-19 17:55:22